Periodically, experts of mainstream media come up with theories on why Christianity is a “failed project” in India. Recently, senior journalist and author Dilip Mandal put forth the argument that Christianity has no future in India and, therefore, there is no reason for the Rashtriya Swayamevak Sangh or the Vishva Hindu Parishad to spread false alarm or panic about the proselytising capacity of Christian missionaries. Mandal also points out that the Christian population in India is either static or dwindling.
Mandal is, obviously, not open to recognising the idea that conversion was not the main purpose of the educational, medical and social work of Christian missions in India. Compassion International, a Christian organisation mentioned by him, in a detailed statement pointed out that their sole purpose in India was social outreach. And no official complaint of conversion has been filed against organisations such as Compassion International.
Dilip Mandal’s severe criticism that the Christian missionary’s work in India became “a tool for Brahmins and elites” seems baseless. He argues that the failure of Christianity in the early centuries in Kerala and elsewhere was because they confined themselves to converting Brahmins. However, the theory that there were Brahmins in the first century CE in the region that later became Kerala (when St Thomas is believed to have come to that region) has been disputed by scholars. According to some historians, there was no Brahmin presence in that region till the 8th century CE.
Further, Mandal also questions the quality of education imparted by Christian schools. As he puts it, these schools practised “elitism” and caste-based education because they taught English only to elite Indians while Dalits were forced to study in the vernacular languages. If he had a chance to meet a Dalit or Tribal Christian, Mandal may get a different perspective. Or, perhaps, he could read B.R. Ambedkar’s The Annihilation of Caste where he stated: “The Hindus … will probably not admit that the aborigines have remained savages because they had made no effort to civilize them, to give them medical aid, to reform them, to make them good citizens. But supposing a Hindu wished to do what the Christian missionary is doing for these aborigines, could he have done it? I submit not. Civilizing the aborigines means adopting them as your own, living in their midst, and cultivating fellow-feeling — in short, loving them. How is it possible for a Hindu to do this? His whole life is one anxious effort to preserve his caste.”
Also read: Don’t listen to VHP and panic. Christianity is a failed project in India
Going by the population
Most criticisms, including Dilip Mandal’s, ask this question: Despite the long history of Christianity in India, and robust missionary activity, why does the number of Christians in the country still remain under three per cent? Fortunately, they are not arguing that the success of Ghar wapsi is the reason for this. Perhaps these critics should also look at why the Parsi community is dwindling in India. Obviously, conversion — or the failure to convert — is not the reason. Critics should perhaps listen to the sociologists who say the educational and social success of a community could lead to a fall in its population.
A few years ago, journalist Tony Joseph also outlined a number of reasons why the Christian faith has failed. He said: “The fact is, the story of Christianity in India is a story of dismal failure, demographically speaking… what does Indian Christianity have to show for its humongous effort in terms of men, money and material, over two millennia? Almost zilch — or somewhere between two and three per cent of the population.
Other scholars question the theory that the dwindling numbers of Indian Christians are an indication that the Christian mission work was a failure.
In a rejoinder to Tony Joseph’s article, Philip Jenkins referred to Joseph’s dependence on the official census figures regarding the demography of Indian Christianity. Jenkins dismissed the Indian national census as “one of the world’s great works of creative fiction” and argued that the official record on Indian Christian population “has nothing whatever to do with actual numbers on the ground”. A more realistic estimate reached by independent scholars, according to Jenkins, “would put it closer to four percent, say 45 million people”. The reason for the suppression of the real strength of Christianity in India, as Jenkins put it, “is because of systematic and widespread persecution by Hindu extremist sects, often operating in alliance with local governments and police authorities — violence that receives virtually no publicity in the West.”
There are also other questions. Critics like Joseph and Mandal seem unaware of the phenomenon sociologists call multiple religious belonging. Pointing to a survey undertaken by the Gurukul Research Centre in 1979, M.M. Thomas wrote in 1995 that there were “many people in the city of Chennai who had accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour but had chosen to continue in their own religious, cultural and caste communities without conversion to the Christian religion” There are several such cases, not only of Christians but also of others who simultaneously practise Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. In other words, we cannot any longer compartmentalise people on the basis of religion.
Also, is the population factor really an argument? Buddhism was born in India several centuries before the origin of Christianity, but today only 0.7 per cent of the Indian population is Buddhist. That is, only 1.9 per cent of the world’s Buddhists are in India. Judaism is also believed to have come to India long before Christianity, though only a handful of adherents remain now. While several religions have dwindled in India, the question may be asked as to why the focus is on only one of them.
Also read: RSS-backed NGO blames Left-wing, Christian missionary groups for Palghar lynching
An Indian project
Christianity has been an indigenous religion in India for close to two millennia. Both native Christians and foreign missionaries have been a part of the various social movements in the country. In particular, several missionaries strove to strike a different identity from the colonial rulers by identifying themselves with Indian Christians and Indian society.
Seeking to serve the local church and society, William Carey, the British Baptist missionary, moved out of then British-ruled Calcutta (now Kolkata) a Danish colony in Bengal. He also translated the Mahabharata and Ramayana from Sanskrit in 1802.
In Kerala, the missionary Benjamin Bailey set up the first printing press in Malayalam. He was the first lexicographer in the language. C. F. Andrews aligned so closely with the nationalist movement that M.K.Gandhi expanded his initials as “Christ’s Faithful Apostle”. R. R. Keithahn, an American missionary, identified so much with the nationalist movement that the British government expelled him from India. When India became independent, C. Rajagopalachari, the last Governor-General of India, wired Keithahn: “Welcome back to free India!” Keithahn returned and spent the rest of his life here, and died in Oddanchathram in Tamil Nadu.
And of course, in independent India, there was Mother Teresa, the Indian saint from Albania, who cared for the sick, dedicated her life to the service of the poor, and kept a distance from discussions on conversion. As she put it, “I convert you to be a better Hindu, better Christian and better Muslim.” It may be added that from the 1970s or so, there have been practically no foreign missionaries in India, and that the Indian churches and their institutions are run by Indian personnel, mostly with Indian resources.
There were also Indian Christian leaders who participated in the nationalist movement and social reform. The oldest such venture was perhaps the periodical, The Christian Patriot: A Journal of Social and Religious Progress launched in 1890. The journal’s name signified its agenda: as Christians to be engaged in the uplift of the nation, in times of a growing Indian nationalism. Different from other journals, The Christian Patriot was started as a “purely indigenous venture”. The journal criticised both missionary paternalism (and racism) and tendencies in sections of the Indian National Congress to equate the national cause with Hindu revivalism.
The mistake of Joseph, Mandal and other critics, however, is in considering proselytisation as the yardstick to measure the success or failure of Indian Christianity. It needs to be stated emphatically that conversion was not the primary objective of the Christian mission in many parts of India. The St. Thomas Christians in Kerala, during the long period before the Western missionaries arrived, are not known to have undertaken any missionary activities. Their vocation was understood as permeation — living in harmony with their Hindu neighbours, by being the salt of the society. It was only when Dalits and Tribals approached the missionaries (not the other way around), that they moved their base to Dalit and Tribal areas from Kerala.
Also read: Hedgewar had hired Christian teachers to train the RSS
A grand propaganda
It is not that the Indian churches are without their problems. Even though the overseas missionaries are gone, the image and culture of Indian Christianity retain strong elements of foreignness. There is also the lingering influence of the Brahminical structures. Dalit Christians, who form the overwhelming majority of Indian Christians, are still marginalised in the churches and its institutions. Further, there are also issues of patriarchy and corruption in the Indian churches. These are problems that Indian Christianity needs to admit and overcome. Thankfully, there are serious theological reflections and action in most churches in this direction.
But rather than Christianity being a “failed project”, it is obvious there is a grand project behind the propaganda that the Christian faith has failed in India. The critics of Christianity seem quite comfortable with the fact that stringent anti-conversion laws have been passed in several states in India in violation of the freedom of religion enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Further, the benefits of reservation have been denied to Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin even after it has been established that the social and economic status of Dalits do not change after conversion. And yet, a propaganda has been unleashed on several levels to present Indian Christianity as a failed project. However, the arguments that could convince the faithful may not stand scholarly scrutiny.
The author is the Editor of Religion in Southeast Asia: An Encyclopedia of Faiths and Cultures (ABC-CLIO, 2015) and the Associate Editor of The Oxford Encyclopedia of South Asian Christianity (Oxford University Press, 2012). Views are personal.
I think you forgot to read the love of God that 2000 years ago he came to earth lefting his heaven, manifested in flesh and live a sinless life and shed his blood on the Cross for your Sins that you will be saved from God’s wrath. Nobody literally no God except only JESUS died for you and other always come to destroy sinners but come to save Sinners.
Silly me , why am I Even Trying to comment ?
The Print will label me as A ” Bhakt ” for stating the truth .
As a person who studied In a christian school I know the bible well . You see I was one of those Hindus who thought that Christians are good,bla bla bla and I was about to convert to this cult .
But as they say ,reading the bible makes you an atheist . And I read it . My respect for christianity decreased when Yahweh say ” I thy lord is a jealous God ” and how he killed people for simply not believing him .
But the more deeper I went into Christian History, I started to lose all respect for it. Seeing the reply of “lovable” and “peaceful” Christians here , it has reaffirmed by belief that Christianity is a cult of hatred which is hiding under “love”.
At least the jihadists are honest in the way that they show their bad intentions openly, they aren’t dishonest like the Christians who hide their supremacist tendencies as “love”.
Print should be calling you rather Andh Bhakth, because you failed to see the greed lust and hatred practised by all 33 million gods … trying to pick aspeck from others eyes while having log in your eye …. beloved nationalist
Read one book, The History of the Church. Just this one book. Then know the evil you are signed up for.
Isaac’s ‘loving’ comments proves the point, doesn’t it?:-).
I guess there is a reason why Christianity is dead in the West, eh?
Jenkins’ argument: “is because of systematic and widespread persecution by Hindu extremist sects, often operating in alliance with local governments and police authorities”. Or is it that these ‘born-again christians’ want to keep the benefits reserved for the truly underprivileged?
I think you forgot to read the love of God that 2000 years ago he came to earth lefting his heaven, manifested in flesh and live a sinless life and shed his blood on the Cross for your Sins that you will be saved from God’s wrath. Nobody literally no God except only JESUS died for you and other always come to destroy sinners but come to save Sinners.
I believe you should read the Bible carefully and understand the deep love of God. He is a Holy God and sin in any form gets consumed in the presence of God. Man’s heart is sinful. Man’s sin destroys him. The wages of sin is death.
Because of God’s love for mankind, He sent Jesus Christ to die for all and He paid the price for all’s sin.
Now that is true love.
The writer is pretending to be a true soul, however he is knowing that in 2 decade missionaries are able to convert at least 2 crore Hindus & Sikh into christianity by pretending to doing service and providing medicine. Number is more than 10 lacs in Punjab alone. Christian lobby is so strong that Chief Minister of Punjab is forced to give full page ads in newspaper for Christmas eve.
As a hindu i would like to tell, if u as a Christian or muslim or jain ,we mostly dont care about religion of others its their belief and I overconfidently belived that india will always be hindu major country because the instace other religion catches up to majority religion ,there will be blood, (read history) the winner takes all (ex:Pakistan, Bangladesh,Like see there demographics 100 years ago and compare it to present. ) lets forget about other countries take kerala as a example just see the demographics, u will get a chill down to your spine. From the time i had this thought its scary to be a liberal.
“Further, there are also issues of patriarchy and corruption in the Indian churches.”
Patriarchy is taught in the Bible as the right way for the Sexes to be ordered? And you say that which is Good is Evil just like corruption?
There’s a lot of conversion happening in this country from other faiths, no matter what the census has to say. But I’m afraid it’s into the wrong version of Christianity. Many convert for financial success because they are told that Jesus will bless their business (when he never said he would). Modern Hindus convert because its considered hep, sharing the same faith as hollywood stars, rappers and other influencial people. Where I live, more rich Hindus are converting than anyone else and they are filling up the mega churches, who provide them a more educated and culturally progressive identity. In either case it’s clear it has nothing to do with spirituality. The Church may grow demographically but still fail in fulfilling the purpose of God – producing good human beings that will positively affect society – the salt of the earth.
It would be a statement of over confidence on the part of Indians to say that Christianity has failed in India. The various Christian groups all over the world are still trying their best to expand their influence in India, as elsewhere in the world.
For example, the Roman Catholic church exhorts their adherents to form their own groups within the various offices in Bangalore. And in most offices, you find Christians forming their own informal groups and helping each other.
Celebration of Christmas is also a big event in the various MNCs in Bangalore. The game of Secret Santa, wherein gifts are given to their respective ‘child’ by the Secret Santa for a week or so, is also very popular in the companies in Bangalore. No other religious festival is celebrated as much as Christmas (because of Secret Santa) in the MNCs in Bangalore.
If not for the BJP government being in power at the centre, one wonders what would have happened to the country (especially if Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi was at the helm of affairs.)
You are a certified moron.
No one can destroy Hindu culture wait for 2000 years more nothing will happen……..because The culture of land is supreme……Yes definitely christianity has good in it……..even we Hindus accept that but it doesnt mean than we give up our culture which is more vibrant than culture from some Foreign land………..that will never happen………All knowledge is there in my country we are tolerant and we accept all religions are true but our religion,history ,culture language will never be given up……….
Over confidence leads to downfall. How much is Indian culture visible in earlier strong Hindu territories like Pakistan and Bangladesh? Even in India, many pockets have been formed that are totally alien to Hindu culture and look like foreign countries like those of Muslim and christian ones.
Whether Christianity is a failed project in India or not will depend on every person’s individual perspective. The initial objective of the Nicene creed to which all mainstream Christians irrespective of denominations subscribe, focused primarily on converting the natives to Christianity. The Nicene creed came to India, along with the first European invasion by the Portuguese. Whereas the initial colonialists used force for converting people, the latter colonialists like the British and French, avoided use of force for conversion, at least insofar as India was concerned. British were the most successful amongst the colonial Europeans to rule over India. Britishers however used other methods to encourage conversion, including patronage of Christian missionaries. Now, another point also merits mention. As majority of Indians were followers of Hinduism and overwhelming majority of these people were unwilling to change religion despite inducements, the British felt that proselytisation needs to be a co-ordinated effort by the mainstream Christian churches, without allowing their sectarian prejudices to surface. British also felt that unless the elite among’st the Indians were made to feel disenchanted with their heritage, no further progress can be made towards evangelisation. In this, the British were quite successful, as they created a tribe of “brown skinned elite” who were to an extent ashamed of their culture and wanted to live down their ethos. But even this did not help evangelisation, as overwhelming majority of this Indian “elite”, did not change their religion. And, Christianity has few takers among’st the underprivileged from Hindu society. Despite centuries of efforts and with considerable incentives, the percentage of Christians in India is less than 3%. Christian missionaries can try evangelisation with the Muslim community who constituted 23% of the population pre-partition and even now, around 13% of the population. But they are worried about the horrific repercussions. So all in all, the conversion project in India is a gigantic failure. But because of historical reasons, Catholic and to an extent Orthodox and Protestant churches have been able to establish reputed educational centres in many parts of the country. And these are patronised by well to do sections of the Hindu community more than anyone else. Even most of the teachers are Hindus. There are no doubt many reputed educational institutes with Hindu management also,. But to meet the demand requirement, many Hindus admit their children to Christian institutes also. The percentage of Christian educational institutions exceed their population percentage. This ensures good revenue for such institutes and various Churches and those clergy personnel engaged in educational sector prosper well. So, from the point of view of social standing, Christian clergy personnel in India have a success story to tell.
Jesudas has brought out well a perspective that needs to be pondered over. Proselytizing the entire Indian masses is not the only mission of the Christians. Education, medical hospitals, charitable organizations and other social welfare programs are run by the Christians for many many decades. They have done quite a bit for the development of the country India. The Hindus even today prefer the Christian convent for their children’s education, due to the fact that the children learn the mannerisms to cope up with the standards of the western world. So, it is a group that hates the semitic religions that always have problem with the Christians and the Muslims of India.
Right to freedom of religion Article 25-28 indian polity…
Right to religion means you are free to do the practices of your religion…
But conversion by giving rice bags , conversion of poors by taking the advantage of their condition and conversion by ruined the unique culture of tribals by imposing your mere belief and an intention to change the demography of india is strongly unacceptable…..
Jesudas M.Athyal is incorrect in quite a few aspects. For his information, Hinduism had a thriving presence all over India well before the birth of Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity that came to India at the time of St.Thomas is presently defunct in the world. That Christianity was Gnostic Christianity. The Christianity which one sees today, cutting across denominational barriers, is the Nicene creed established under the aegis of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, in the early part of the 4th century C.E. Another point to be remembered is this. Christianity is in no way more egalitarian (or less oppressive) than Hinduism. Class wise discrimination within Christian society has been an important facet of all Christian societies since the time of the Nicean creed. The reference here is not to Blacks or the Jews. It is to the weaker sections of the White Christian communities as well. It is these sections which were responsible for the rise of ideologies like Communism and Fascism (including Nazism). Nicene creed came to India in a significant way only in the 16th century C.E. with the Portuguese invasion. The Portuguese like the Dutch were quite particular about religion and their rule in India was therefore restricted to a few pockets and that too for a short period of time. The French and the British who came later, were willing to be more relaxed about religion insofar as India was concerned. That is the reason why Christianity has not really taken off in India. Had Europeans resorted to the naked methods they used in the continents of Africa, America and Oceania, the religious demography of the Indian sub-continent would have been different. Finally, Political Christianity like Political Islam, has been responsible for large scale genocide at the global level. The Nicene creed was sought to be lived down by the Christian churches themselves only after the end of World War II and more particularly, the Cold War.
Only goal of Christian missionaries is conversion nothing else. Humanity and service is joke for them. Churches are full of phedophiles around the world. Christian missionaries knows they can achieve their goals only and only by keeping Indians poor.
Rice bag convert abe bhosadike america me jo black mara hai wo kis religion ka tha
“Is Christianity ‘a failed project in India’? ‘Christianity is a failed project’ is the counter challenge that was faced by Christ and His disciples right from the time of the birth of Christ. There were always earthly forces which were working to show that Christianity would be a failed project in every step. The King Herod was conspiring to make the effort of searching for the place of the birth of the King of the Jews as fruitless. The massacre of the children below two years was another attempt to make the mission of the Son of God look a failed project. The statement, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself!” marks the zenith of the mockery to declare that Jesus dying on the cross was an utter failure. There is always another miraculous side to this ‘futureless Chritianity’ phenomenon. The work performed by God in India cannot be seen fully in order to judge its abiding value it brought to India. God is working in India, that much I know and believe. The leaven is working and I do not see how! The roots are growing though they are hidden to my eyes.The wind is blowing that I can hear but I do not know from where it is coming and where it is going.” Jesus’ words, ‘I am with you until the end of age” is the basis of hope for the Christians in India.
What did Jesus mean by ‘age’? Will he not be there forever? Then, Hinduism is right. It will always exist or will come back after Christianity is gone after a particular age.
Take your mere belief and go to your heaven right now ?…
Anti conversion law is coming bro…
If you trying to change the demography of india then the repulsion and repercussions will definitely come even in that level where May be your so called God will also be not able manage it..
You’ll regret it.
Right to freedom of religion ( Articles 25-28 )- Indian polity..
Firstly what is the meaning of this., What is right to freedom of religion ? It means that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to CHANGE his or her RELIGION and BELIEFS and FREEDOM, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching practice and observance.
So, according to the above equation it is clear that everyone have our right in terms of conversion or changing our religion…. The only thing I don’t understand is why do we keep arguing about conversation weather to Christianity or to any other religions.. we keep on snatching away the right that the constitution has given to us all..
The constitution gives you freedom of religion…not the right to convert others. You would have understood the difference had there been Hindu missionaries trying to actively propogate Hinduism in your face…had there been a doctor asking you to read bible before you start treatment at his clinic.
Asking people to convert by offering education, food, medicines, however magnanimous and generous it feels is nothing but selling your religion.
Asking people to convert in Christianity or Islam in exchange of Social, Educational, Medical support is same as selling your religion. If you truly believe in serving people don’t expect people to believe what you do. Do social work without expecting in return.
Very true…..
But I think for some sales man and morrons, this simple statement will go out of their minds…
Don’t know much about Catholics. But, most of the protestant churches are independent. They depend only on offerings received from believers. And, nowadays no foreigner is fool enough to send their charity to India. Therefore, church receiving foreign fund has become history now.
Further, where will the dalit and backwards go, when you are practicing untouchability and not even allowing entry to temples ? Forget about water, education and medical support..
This is what made poor to turn to Christianity where they are atleast treated as human beings. Got medical and education support. So, there is no meaning in discussing about all this. Indian constitution has given right to choose religion. And we have to respect it. Finally, many in South follow Christianity, as they apply logic before any major decision. Why most of the world population follows Christianity ? What a GOD ought to be, what is life after death etc.. . Let us accept the fact that we Indians always tried to fool fellow Indians with cooked stories. And, never tried to educate ourselves. Some of the weird statements by few hon’ble MPs are live examples of our above mindset. So let us live and also let others also live. Accept the best in every practice and be the best human. Let us spread love and not hatred..
God bless you sir.
Why do you say foeigners are not fools to send charity to India? Is it foolish to send charity to Indian churches and missionaries?
The problem with Christianity & Islam is they are neither satisfy science, not logic. The simple example is their claim of world as 7000 years old, when people know world is billions of years old. Other example is their claim that only human has soul, while animals does not, which flies on the face of science, which sees human as evolved mammal. Therefore they were successful only when able to use force or threat to use force or provide monetary incentives to convert. Therefore Islam & Christianity were successful in border areas and backward areas. But not successful when they had to face Hinduism or Buddhism head on.
Hi Harry, did scince teach you that animals have soul?
anything has origin has end… if there is death there is birth… if there is end there is beginning… so if soul has no end or death it has no beginning… so we have previous births.
Science does not say humans have soul too..
Some one who lived 30 years un noticed and could get only 12 people to follow, you call him god?
Science does not say that human have soul either.
Science does no believe that human being has soul either.
spirituality teaches it. Science also did not teach that humans have souls. It is an inbuilt thing in all living beings that can be felt through connection with God. And this is different from religion. The God in spirituality is different and more practical such as in Hindusim than the God in religion as practiced in the cults of Islam and Christianity.
Conversion is not just for religion. That is the entry tucket! The deeper and more hidden agenda is political and wealth/resource control of nations!
“However, the theory that there were Brahmins in the first century CE in the region that later became Kerala (when St Thomas is believed to have come to that region) has been disputed by scholars. According to some historians, there was no Brahmin presence in that region till the 8th century CE.”
Even I can accord to some historians and claim that there was no St. Thomas who visited India in 1st century CE. If you talk facts, you’ve to stick to authentic facts. If you talk about legacy through oral legends, don’t point out other’s factual errors. First fix things on your side, then let’s have a debate of what’s gone wrong here. Such a bigoted, one-sided article. I know that The print is full of liberals and I can understand a hue of anti-Hindu stance in whatever their authors write. But this is highly ridiculous. I’m sorry if I’m too rude but I’ve to say that there’s no logic in your thought process.
When dalits are not allowed to enter temples, they will go elsewhere for their spiritual needs. No inducement for conversion is required. Therefore the propoganda that missionaries are resorting to conversions through incentives or force is totally false.
That is a wrong comment. Temples are open to all.
“Therefore the propoganda that missionaries are resorting to conversions through incentives or force is totally false.” Yes is as false as you.
Goal is only conversion and efforts are on even today by allocating huge foreign funds for the same. God is one why try conversions thru money and trying to entice illiterate people thru miracles. Today hindus have regained pride and many westerners will be attracted by scientific Hindu religion.
Goal is only conversion and efforts are on even today by allocating huge foreign funds for the same. God is one why try conversions thru money and trying to entice illiterate people thru miracles. Today hindus have regained pride and many westerners will be attracted by scientific Hindu religion.
I am taken aback by the spirit of this article. Quite taken aback.
(1) As far as my little life is concerned, I haven’t seen segregation being practiced against the Christians in India. Some political groups do so, but it is not widespread and quite restrained.
(2) India and Nepal are the only two Hindu majority countries in the world. If Hindus and their ancestors were so bad and poor-minded, I wonder, why Hinduism was not exported to other countries of the world?
(3) It is quite known that the crusades were fought between Christians and Muslims, more so as a result than causality, to further and protect their respective religions.
(4) If what the author says is true, then why have Christian missionaries wanted to do so much good to mankind, in the name of Jesus Christ? They might as well have done it in the name of “Humanitarian Aid” like the UN does all over the world.
(5) And, I am just tired of this constant belittling of Hindus, Hindu Castes, Brahmanical structures etc, by the well-read people of this country. I mean, you keep on discrediting us for anything and everything. Very conveniently, the author forgets that if these Hindu structures were so bad, why did the Indian-King-ruled states have a much better living standard (and higher power capita income) vis-a-vis The ones directly under the British (who were mostly Christians), during the colonial era.
So, please stop propagating these hurtful articles. No matter how bad Hindus might be, they have a right to be in majority in the only other Hindu-majority country on earth.
Christian population is below 3% because the converts are instructed not to reveal their new religion.
Again with a nonsense. Gave up half the way Christianity for compassion ??? You should atleast listen to what the church says about the motive for these “compassion acts”. And please read about “Christan missionary and Goa ” and then start the nonsense. Don’t understand how come you are a journalist when people send you the story to post in your name along with money don’t u read them atleast once.
If Christian want to serve the people then why they convert people in Christianity, they can serve without converting… They go to poor and tell them if they convert into Christianity they will gat money support from churches…. BDW I’M NOT FROM RSS…
We are only considering India. Let’s look at the world. Genesis 16: 10- God Himself promised that the descendants of Ishmeal means the followers of prophet Muhammad would be the highest population in the world. Muslims are now second highest population in the world, it is the fastest growing people in the world today. It will become the world highest population in the next 20 years.
Many people like Muslims and dislike christians in the area of faith and practice. Christianity is loosing it’s values because it has adopted Western cultural in stead of adopting Bible culture. Hinduism, budhism and others came before Christianity but could not grow in number. Jews failed in 586 BC. Now Christianity is failing. But remember way to eternal life in heaven is narrow Matt.7:14. Hell is lager than heaven. Praise the Lord. Number will not work with God. Truth will work with God.
As per the Hindu scriptures, muslims & Christians ( malichh ) will do all ding dog for several years and then surrender to sanatan dharma..
Read bhavishya puran, bhavishya Purana was written before even malichh religion ever born ..
This article is half truths, misleading, whether people belonging to so called lower strata of India society has any role in sanadhana dhraman of the society. The Christian missionaries have been trying uplift the lower caste community giving them to better hope of life, promote their children education, preserve their cultural heritage and culture identity,for example North East States, they were became Christians but still they following traditional practice.
how much does christianity preserve cultural heritage and identity if these are related to Hinduism? All big talk. Christianity does the same as Islamists do – but with a sweet fake smile and deceit.
It’s totally manipulated blog to change view of people on Christianity. Offcourse Chrisitanity failed project in india because of strong faith of people on onde vishnum jagadgurum. Obviously when the god of this land is the origin and the god since the world existed people who born here must realise the truth.No religion can overcome hindusim because the of the fact is that it’s in blood of people who follow which is the only religion gives solution for all , reason for all , peace for all.
1 billion Hindus and 600 million Muslims in the subcontinent. Think again. Even this came about because Mughals discouraged conversion because then higher population will adhere to word of Sufi saints and run to them if they have problem with govt and the kings couldn’t challange the Sufi saints and thus it will create problems for them. If they really promoted Islam and conversion we wouldn’t have had even 10% Hindus.
Christianity cannot be failed anywhere. That is a presumption. Christianity is not termed as religion or project like others call it. A Christian is someone who has a beautiful relationship with Jesus Christ and believe He is the Saviour of his/her soul. When died from this earth, I/we will go home to be ever with Jesus in His place. This is what Christianity is.
Christianity is renewing & transformation of one self from bad to good, from evil to saint. 1% of christians can make a huge difference. Just 12 of them in 14th century shook the world in storm and the entire world was rewritten
Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven… God bless you
People like you must go heaven right now ?..
The Christian message is to spread the message of Christ of belief in the Almighty and treating fellow human beings with love and respect. Caring for the weak and oppressed is an important aspect of the Christian faith. It does not rely on the number of followers but on the goodwill and encouragement to everyone to lead a dignified and good life which would be a guide to others. God created all men as equal and as brothers. It is not just a religion but a way of life which is expected from us.
You talk like a missionary tbh.
First conversion and now reservation.
“the benefits of reservation have been denied to Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin even after it has been established that the social and economic status of Dalits do not change after conversion”
Yes bro
Print becomes mouthpiece for the church.
Conversion is the only goal. Everything else is activities to bring about the conversions
Shameless article! Written by a convert.
Google “Rice Christian”
?, sanghi will only say like that
Hinduphoics will only say what you said.
What Mandal and other critics fail to recognise is the constitutional right of every citizen chose one’s religion.
Mandal has only seen the rights of Dalits who are present only in Hindu religion and in no other religion. The rest is taken care of by the Constituion of India. You want to eat the cake and have it too! Very clever.
Let these fantics viist the village fields where missionary work is going on
None of the great ghar wapsi programmes organiser can really appeal to the conscience and needs of the villagers
They need to redefine their thinking
I request the Print to publish an article from a right of center perspective as well. Otherwise your articles on the rampant Christian prosyletization in India are going to be unrepresentative of the entire matter.
Besides it’s an undeniable fact that Christianity has destroyed the beautiful indigenous religious traditions of northeast India such as the Donyi-Polo religion of worshipping the Sun and moon. The northeast has 90% Christian dominance while the ancient native religious traditions of the North east have been entirely obliterated.
Your articles are silent on the drastic change in religious demography in the North east. Very sad to see your blinkered choices of writers on this issue who choose to ignore and gloss over such facts about the rise of Christianity at the cost of native tribal religions.
Dr. Athyal has righly pointed out that the yardstick for measuring the success of Christianity in India is neither in its numbers nor conversation rates. Rather the success of any community needs ti be measured in its contributions to the society. Well there is no argument regarding the contribution of Christans to the Indian society.
Sir, I don’t agree with you. Ask any body; the greatest number of human tragidies that has occurred is not due to Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings – but due to acts of Roman Catholic Church. It’s on record.
Shame on the conversion lobby.
Allsaid and done the basic plan of Christianity remains conversion, hospitals n schools are a cover up, it’s just the way the mafia operates, perhaps church is more ruthless, unforgiving , secretive n financially strong
An ordinary Indian should never ever forget what the church is upto, the moment they get leverage, political or socio economic is where the wilfin sheep s clothing will be revealed
They were, are n will be a nefarious group n kept far
They are harvesters of soul
The tribals, sc n others willrealise their true nature n leave these crooks
As Bishop Tutu said
When the missionaries came to Africa
The locals had land n the church theBible
When the locals opened their eyes the church had their land n locals the Bible
BTW, church runs the largest prostitution racket under wraps
May the sinnersbe pardoned
The thesis of the article relies of a few exceptions than the reality on the ground. Clearly most priests come to India to preach and convert. The question is the percentage of folks engage in proseltysation and the percentage that does not.
The author claims that people convert and lose their benefits under affirmative action. This despite their condition not changing. I do not understand why once an individual converts to Islam or Christianity they should continue to get the benefits. At the end of the day, the benefits are based on Hindu caste discrimination. You leave the faith, you lose benefits. Liberals should get this no?
The other issue is that of measuring the population growth and percentage of the national population. If folks convert and yet keep their Dalit identity, census will be a poor reflection. What we need to do is look at the growth in places of worship. More there are more people following the faith.
It is time that this matter is looked at by men of science and not Arts and Journalism majors.
Christianity and Islam do not give room for multiple beliefs to coexist. Once and individual converts and is out of Hinduism, he is not a Dalit anymore. He cannot claim to do so. Yes his condition has not changed, however the benefits were provided on the basis of caste and religion. There ends the matter. Rational authors such as Jesudas, should not have an issue with this.
The other problem is of classification. If people continue to be Dalits and follow Islam and Christianity, attending these places of worship, what are they? Are they Hindus? Christians? Muslims? Census will clearly give a wrong estimate. Really estimating the percentage of Christian and Muslim population will be difficult. A better way to do it is a measure of the density of Churches, Mosques and how they have grown in percentage terms. If there are more places of worship then there are more people. Is it consistent with what the census tells us.
This debate needs a more scientific and rational approach. This cannot be in the hands of Arts and Journalism majors.
When all over the world priests have been accused of rape and embezzlement . It seems the proselytizers of INDIA are not indulging in any such activities.
Or is it the case that any one speaks against atrocities committed by the clergy you will be excommunicated .
A religion without religious freedom.
So much is trying not be to be whats it looks to be..lol
Stop conversion and get lost.
If you think Christians are going to extinct then you are wrong , the main reason of not getting increment in Christian population is that many hindus are not even bothered about knowing the true God , they just need festivals to celebrate ,Hindu people’s mindset is such!!
Again if you don’t remember then Gandhi bapu also believes in Jesus Christ , he says that I believe in that CHRIST but not on CHRISTIANS .
Also Swami Vivekananda knows the power of Christ
JESUS never asked people to convert , look at the God not at his followers because the followers are worldly so they are getting indulged in money and all that stuffs.
And what your gods did for u , can anyone give the answer? ,
The Vedas says about “Deja Vu” that’s is the string theory or something which says there is no God , alsod don’t feel proud on the Vedas becoz the Greeks have also provided many fundamentals , they are just written by humans not by god’s ,
You can see the example of pyramid of Giza. Which has coordinates same as the speed of light , but that does not means it created by God , they are humans creation , and the gods of hindus teaches about betraying and fighting with brothers only..
The Mahabharat is all about fighting , god giving idea to kill brothers for the Kingdom , if you believe in such things you are mad , they don’t provide any teaching they are doing there own work only
And in India there is just constitution no implementation.
People in Bihar and UP are harassing and killing the Christians , the news are not uplifted becoz they are Christians they don’t have life
In most of the states the same problems are there , we cannot even buy lands for building our church’s , India looks good from outside same as Hindu religion but deep inside there are many problems, but still people are not looking at their mistakes
Don’t you know about the fake Baba’s all around India that have been put to jail
Those who do the work of God don’t need to fear from anything ,
See the life of Graham stains a missionary who is burnt with his 2 sons alive in the West Bengal for spreading the message of love of Christ , is this the slogan of Indians ” Vasudeva kutambakam”, ?
U can see the trintiy of God all around,
Jesus is the true Saviour , he loves us and gave his life for a sinner like me, he is a father to his children and the caretaker of ours , may God bless all , Amen
Mahabharat is about killing?? Are you kidding? Gita comes from Mahabharat, it inspires some of best entrepreneurs of world. Yoga is practiced all over world. Graham Stains was not burn in West Bengal but Odisha.
On your big lecture, give love but don’t be desperate to convert people….you may think other’s are fool. A lot of activities has been found on ground including one heroic act in North Sentinel Island recently! So stop fooling around.
Another misconception- religion makes better, joke! Hard work, discipline, dedication etc are very common traits works for every human. Thomas Edison or Bill Gates is not what they are due to they are Christians but what I just described above. This also includes Pichai, Ambani etc., meaningless to claim they have done well because they are hindus.
By the way those people thinks numbers will rule world, there can’t be greater fallacy than this. It’s a handful of Jews leads world, now aethist cum Buddhist is leading onslaught (China) of development. Technology and innovation has been cornerstone of success not religion. Every religion add a philosophical layer to one’s brilliance. But again private practice! This is why you won’t find many Indian Christians become Google or Microsoft head! The day they follow common traits for every human they will become too.
If this is the messge you get out of Mahabharata, then the message from Bible is also that of back stabbing, bitching, torture and killing on a structure called cross. What else is there in it? Oh yes, there is this unscientific crap called someone risen from the dead. It is so f….g bs that Islam looks better in this respect.
This article is false propaganda meant to lull Hindus to sleep. Christian churches are the largest landowners. Christians have looted most since independence. Christians have control over education, made stronger by bigoted RTE. Christians churches are not raided by majority community, rather Christians in andra and Tamil Nadu are trying to destroy every Hindu temple and destroy everything Hindus hold of value. Christian bigots control entire state governments in Mizoram Nagaland Meghalaya Andra Pradesh and the Hindu’s Gulag Kerala. Hindus are being played for fools, till the Chrislamists have us surrounded like Yezidi on mountaintops. Ban Christianity, test blood of Christians, and remove to half breeds to Europe. They made them they can take them.
Where the heck you get this false information, if the buyed their land let it be theirs
Some of these lands have been given away at throw away prices by the Christian Antonio Maino Govt when it was in power.
I think you forgot to read the love of God that 2000 years ago he came to earth lefting his heaven, manifested in flesh and live a sinless life and shed his blood on the Cross for your Sins that you will be saved from God’s wrath. Nobody literally no God except only JESUS died for you and other always come to destroy sinners but come to save Sinners.
Christianity is just another Colonial tool
It will be extinct in India in about a century.
No one will head any tears when it happens.