After my recent visit to Fiji, i had noticed that the Hindus i met and those who i stayed with, almost all of them (maybe 15 families i visited) had a copy of the Bible sitting next to the Gita or Ramayan.
I asked my mother in law of why she has the bible (in her home shrine, next to the Shiv Ling), the reply was that the church people when door knocking told her they can help with any money problems, and gave her some money to pay off bills, and in return the Christians came to her place and did a prayer and gave her a bible and invited her to the local church for Sunday prayers, she attends church every Sunday now, i asked her if she has read the bible and she says she reads it nearly every night before going to bed, then i asked if she has read the Gita (also in her home shrine), and the answer was in the negative.
When i asked why have you not read the Gita, she said that no one has ever explained it to her in simple language, and i don't understand it, but the Christians explain the bible in simple Hindi at church and during their home visits.
She said that when a Pundit comes to do a Puja at home all they do is recite the Sanskrit words but never explain what has been said, she said that most pundits are more interested in getting their money ad going to another gig.
Plus there is this stigma with many Indian Hindus that the Gita is only read out in funerals, so many have this taboo of trying to read the Gita on their own.
the other thing she said is that the bible keeps the Ghosts away, and the most important thing she said at the end of our conversation was that "all Gods are the same anyways",.
I spoke to my brothers friend of why she converted to Christianity, she said that she was raped, and tried to commit suicide, in hospital the Christians would come and pray for her and bring her gifts, then when she got better she converted, i asked her did her mum and dad not pray for her in the temple, she said they did nearly everyday, and then i asked were the doctors good in taking care of her, she said they put a lot of effort in trying to save her, (i did not press on any further because of the situation, i did not want to say things like maybe Siva listened to your parents prayers and saved her, or maybe the doctors were the reason you are still alive), She said she was saved by the Love of Jesus.
One of my wife's cousin has converted recently, when i met him at a family gathering he was dressed in a nice white shirt with tie, black pants and shiny black shoes, he spoke in English only, and boasts of how he has visited the US, Australia and Newzealand with the help of the Church, my mother in Law was almost showing him off to my family, he sat on a chair while we sat on the floor and eat with a fork and knife while we used our hands, he was like a shining light among the dull background of my in laws colorblind tin home, i could see why the young men and women were so attracted to him, to me he portrayed the dreams of nearly every young Indian, that is to be European, and his success was Christianity.
To them Christianity is synonymous with the white and rich European who has money, cars and a big house.
Superstition is a big problem among the Hindus in FIJI, believe in Ghosts, demons and evil spirits is almost like milk and bread to them, black magic and voodoo is quite common among the Hindus, if someone has a tooth ache they go seeking the local tantric or pundit for some religious healing before actual medicine.
The other thing i noticed is the idea that Christianity is represented as modernity and is portrayed as the "rich mans religion". While Hinduism is presented as being steeped in superstition and backwardness, sometime not even represented at all in the wider community.
Christians promise Money, Hinduism makes no promises, poor people don't hesitate to take the first option.
Missionaries do the rounds in hospital, if someone gets better it was Jesus, if someone dies its because it was the Devil.
Not a single person i spoke to even knows what the Vedas are, no one could give one example from the Gita, no one without looking at the Ramayana could tell me what Ram said about Hanuman when he first met him. I did not hear about any Pundit who reads and writes Sanskrit.
The only good thing among the Hindus there is they don't have a Cast system.
I was vary disappointing with Fijian Hindus that i met.
