[37] If after a period of study, the individual still wants to convert, a Namakarana Samskara ceremony is held, where the individual adopts a traditional Hindu name. Some people say that missionaries are forcefully converting them. ), Yayasan Obor Indonesia. Journalists like you are the reason for the stupidity in the country. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While the BJP, in its election manifesto, has promised an Uttar Pradesh model law against forceful religious conversion and love jihad in Kerala to woo Hindu and Christian voters, the data sourced by TNIE from the government gazettes paint an altogether different picture. It's Not That Easy", "Dalai Lama opposed to practice of conversion", Conversion to Tibetan Buddhism: Some Reflections, Handbook of Oriental Studies. However, without a formal conversion, many highly observant Jews will reject a convert's Jewish status.[27]. It is being learnt that an attempt is being made to convert Dalits and other people from economically backward societies, by propagating anti-Hindu messages. [64][65], On the other end of the proselytising scale are religions that do not accept any converts, or do so very rarely. In most countries conversion is a simple matter of filling out a card stating a declaration of belief. [31][32][33] In its diffuse and open structure, numerous schools and sects of Hinduism have developed and spun off in India with help from its ascetic scholars, since the Vedic age. Stark, Rodney and Roger Finke. The News Minute | December 10, 2014 | 08:52 pm IST On Monday, 200 people from around 57 Muslim families were reportedly 'converted' to Hinduism in Agra. Merchants and traders of India, particularly from Indian peninsula, carried their religious ideas, which led to religious conversions to Hinduism in Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia . Brahmanism?? The Christian minority is significantly smaller. Eastern Orthodoxy expanded when it gained official sanction in Kievan Rus'. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, A Buddhist monk shaves the head of a man converting him to Buddhism. I would list some of the people here, 1. "India investigates reports of mass 'reconversion' of Christians". {{#totalcount}} [citation needed]. [42] Religious leaders of some of Hinduism sects such as Brahmo Samaj have seen Hinduism as a non-missionary religion yet welcomed new members, while other leaders of Hinduism's diverse schools have stated that with the arrival of missionary Islam and Christianity in India, the view that "there is no such thing as proselytism in Hinduism" must be re-examined. Both Hinduism and those pre-Abrahamic religions kept trying to look for common grounds with the Abrahamic faiths for co-existence, while Abrahamic faiths were least interested in discovering common grounds. Active proselytisation was an integral part of the colonial project; indeed, as historian Ranajit Guha states, the Bible and the toothbrush were one of the main instruments of the British colonialists. In that case, the judges could remedy the errors of 1977 by seeking inspiration from the European Court of Human Rights 1993 ruling in the Kokkinakis case, which struck the right balance between keeping out improper proselytism and Christians right to practise, profess, and propagate their faith. Will the saffron strategy of turning India into a national equivalent of undifferentiable sliced white bread succeed? Gauri Viswanathan (1998), Outside the Fold: Conversion, Modernity, and Belief, Princeton University Press, "Artists Find Inspiration, Education at Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre Nashville. Despite officially being a secular nation, organizations allied with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are actively promoting mass conversions to Hinduism. Terms of Use | Can you explain why? All Indian religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainsim and Sikhism, are collective called "Sanatan Dharma" and "Dhamma", and all others are called mleccha. Allan Kardec's codification of Spiritism occurred between the years 1857 and 1868. (CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.4, General Comment No. His blog takes a contrarian view of topical and timeless issues, political, social, economic and speculative. [25], As late as the 6th century, the Eastern Roman empire and Caliph Umar ibn Khattab were issuing decrees against conversion to Judaism, implying that this was still occurring. Instead of going into the genesis of the conversion of poor Hindus, Malhi chose to reply with a political overtone, "And it is happening under the rule of self-proclaimed champions of democracy.". In that case, the judges could remedy the errors of 1977 by seeking inspiration from the European Court of Human Rights 1993 ruling in the, Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights, programme announced by the Dharam Jagran Samiti, anti-conversion laws in force in various states, Uproar in India over forced conversions. Welcome! That individual proselytisation, let alone mass conversion, has no place in the live-and-let-live ethos of the Hindu faith is blithely ignored by these saffron crusaders, who have mounted a concerted campaign to semitise Hinduism and turn it into a religious ideology based, in the manner of Islam and Christianity, on the concept of One book, one congregation, one people. Though ostensibly secular in objective, the anti-conversion laws in force in various states of India Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh (all areas with a significantly high population of tribals, Dalits, the depressed castes, and reeling from poverty, illiteracy and abysmal healthcare) in effect gives the government a vast swathe of control over peoples choices in matters of faith and religion. Adaptation in favour of Matrimony "Love Jihad" is the hot all the rage a chain of the methods second-hand in favour of the determination. Today almost double that figure will embrace a new religion and repeat the 22 oaths Ambedkar mouthed. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service, {{{add_comment_link}}} Initial reports suggest those converted at the VHP rally are BJP workers who were lured. It was the mass conversions at Meenakshipuram that sowed the seeds for the Ayodhya movement in the early 1980s and sparked a debate over freedom of religion in India. Of the total 506 people who registered their change of religion with the government, 241 were those who converted from Christianity or Islam to Hinduism. He ordered mass conversion of the Muslims to Christianity. . Converting to Islam requires one to declare the shahdah, the Muslim profession of faith ("there is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah"). [37] Some schools encourage the new convert to learn and participate in community activities such as festivals (Diwali etc. Like tens of thousands of other untouchables - or dalits - across India today, Mr Cherlaguda will be ritually converted to Buddhism to escape his low-caste status. Political Consciousness in Indian English Writing: A Study Of Manohar Malgonkar, Naintara Sahgal & Bhabani Bhattacharya.1991, Bahri Publications. Falkenberg, Steve. Like African Americans in the US who refuse to use their "slave" names, many in the lowest castes have spurned their obvious caste identifiers. Mass muslim conversion to hinduism from islam. AHMEDABAD: Buddhist groups in the city have organized conversion drives from Hinduism to Buddhism to mark Vijaya Dashmi on Tuesday . People who embraced Hinduism constituted 47 per cent of religious conversions in Kerala during the one-year period under reference. One becomes a Jain on one's own by observing the five vows (vratas)[44] The five main vows as mentioned in the ancient Jain texts like Tattvarthasutra are:[45][46], Following the five vows is the main requirement in Jainism. In sharing their faith with others, Bahs are cautioned to "obtain a hearing" meaning to make sure the person they are proposing to teach is open to hearing what they have to say. However, Taoism does have its own religious conversion ceremony which seems[original research?] 29 January 2015. Messianism may prepare groups for the coming of a Messiah or of a saviour. The Making of a Moonie: Choice or Brainwashing? They are fringes. Christianity is not an inclusive religion. In the New Testament, Jesus commanded his disciples in the Great Commission to "go and make disciples of all nations" [Matthew 28:19] [Mark 16:15]. This includes acknowledgement of Bah'u'llah the Founder of the Faith as the Messenger of God for this age, awareness and acceptance of his teachings, and intention to be obedient to the institutions and laws he established. Christanity has 2.5-3% base in 82% Hindu dominated India. Hinduism, says this analysis, was "adopted" by 47% of those who converted to a different religion in Kerala during the referred year. Some people convert under the influence of other social conditions. Religious enthusiasm for proselytism can play a role. Starting from the premise that the freedom of religion and religious chose of those who are converted (note; the laws never say those who convert) need to be protected from incursions of proselytisers the various anti-conversion legislations, ironically termed as freedom of religion laws make it mandatory for the convertees to inform the head of the district administration. During the election campaign, an age-old discussion over caste discrimination has been rekindled by the threat of losing Dalits to another faith, and that too a public commitment to renouncing Hinduism. In fact we think that there are very few differences between Buddhism and Hinduism," says Lalit Kumar, who works for a Hindu nationalist welfare association in Andhra Pradesh. This is list of converts from Indian-origin religions. It includes various traditions and customs to be followed by its followers. Explore conversions to hinduism profile at Times of India for photos, videos and latest news of conversions to hinduism. Try to avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment. Careers, Home | Nation | World | Cities | Business | Columns | Entertainment | Sport | Magazine | The Sunday Standard. The VHP appears to be behind Wednesdays ceremony. More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed by rioters. Being Buddhist means we will be separate but equal," said D Anjaneyulu, a local dalit politician who says he first considering switching religion when he was physically stopped by local Brahmins from raising the Indian flag because of his caste. pleople like you christian conversion money from abroad. The Parivars Achilles Heel could be the Dharama Jagran Samanvay Vibhag bounty of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh. BJP is true party work for nation. {{{read_comment_link}}} However, people who converted to Buddhism said they faced caste. The spectre of losing Dalits to another faith and that too a public pledge to reject Hinduism in the election campaign season has reignited an age-old debate about caste oppression. In another case, Larissis v. Greece, a member of the Pentecostal church also won a case in the European Court of Human Rights.[68]. Compared with the semetic beliefs of Islam and Christianity, Hinduism is perceived by the Parivar as effete and weak because of its internal divisions of caste and regionalism. ", "Zoroastrianism needs to adapt its archaic laws or die | Ariane Sherine", "Joining a Cult: Religious Choice or Psychological Aberration? This fabricated India is not a land of different people who settled in different places at different times, and had different ways of living and different forms of worship. Sukmawati Sukarnoputri, 69, embraced Hinduism in a ritual called 'Sudhi Wadani' . UP's Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020, promulgated last week penalises mass conversions - defined by the ordinance as conversions of two or more persons. Mass Conversions to Hinduism: The Ghar Wapsi Movement With the BJP taking over control following the 2014 general elections, it has been commonly accepted that the Hindutva ideology now not only wields socio-religious control but also access to political power as well. Up to 100 Christians welcomed back to Hinduism in West Bengal, raising concerns about possible coercion, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, A damaged mural of Jesus Christ on the outside of a home in India. Different factors and circumstances may operate and interact to persuade individuals of groups to convert and adopt a new set of religious doctrines and habits. The landless labourer points to a picture of Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god, on his wall and says it will soon be gone and replaced by an image of the Buddha. The Dharama Jagran Samanvay Vibhag, an offshoot of the RSS, is reportedly going into the bounty-hunting business. Details of the incident are unclear but it was reported that between 50 and 100 Christians from some of the poorest communities in India were welcomed back to Hinduism in a homecoming ceremony in a remote area in the eastern state of West Bengal on Wednesday. your username. Threat of 'mass conversions' by Hindu far right groups causes fear among India's religious minorities [Al Jazeera] "Homecoming" in the Christmas season is supposed to be a joyous occasion,. The closest Hindu equivalent of a regular congregation is the RSS shakha. B Veeraiah, a 42-year-old who fled his village 160 miles north of Hyderabad a year ago, was washing dishes on the streets. [37], Jainism accepts anyone who wants to embrace the religion. We will be happy to have you on board as a blogger, if you have the knack for writing. [50][51], In the second half of the 20th century, the rapid growth of new religious movements (NRMs) led some psychologists and other scholars to propose that these groups were using "brainwashing" or "mind control" techniques to gain converts. The last time it did was in 1977, in the Reverend Stanislaus case, wherein the Odisha and Madhya Pradesh statutes were upheld. [18], Baptisms inside and outside the temples are usually done in a baptistry, although they can be performed in any body of water in which the person may be completely immersed. Richadiana Kartakusama (2006), Archaeology: Indonesian Perspective (Editors: Truman Simanjuntak et al. Historical records bear ample testimony to the rigorous implementation of St Caprions axiom extra ecclessium nulla salus (outside the Church, no salvation), even by the proverbial fire and sword, especially by explorer-cum-conquistadors like Vasco da Gama, the tales of whose brutalities in enforcing a harvest of faith in the erstwhile Portuguese-controlled state of Goa are legion. In December another group conducted a similar ceremony for more than 200 Muslims in the northern city of Agra. Search titles only; Posted by Member: Separate names with a comma. It would be downright specious, even dishonest, to claim that missionaries and proselytisers activities in India had nothing but a salubrious effect. Of India kept sleeping or had their mock permission. Now, my family and I want to become Hindu again, Baskey said. A series of attempts by rightwing Hindu groups to hold mass conversion ceremonies have caused controversy in recent months. Indonesia has the world's largest population of Muslims. Web. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Hindu MNA Lal Chand Malhi said that the Hindu community in Pakistan was being continuously exploited in Sindh. Mass conversions of areas and communities to Buddhism occur up to the present day, for example, in the Dalit Buddhist movement in India there have been organized mass conversions . Buddhism [ edit] Meaningless data. A team of Buddhist monks from across the country is being formed to lead the mission, with an all-India "mega event" set to take . Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images. ", Learn how and when to remove this template message, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Doomsday Cult: A Study of Conversion, Proselytization, and Maintenance of Faith, United Nations Commission on Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Forced conversion of minority girls in Pakistan, Safavid conversion of Iran from Sunnism to Shiism, https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a4.htm, http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Monergism, https://archive.today/20220314005237/https://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/15/09/2010/the-original-sin/, "Guide to the Scriptures: Baptism, Baptize: Proper authority", "Abraham's Test: Islamic Male Circumcision as Anti/Ante-Covenantal Practice", Symposium Series (Society of Biblical Literature), "Islamic Law and the Issue of Male and Female Circumcision", "So You Want to Convert to Judaism? Gavin Flood, Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Editor: Knut Jacobsen (2010), Volume II, Brill. Let me say this that if there is a hint of coercion or forcible conversion, the matter will be dealt with seriously, said Derek OBrien, a spokesman for the Trinamool National Congress party which is in power in West Bengal. India - Using extremely anti-minority rhetoric, a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader in India on Wednesday tweeted his support for mass 're-conversion' programs pushing Indian Christians and Muslims to convert to Hinduism. In 82 % Hindu dominated India be happy to have you on as! Knut Jacobsen ( 2010 ), Volume II, Brill Bahri Publications a card stating a declaration belief. Vibhag, an offshoot of the Muslims to Christianity miles north of Hyderabad a year ago, was washing on! A series of attempts by rightwing Hindu groups to hold mass conversion ceremonies have caused controversy in recent.! Mna Lal Chand Malhi said that the Hindu community in pakistan was being continuously exploited in Sindh Hindu. 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[ 27 ] x27 ; largest! ; s largest population of Muslims offshoot of the mass conversion to hinduism here, 1 during! Dishonest, to claim that missionaries and proselytisers activities in India had nothing a... Rss, is reportedly going into the bounty-hunting Business social, economic speculative. Home | Nation | World | Cities | Business | Columns | Entertainment | Sport | Magazine | Sunday. Be happy to have you on board as a blogger, if have! X27 ; Sudhi Wadani & # x27 ; reconversion & # x27 reconversion! Regular congregation is the RSS shakha Stanislaus case, wherein the Odisha and Madhya Pradesh statutes upheld! Going into the bounty-hunting Business the Dharama Jagran Samanvay Vibhag bounty of Rs 5 lakh and 2.