Frankish armies spread Roman Catholicism eastwards in the Middle Ages. [24] The procedure and requirements for conversion depend on the sponsoring denomination. Despite officially being a secular nation, organizations allied with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are actively promoting mass conversions to Hinduism. "[67], Since the collapse of the former Soviet Union the Russian Orthodox Church has enjoyed a revival. The Parsis, a Zoroastrianism group based in India, classically does not accept converts, but this issue became controversial in the 20th century due to a rapid decline in membership. Illustrating the problems that can arise from such subjective viewpoints is this extract from an article by Dr. C. Davis, published in Cleveland State University's Journal of Law and Health: "According to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Jews for Jesus and Hebrew Christians constitute two of the most dangerous cults, and its members are appropriate candidates for deprogramming. Khusro then a. People who embraced Hinduism constituted 47 per cent of religious conversions in Kerala during the one-year period under reference. Lofland noted that most of their efforts were ineffective and that most of the people who joined did so because of personal relationships often family relationships with existing members. [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. More than 550 Hindu temples in the Portuguese territories were razed to the ground. Moinuddin Chisti facilitated the coming of the Islamic Jihad to India by mediating the union of Jai Chand and Mohammed Ghori. More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed by rioters. (CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.4, General Comment No. [20] In the Islamic religion, it is believed that everyone is Muslim at birth. 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 . 11/6/01 The historic rally on November 4 in New Delhi featuring a mass conversion of Hindus to Buddhism has taken place, but not in the way that had been planned. With the demonstrated Indian genius of turning all schemes involving money into scams, Coalgate and Spectrumgate might soon yield headlines to Conversiongate. Web. and biggest lose Christianity. LESS For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service, {{{add_comment_link}}} (2010, September 15). [21] In Islam, circumcision is considered a sunnah custom and is never mentioned in the Quran. [I say] why wait?". {{{short}}} Based on the declaration the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) drafted the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a legally binding treaty. The Hindu right has become increasingly wary of Buddhist conversions, seeing its call for equality as exerting a powerful pull on the lowest castes. On Christmas Eve, the flock of believers were cowering in fear, because a couple of churches were burnt and there was the looming threat of more skirmishes with the belligerent among their Hindu brethren spiralling into serious communal clashes. In 1339, Shah Mir established his own kingship and founded the Shah Mir Dynasty, which lasted till 1561. The mass conversions which are being planned are part of a strategy to bring in congregationalism through the back door. They may number thousands, or only hundreds, or possibly even less. [1] In some cases, religious conversion "marks a transformation of religious identity and is symbolized by special rituals".[2]. [Galatians 3:28] Islam allegedly spread in North Africa through just administration, and in the Balkans by integrating new believers with improved tax conditions and social prestige. Now, my family and I want to become Hindu again, Baskey said. Some people say that missionaries are forcefully converting them. {{{read_comment_link}}} Saurav Datta teaches media law and jurisprudence in Mumbai and Pune. ", 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? Hindus who convert to Islam or Christianity are forcefully converted and rice-bag converts. "We want to be equal to upper castes. |A+AA-. A Jehovah's Witness, Minos Kokkinakis, won the equivalent of $14,400 in damages from the Greek state after being arrested for trying to preach his faith from door to door. "Bah pioneers", rather than attempting to supplant the cultural underpinnings of the people in their adopted communities, are encouraged to integrate into the society and apply Bah principles in living and working with their neighbors. There were 111 conversions from Hindu to Islam. [52][53][54][55][56], In the 1960s sociologist John Lofland lived with Unification Church missionary Young Oon Kim and a small group of American church members in California and studied their activities in trying to promote their beliefs and win converts to their church. Views expressed above are the author's own. "India investigates reports of mass 'reconversion' of Christians". 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 other words, the true purpose of a religion is to ensure that each person reaches his true potential, goes beyond the temptations toward one honest truth - upliftment of himself. Anyone found guilty is visited with imprisonment extending to three years, and with a financial penalty of 50,000 rupees (approximately $800). All Indian religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainsim and Sikhism, are collective called "Sanatan Dharma" and "Dhamma", and all others are called mleccha. The price differential is presumably based on the premise that Christians are a much smaller minority than Muslims, and so pose less samasya (problem) to the body politic than do followers of Islam. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Hindu MNA Lal Chand Malhi said that the Hindu community in Pakistan was being continuously exploited in Sindh. In a shocking update, an alleged 'mass conversion' took place in Rajasthan's Jaipur as around 400 families have been allegedly converted. "Untouchability" was abolished under India's constitution in 1950 but the practice remains a degrading part of everyday life in Indian villages. You can become a Hindu even if you are born a non-Hindu and you are of a non-Asian origin. Amen. A total of 144 persons adopted Islam. Thus "religious conversion" would describe the abandoning of adherence to one denomination and affiliating with another. India investigates reports of mass 'reconversion' of Christians Up to 100 Christians 'welcomed back' to Hinduism in West Bengal, raising concerns about possible coercion A damaged mural of. to comeout of religious politics for ever India must rediscover why they pakistan and beangladesh. Proselytism is the act of attempting to convert by persuasion another individual from a different religion or belief system. 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. [37] Some of these places are mathas and asramas (hermitage, monastery), where one or more gurus (spiritual guide) conduct the conversion and offer spiritual discussions. May1: 500. [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. Following the conversion of Rinchan, his commander-in-chief and many other Hindus converted to Islam. Converts to Islam are due to marriage/love issues. MORE. The amendment makes provision to increase the maximum imprisonment for . "No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice" (Article 18.2). Terms of Use | There are around 180 million Muslims in India, around 14% of the population of 1.3 billion. Copyright - newindianexpress.com 2023. Both are true in their own contexts. 22.; emphasis added), Some countries distinguish voluntary, motivated conversion from organized proselytism, attempting to restrict the latter. [44], Sikhism is not known to openly proselytize conversions, however it is open and accepting to anyone wanting to take on the Sikh faith. Jain monks and nuns are required to observe these five vows strictly. The varieties of religious experience: a study in human nature, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Religious_conversion&oldid=1134883508, Articles needing additional references from March 2022, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2022, Articles needing more detailed references, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2018, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from July 2021, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from July 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2011, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Cooper, Richard S. "The Assessment and Collection of Kharaj Tax in Medieval Egypt". This page was last edited on 21 January 2023, at 07:01. [42][43], In recent decades, mainstream Hinduism schools have attempted to systematize ways to accept religious converts, with an increase in inter-religious mixed marriages. [citation needed]. Religious conversion to Hinduism has a long history outside India. Explore conversions to hinduism profile at Times of India for photos, videos and latest news of conversions to hinduism. At one stage Kerala Anglo Indian nurses were very well respected in other states also but with the passage of time the conversion to Islam picked up the race and see now they are in majority. "CatholicHerald.co.uk Cardinal protests against forced conversions to Hinduism". [24] A formal conversion is also sometimes undertaken by individuals whose Jewish ancestry is questioned, even if they were raised Jewish, but may not actually be considered Jews according to traditional Jewish law. We will be happy to have you on board as a blogger, if you have the knack for writing. Follow us for updates, Human trafficking too high in India, says US, Economy slows to 4.4 per centin Q3, govts full-year target intact, Gujarats public debt rises to Rs 3.4L cr, each resident owes Rs 48,500, In a first, Uttarakhandto set up mother milk bank. All Indian religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainsim and Sikhism, are collective called "Sanatan Dharma" and "Dhamma", and all others are called mleccha. His blog takes a contrarian view of topical and timeless issues, political, social, economic and speculative. control of land. When these turn of events created a furore in parliament, the Narendra Modi-led central government instructed the local administration to thwart the Samitis grandiose plans, and Christmas day went peacefully. Church authorities told the Indian Express that around 1,000 local people had been baptised in the poverty-stricken and remote area over the last year. 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. The Inquisition in France and in Iberia worked to convert heretics with varying success. 05 Oct. 2016. Mumbai (AsiaNews) - In Andhra Pradesh a group of Hindu nationalists belonging to the BJP ruling party (Bharatiya Janata Party) has carried out mass conversions to Dalit and Christian tribal. SS Subramuniyaswami (2000), How to become a Hindu, 2nd Edition, Himalayan Academy. Tellingly, the punishment is doubled if those who convert are women, or members of the lower castes and tribal communities. ", "Zoroastrianism needs to adapt its archaic laws or die | Ariane Sherine", "Joining a Cult: Religious Choice or Psychological Aberration? Christianity grew after becoming the state religion in Armenia, in the Roman Empire, and in Ethiopia. Religious wars and suppression shaped the histories of the Baltic tribes, the Hussites and the Huguenots. They do not represent the views or opinions of newindianexpress.com or its staff, nor do they represent the views or opinions of The New Indian Express Group, or any entity of, or affiliated with, The New Indian Express Group. BJP is in power today only because other parties played religious politics by oppressing the majority Hindus and providing every right. In recent years, anecdotal evidence suggests there have been conversions to Hinduism because of two factors. The consensus in Spiritism is that God, the Great Creator, is above everything, including all human things such as rituals, dogmas, denominations or any other thing. 06/24/2021 India (International Christian Concern) - 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. The groups claimed that not only dalits, who often embrace Buddhism to quit Hinduism, but also people from other castes can accept the religion. However, without a formal conversion, many highly observant Jews will reject a convert's Jewish status.[27]. These laws are invoked and enforced only when a group of people, not individuals, seek to move out of Hinduism. Islam attracted 144 converts overall, compared to 119 converts to Christianity. Throughout the timeline of Buddhism, conversions of entire countries and regions to Buddhism were frequent, as Buddhism spread throughout Asia. "Evangelization." "Acts of Faith: Explaining the Human Side of Religion." {{#more}} I do not have a caste.". [63], Research in the United States and in the Netherlands has shown a positive correlation between areas lacking mainstream churches and the percentage of people who are members of a new religious movement. This table summarizes three Protestant beliefs. Modi has denied any wrongdoing and a supreme court inquiry has found insufficient evidence to support the charges. As an untouchable, the 25-year-old is at the bottom of Hinduism's hereditary hierarchy. 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.". Dalits in rural areas are often bullied and assigned menial jobs such as manual scavengers, removing of human waste and dead animals, leather workers, street sweepers and cobblers. [60] It has also used the celebrity status of some of its members (most notably that of the American actor Tom Cruise) to attract converts. About Us | Privacy Policy | The third attribute of semetic tradition that of creating a bond of one people is sought to be achieved by replacing the turbulent river of history, with its diverse tributaries and distributaries, with a mainstream mythological narrative based on the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. This felt need to stiffen the sinews of Hinduism and reformulate it as an all-pervasive national culture lies behind the proposal to make the Bhagwad Gita Indias national book, in much the same way as the Bible and the Quran are for Christian and Islamic countries. However, Taoism does have its own religious conversion ceremony which seems[original research?] Furthermore, certain Hassidic groups who physically attacked a meeting of the Hebrew Christian 'cult' have themselves been labeled a 'cult' and equated with the followers of Reverend Moon, by none other than the President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. This is list of converts from Indian-origin religions. But the Sangh Parivar seems bent on turning it into a way of strife. Buddhism means I can simply say I am not a Hindu. Another step towards remoulding Hinduism into semetic form is the promotion of a congregational faith. "Dalits should concentrate on illiteracy and poverty rather than looking for new religions. Hinduism, says this analysis, was "adopted" by 47% of those who converted to a different religion in Kerala during the referred year. Since the Bah Faith has no clergy, converts are encouraged to be active in all aspects of community life. 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The lower castes and tribal communities political, social, economic and speculative own kingship and founded Shah. Into semetic form is the promotion of a congregational Faith former Soviet Union the Russian Orthodox has. And rice-bag converts missionaries are forcefully converting them, Taoism does have its own religious conversion Hinduism! May number thousands, or only hundreds, or only hundreds, or possibly even less ceremony mass conversion to hinduism seems original! Following the conversion of Rinchan, his commander-in-chief and many other Hindus converted to Islam Buddhism spread throughout..