Namaste
I never noticed this thread before today, probably because it is so old it dates back to the time I was making my first journey into "internet Hinduism" (even though this is a Christian DIR) and seldom would peek much into non-Hindu areas unless perhaps they were "Pagan" or if they were Jain or Buddhist or Sikh.
But I noticed it today from the main page because there were some recent replies.
Hello Christians, I hope you do not mind me (a Hindu) making two comments, actually I am surprised this thread was allowed at all in this DIR, no insult to the OP intended. By the way, I am a huge fan of Mel Gibson and loved his movie "The Passion" which has a Christian theme.
Comment 1
I can tell you assuredly that what I call "internet Hinduism", that is, internet active Hindus, specifically the tone and interests of, do not necessarily reflect at all the typical tone and interests of so many "day to day" Hindus I know who are too busy with their lives to be "internet Hindus". Many "internet Hindus" are more knowledgeable in specific sampradayas, or Vedas, etc., than your normal day-to-day Hindus, but they are sometimes more persistent and even "aggresive" compared to "regular" Hindus. They do not always reflect popular, day to day Hindus, and may give the wrong impression as to what is a typical Hindu.
What do I mean?
Well, I love many of such internet Hindus, perhaps I have now also become one (but it can be sometimes exhausting!, even to my peace!), but "internet Hinduism" while engaging, is not village Hinduism, and they are not your "everyday" Hindu but often they are "different" and perhaps more passionate about expressing their POV. I describe myself as a "village Hindu" or a "popular Hindu" (of the typical Hindu lay people, following the Hinduism of popular or common culture), yet like I said, I am also now sort of an "internet Hindu" but sometimes an "internet Hindu with a headache.
I have many relations from India, and I am a born American but for full disclosure my parents who are Euro are not Christian. But I mention this only to say that NONE of the vast Hindus I know from family ever participate in "internet Hinduism", none, zero. In fact even my wife who obviously knows I participate on the internet does not like me to do this too much (though actually she has contributed content by "advice").
So the "typical" Hindu does not participate. So do not think what you read is coming from a typical Hindu when you read an internet Hindu.
Comment 2
This has to do with the OP question to Christians about what Christians think about ISKCON (Hare Krishnas) converting Christians to Hindu or a Christian who then becomes a Krishna devotee.
I am not a "converted" Hindu since I was not a Christian. Nor am I an initiate of ISKCON.
However I do know a lot about ISKCON. I want to put some clarity to this question in context of the year 2014 verse 1966.
While it is true, the American devotees in 1966 were normally in the age range between 16 and 28, and were previously Christian or Jewish, some were of no previous religion. Some were Buddhist also. Though many were Christian or Jewish but typically not regular "church (or temple) goers". There were some "top devotees" who became "leaders" in ISKCON who were trained initially in religious study and Seminary. There were Christians who changed their affiliation to Hare Krishna due to intense tactics by ISKCON to win over their affiliation, but typically this was after such a "new devotee" already showed interest by coming to a temple, buying books or participating in sankirtan of Hari Nam. If they gave the ISKCON member their personal phone number, they could certainly expect a follow up phone call and invitation to come to a "Sunday feast" at the temple, or even to attend devotee group bhajans at a devotee's house. Usually the "private" bhajans in a home were organized by India born devotees, not American born, but they invited American born. At the temples, entire communities of Indians soon were coming, and the temple was usually a mix of about 75% American born and 25% Indian born. In truth, the Indian born always received special respect and front row attention, in particular the elderly Hindus from India were almost worshipped with love and attention and honors.
Now let us move the clock forward.
Today, there are many ISKCON temples which are majority Indian ancestry in attendance. About a 60 percen Indian to 40 percent American born. However there are "ISKCON farm communities" and rural ashrams and temples that are almost entirely American born devotees.
While there was a lot of "conversion" from Christian or Jew to Hare Krishna between 1966 and 1976, today many American born members were BORN Hindus because they were born to, and grew up in, ISKCON families. Yes, they had children and families.
Yes in the 60s there were those who were first hippies, and often already of a different religious "bent" than say a full Baptist Christian. Today, there are still those who would have called themself Christian initially, but perhaps only because their parents said they were this or that, but neither the parents or these "new devotees" were ever regular "church goers", most never would go. They were "secular".
So it is not correct to focus on "conversion" to ISKCON from Christian, in many if not most this was not the case. And today you now have those Americans who were, literally, born Hindu from day one.
Om Namah Sivaya
