How to convert a Hindu

[Vinayaka]

Christians tried to do it feeding the poor in India in the form of Mother Teresa ...

Post 102, if you haven't already.

 

[JoeZen]

Post 102, if you haven't already.

I'm talking from what I know ..where post ? ..I'm new here

 

[Vinayaka]

charities should be done like these...

[youtube]lyXv66NWIBs[/youtube]
The dark side of Mother Teresa - YouTube

Bump for JoeZen.

 

[JoeZen]

I'm talking from what I know ..where post ? ..I'm new here

It's ok ....I got it ..thnx

 

[ratikala]

dear nameless ,

To explain in detail the love of pentecostal christians, these pentacostals during their 'shouting prayers' pray to god to make people of other religion ill, so that they could 'heal', 'love' and then convert people to christianity, just like mother teresa, who loved to see people suffering. So much of love in their hearts ! GOD BLESS THEM !!

your bitterness is hardly condusive to a rational conversation , I was not aware that we were talking about penticostal christians ? it was simply ''christian missionaries'' that were refered to , .....? it seems that you are seizing the questions raised to air a pet grevance .

yes, it is really fortunate that they robbed the world, and now using the stolen money to win converts in the name of 'charity', truly inspiring.

I think it would be fair to say that there are many christians who have gained their wealth by fair means and who had no hand in the robing of the world , and many who dedicate their lives to helping others , personaly I feel that it is un helpfull mistake to convert people to ones own faith how ever wonderfull we might feel it to be , but it has to be addmited that there is also a very helpfull side to charitable work and many who involve themselves do so out of love with no wish for repayment or conversion , so yes I would call that love .

 

[JoeZen]

Bump for JoeZen.

Where's my frubals ? ..

 

[Me Myself]

The ends don't justify the means according to Sri Krishna.

Actually, Krishna several times tricked people for the greater good.

And I have no idea on what context you want to tell me that anyways.

I see nothing inherently wrong with wanting converts for your religion. I see wrong in the specific things I pointed earlier though.

Edit: my apologies! Now I got it. Well, you are forgetung that people seeking to convert, they truly do it for others in most cases, as they think their religion is e best for others. So both the doctrine and the food/housing/etc would be the charity.

 

[Vinayaka]

I was vary disappointing with Fijian Hindus that i met.

Fiji is unique, in that there is no Hindu majority, so the Christians and others just don't need to be quite as deceptive, and can easily get away with more because they don't fear prosecution for unethical tactics. Much harder to put up a good defense in this kind of situation. But the irony is that most of the Christians there were once converted forcibly themselves, and fought back to no avail. I guess, it's "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram :namaste

As terrible as this sort of thing is - and it is, Hinduism is by far its own worst enemy, and in fact, I believe this external stimulation is necessary to help Hinduism reform itself enough to survive.

unfortunately I have to agree , I experienced this serving in a temple here in england so many hindu here are more attracted to material life than to spiritual life , more concerned with wealth and social status and oblivious to the nececity to seriously practice their sadhana , only when they see others pick up what they are throwing away do they stop to question what they have lost .

If Hinduism were what it is supposed to be, there would be no foothold for any Abrahamic religion.

again unfortunately this is perfectly true .

Please keep in mind I am not saying that the Southern religions, or people, are inferior - only that the degradation which has overtaken the whole of Hindu dharma has acted more on the South than the North, despite the North's travails, by way of making the point that this internal deterioration is by far the most dangerous threat to be counteracted. In doing so, the external threat of conversion will disappear likewise.

this ''internal deterioation'' , I have seen first hand , hindus here are re writing the rules to suit them selves , altering where they see fit to make it fit in with their bussy western lifestyles , and without realising it throwing away their own traditions , completely altering the empasis on learning to shape our lives around god , to turning god into a cute little adornment to their lives .
however this problem of conversion in india , and to an extent indians here is the most terible shame but unless the traditions are preserved and taught seriously there will be no one left to teach future generations and those who have serious spiritual needs will go to look else where .

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram maya ji :namaste

This is so sad. Truly awful and heartbreaking.

What can we do about this?

Maya

''what can we do ? ''

take a guru (if we can find a true guru) , and study faithfully , when we have gained sufficient love and understanding we should share it enthusiasticaly with those who want to hear it :namaste

 

[Vinayaka]

namaskaram maya ji :namaste

''what can we do ? ''

take a guru (if we can find a true guru) , and study faithfully , when we have gained sufficient love and understanding we should share it enthusiasticaly with those who want to hear it :namaste

Very slippery grounds here. With 'with those who want to hear it', how do you know? Maybe give us an example of when you know someone wants to hear it.

You see, the Christians will say, "Maybe they say they don't want to hear the good message, but Christ is telling me that deep down inside, they do."

I personally need a person to basically beg for information, really be self-motivated to learn more, ask questions, etc. before I'll offer up much at all. Otherwise, its just hypocritical.

 

[Maya3]

Very slippery grounds here. With 'with those who want to hear it', how do you know? Maybe give us an example of when you know someone wants to hear it.

You see, the Christians will say, "Maybe they say they don't want to hear the good message, but Christ is telling me that deep down inside, they do."

I personally need a person to basically beg for information, really be self-motivated to learn more, ask questions, etc. before I'll offer up much at all. Otherwise, its just hypocritical.

I feel the same way.
Sharing about Hinduism should only be if someone asks and it comes up in conversation.

And also as a flip side to this, this is why I´m adamant about that it is ok to believe in other religions or many at the same time including Hinduism. Because otherwise you are indirectly saying that only Hinduism is good enough.
It is what I like but it doesn´t have to be like that for others.

Maya

 

[Vinayaka]

And also as a flip side to this, this is why I´m adamant about that it is ok to believe in other religions or many at the same time including Hinduism. Because otherwise you are indirectly saying that only Hinduism is good enough.
It is what I like but it doesn´t have to be like that for others.

Maya

And that is, in a nutshell, why the world should be able to get along. Live and let live. If everyone on the planet had this well-engrained, there would be no unethical conversions, extreme diversity, and such a colourful place to be. We shouldn't have to get defensive at all.

 

[Me Myself]

Very slippery grounds here. With 'with those who want to hear it', how do you know? Maybe give us an example of when you know someone wants to hear it.

You see, the Christians will say, "Maybe they say they don't want to hear the good message, but Christ is telling me that deep down inside, they do."

I personally need a person to basically beg for information, really be self-motivated to learn more, ask questions, etc. before I'll offer up much at all. Otherwise, its just hypocritical.

While I dont see a problem with this approach I dont either see a need.

If a person asks me I tell. If I wish to tell, I tell.

Its a nice thing to share if one has the will. I also dont expect any different from anyone with any faith. What I dislike is when they talk bad about others, but even then one must know they tend to truly believe about what they are saying.

A minor or big anoyance is nothing in comparison to what they think they may be saving you from. Sure, they are wrong, but I d find them to be poorer people if they didnt try (given they already have such a sick belief)

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram vinayaka ji :namaste

Very slippery grounds here. With 'with those who want to hear it', how do you know? Maybe give us an example of when you know someone wants to hear it.

well this is a very tricky subject you started ''how to convert a hindu '' now I am somehow doubting that you are advicating conversion ???

and some other good hindu gentleman said that hindus understood their tradition better it would be less likely that they would wish to convert ...... with which I am in total agreement

so how to know if some one wants to hear ? ...... simple advertise around your neibourhood bhagavad gita study group please feel free to join us , .....

You see, the Christians will say, "Maybe they say they don't want to hear the good message, but Christ is telling me that deep down inside, they do."

everyone wants to hear a good message , ....there is christs good message , there is krsnas good message , ....and ther will be good messages from all the divinities and all the acarya's

but the question is which is the right message for you as an individual , one must be free to choose , ....and one must hear inorder to choose .

so if you like to come to my bhagavad gita study class you are most welcome , but I promice I will force nothing upon you , except in freindly jest , ....please please have some prasad

nothing more you are free to come free to go , .....

I personally need a person to basically beg for information, really be self-motivated to learn more, ask questions, etc. before I'll offer up much at all. Otherwise, its just hypocritical.

Hmmmm ? ... what you wish to play guru , you must beg , you must prove your worthiness ??? then I will tell you ?

there is an important ballance to be accheived here ,

I am offering you to come listen to that which is freely given there is no attempt to convert only to fulfill a need , I am offering to share my blessing with you if you would like to share in it . this is not proselytisation this is a gift if you would like to accept it .

but if I claim to care about my tradition I must offer freely this is my duty .

it is not hypocritical to offer to share :namaste

 

[Vinayaka]

What I am saying is that it is very hard to read intent. Ratikala, I have no doubts that your intent is just sharing, and there would be no psychological pressure or deceptive tactics used. But how can we be sure that is the same with everyone?

For the record, I wouldn't accept your invitation, because I'm already very content within my version of SD. And I can't invite you nor anyone else to my house of worship on principle. If someone happens to be in my city one day, and they're interested in Hinduism, they can look in the phone book, or use the google maps feature to 'Search nearby" for Hindu temples. It's that easy.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

ratikala;3324423]namaskaram satyam ji :namaste

Namaste mata Ji

such a sad story , I am glad that the christians have the love in their hearts to help people , but I am sad that they use it as a tool to convert people but it is understandable where you say that the hindu preists do not do their duty out of love , in this case they have neglected their own people ,

Unfortunately the story is the truth of many of Hindus in Fiji that i witnessed, it seems that even my beloved Arya Samaj in Fiji is almost non existent within the Hindu community, good and intelligent purohits and Pundits seem to have left the island and moved overseas looking for a better lifestyle.

'all the gods are the same anyways '' jai jai :namaste .... but still sad that no one has the love of , or the understanding of the Gita enough to explain it properly .

I think it is the lack of Dharmah Shiksha, and the lack of appreciation of Hinduism itself within the Hindu community in Fiji that has contributed to the sad sate of Hindus in Fiji.

it is quite understandable that people put their faith in the religion of those who look prosperous , but sad that in truth there is no real difference in the promice christianity can give , except that the christians are fortunate enough to be weakthy enough to be charitable . I would just be a little happier if they came to offer love and help combined with a sencitivity towards the traditions of others .

the poor are always seeking a way out, philosophy and Moksha are not on their agenda, to me Christianity promises the imaginary heaven with all the bounties and rewards that are not available to the poor and illiterate, while Hinduism is more realistic, no material gain but hard tapas, bhakti and doing good actions without attachment, vidya and self control and a reward that seems impossible to gain in one lifetime.

Yes the Christians are wealthy and can give, but they have been wealthy and giving for a long time and the world is still poor, even when Christianity in all its forms is the Majority religion in the world, South America, Philippians and the Pacific Islands are majority Christianize but still considered some of the poorest countries in the world. What has been gained for giving a few dollars in return for someones soul? none will ever benefit in this life but have been given false hope of the afterlife.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

Fiji is unique, in that there is no Hindu majority, so the Christians and others just don't need to be quite as deceptive, and can easily get away with more because they don't fear prosecution for unethical tactics. Much harder to put up a good defense in this kind of situation. But the irony is that most of the Christians there were once converted forcibly themselves, and fought back to no avail. I guess, it's "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

That is true, the natives themselves were converted on mass, but what prosperity has Christianity given them, None in my opinion, all they had is lost, their native culture is in tatters, their chiefs are just landlords who answer to the church who own the Land, native stories and myths are almost extinct.
But i guess they can look forward to the imaginary heaven where they will be in the presence of the great Lord Jesus with all the wealth and rewards they want.

 

[Ashoka]

What I have noticed is that Christian missionaries will start with saying "Jesus is a Hindu God too, He is Krishna too" and then try to get the Hindus to only worship Jesus, because all the others are "inferior." Or they will stop a bus and say, "oh no, our bus broke down." Then they will tell everyone to pray to Ganesha, Shiva, Krishna, and so forth. Then when nothing happens, they say, "why don't we pray to Jesus?" And then somehow the bus magically starts again.

This is why I am so against people saying Jesus is a Deva. He's not. And most people who say this are only interested in converting the person and destroying their culture and breaking their family up. But then, Jesus said that he wanted to break up people's homes and cause disruption, so...

 

[ratikala]

What I am saying is that it is very hard to read intent. Ratikala, I have no doubts that your intent is just sharing, and there would be no psychological pressure or deceptive tactics used. But how can we be sure that is the same with everyone?

in that case how did you ever set foot in a temple in the first place ??? how did you know that they would not use ''psycological pressure or deceptive tactics'' ????

For the record, I wouldn't accept your invitation, because I'm already very content within my version of SD. And I can't invite you nor anyone else to my house of worship on principle. If someone happens to be in my city one day, and they're interested in Hinduism, they can look in the phone book, or use the google maps feature to 'Search nearby" for Hindu temples. It's that easy.

sad because although I am happy with my tradition I would be glad to accept the invitation to learn from anothers perspective it dosent mean I have to convert or that I would wish another to convert to mine simply that we learn firsthand and the valiable traditions are not lost or missunderstood ,

and on the subject of sanatana dharma , surely there is one 'eternal truth' not versions of it ? if there are versions then it is because they are incomplete .

and dont worry I have no intention to visit your town these principles sound desperately un inviting and devoid of loving hospitality

our guru once gave us a lecture about our responcibility as deciples to be welcoming and to serve others , there should be no other motive than that to serve .:yes:

let god do the rest .