- the plight of christians in India

In recent years, India's Christian "convert"The HinduEvents reported by the media from time to time, and each time the conversion event occurred between christians and hindus "sectarian violence".In August of this year, about the conflict in eastern India's orissa, for the Christian church was set fire to, the Christian church to set up schools and orphanages have been destroyed and missionaries and Christian attack, a nun burned, another Christian woman gang-raped.Tens of thousands of christians fled home, hidden in the forest.In September, four areas in the southern state of karnataka in clashes, 17 Catholic churches were destroyed and many christians were attacked, the whole Christian groups in terror.The development force India's central government to the orissa government warned that if the sectarian conflict cannot be effectively controlled, consider the implementation of "take over".According to the official announcement, some christians have recently begun to return to their homes, but according to media reports, as anyone who return to their homes is the Hindu "convert".October 2, alone, in a region of orissa, there are 22 Christian family "because of fear of being killed and property was robbed" and "conversion" Hinduism, which is able to return home.But even in this area, there are still 1.3 thousands of christians living in relief camps, they don't want to "convert" Hinduism and there was no hope of home.

India's Christian groups and some secular intellectuals, events will take place in orissa, referred to as the "anti-christian violence".Director of violence is the "world conference on Hinduism" and its Allies.In christians, muslims, buddhists, and even some of the intellectuals, the groups belong to the Hindu extremist groups.From the beginning of the 19th century, along with the development of India's struggle for national independence movement and the Hindu revival, some Hindu organization began to make due to various reasons in history from the Hindu "return of Hinduism.To do this, they will be called a "sudie" Hindu purification rituals, as for buddhists, christians, and muslims "to return to the Hindu" ceremony "convert".

Totally different from China's history, the Indian subcontinent in history has never been the unity on the political (territory), unified strength has always been a religious culture.Hinduism has the concept of monotheism polytheism color, its inclusive had infinite extension degree, even for other religion can also be tolerance and acceptance.A song of praise in vedic classic said: "truth is one, and the name of the holy one in different call."Therefore, Buddha, Allah, god shiva, Vishnu, rama, Krishna, is supreme god.Gandhi once said, "I believe is not a Hindu sects, including all I know it can be found in all religions of the solidifying, including Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrian...The truth that is my religion, and non-violence is the only way to understand the truth.Sect is not important, therefore, on the surface of the conversion is not significant;For everyone, his religion is the best religion."

Visible, Hindu for human important teachings, is brahman (tao, logos, etc.) is the supreme spirit, and there are many roads leading to the supreme spirit.Max weber said Indian religion as "a religion" strict origins, unless a natural, no one can be in any way into Hindu group.The spread of Hinduism in the Indian subcontinent, mainly through widely and deeply in the history of philosophy absorb various deities ceremony, inclusive parties and assimilation RACES the tribe's way of life, is a large type, nature and long process.Therefore, whether in theory or in practice, in terms of overall Hinduism is not advocating a convert to (teach) religion.

But the indians "convert" other religions is a normal state.The earliest converts, dating back to convert to Buddhism ashoka.Medieval period from Delhi Sudan to mughal period, about of India (at the time of India, including today's India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) converted to Islam, a quarter of the population.Since modern western colonial, a large number of hindus converted to Christianity.We can say that India is the pattern of diversity in religious culture, is in different nationalities, different languages, religions, formed in the competition, conflict and fusion of each other.With Abraham religious culture mode and Chinese religious culture, Indian religious culture mode is a kind of multivariate tolerance.

In India, someone called Christian "religion" castaway, called buddhist religion "" untouchable.This is due to "convert" mostly Hindu low caste, and known as "contacts" "untouchable" (they also known as "dalit people", "true" harry, "table column caste", etc.).For these untouchables converted to other religion is for the status of "no touch" "rebellion", is to change yourself means of insulted the oppressed situation, is to establish their own identity.They think high caste hindus never separate their caste and religion, the religious place them on top, and put the "others" in the lower layer, thus change their social and economic status, you must "escape" the Hindu.

As one of the world, on the other hand, a strong Christian religion, communication process and the mode of transmission in India is not satisfactory.Some groups in the Hindu view, fromgrapesTooth people set up "the inquisition" "forced to teach" to the modern missionary material temptation, makes "Hinduism in danger".With the Hindu convert to Buddhism, Islam and Christianity have been media reports, the Hindu organization reflection of Hinduism reform on one hand, the establishment of education, medical and all kinds of service, competition with Christian (this, in turn, has prompted Christian groups change missionary strategy, more effectively cope with change);On the other hand, adopted a tough attitude and measures, including attacks on Christian churches and christians.Bilateral interaction, the more you raised up and growing sectarian violence.

In India the diverse religious country, freedom of religious belief is the most basic human rights, is also a constitutional protection of citizens' basic rights.The constitution of India article 25, to ensure every citizen's freedom of religion.But since the 1970 s, have several states to pass laws against Christian missionary, south Tamil state government in 2002 also passed the ban mandatory conversion in accordance with the law.Low caste hindus "escape" efforts and Hindu political forces "ban", formed the huge contrast, as a result, the relationship between different religious groups more nervous, and caused a nationwide extensive debate on this question.These arguments include the conversion of reason, the legitimacy of legislation, the religious meaning of equality and freedom of religion, and so on.

Along with the religious market competition of economic globalization, the various religious reforms have put forward higher requirements.Because in the world capitalist market, labor dignity will play a key role, expand rational thinking space religion will increasingly attract the mind of the secular education.In the process, refused to grant low caste spirit democratic rights of Hinduism, is facing a serious problem.India's low caste, religion, therefore, is not actually a religious issue, but how to realize social democracy and the spirit of democracy, in the final analysis, is in the traditional hierarchical social construction of a modern state of the core problem - the problem of equality.

Up to the 21st century, untouchables, that lies at the bottom of the Hindu caste system is still in the struggle for protect the rights of religious freedom in this basic.But, the real tragedy is that religion, through to the escape misfortune and efforts of dignity is often fail, caste ghost within the new religion also follow the converts.In some areas, untouchable christians in addition to the social and economic status did not significantly improve, also can't room activities, with high caste christians cannot communion together.In short, they are still "contacts".

To teach or not to change?To convert or convert again?This is a problem.

(from: China national news, on October 28, 2008 - Qiu Yonghui, author unit of the Chinese academy of social sciences institute of world religions)