Religious Conversion

There is a lot of debate in India about whether conversions from Hinduism to Islam or Christianity are justified. These debates have been acrimonious with the various Hindu groups clamouring for a total ban on conversions. This has even degenerated to violence and frankly I am shocked by the views of even some people, whom I consider moderates, on this subject. What is going on here?

Talking about religious conversions in India or even in other developing countries, cannot be done in isolation. This needs to be considered in the economic context that is the backdrop for many such issues. If a person who is economically well - to - do, considers conversion, thinking that Islam or Christianity offers a better path for his spiritual growth, there is no argument here. He/She is free to convert. Denying this right to that person would be a sin in Hinduism as this person suffers without being able to practice the path of his choice.

However, most of religious conversions are not like the above in India. Poverty stricken Hindu people are converted after being lured with economic opportunities or at least a square meal on the day of conversion by Christian Churches and Muslim mosques. The Hindu community is outraged by this and the Hindu leaders are clamouring of government intervention here to ban these type of conversions. What are these Hindu leaders hoping to achieve?

These leaders are doing more damage to Hinduism by criticizing these conversions than by being indifferent about it or trying to solve the problems of the poor Hindu. How is that? The poor Hindu looks at these conversions as a means to feed his family, get a job, get education...The Hindu religious leaders have done little to alleviate these problems. Instead, they are denying the Hindu, these means, and keeps him in his current state of poverty causing endless suffering. This is a sin even by Hinduism's own standards.

If the Hindu religious leaders offered the same opportunities to the poor Hindu, would there be any conversions? If they even tried to convert poor Muslims and Christians to Hinduism by offering them a square meal, that would at least give the poor people a chance to feed themselves in the name of religious conversions.

Instead of all of these, there is a cocktail of political, economic and religious arguments, even among moderates and this has vitiated the atmosphere.

Truth Be Told.