[12] Latter Day Saints baptisms also occur only after an "age of accountability" which is defined as the age of eight years. Of the total 506 people who registered their change of religion with the government, 241 were those who converted from Christianity or Islam to Hinduism. [13] The theology thus rejects infant baptism. 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. Messianism may prepare groups for the coming of a Messiah or of a saviour. In Hyderabad the first person to convert will be KRS Murthy, 70, who was the first dalit recruited into the state's civil service in 1959. This might be from one to another denomination within the same religion, for example, from Baptist to Catholic Christianity or from Sunni Islam to Shia Islam. If there are any mistakes, or if any part of the person being baptized is not fully immersed, the baptism must be redone. Going way beyond, they endow the government with surveillance powers over a constituency of people. Website Designed, Developed & Maintained by Express Network Private Ltd. Don't create wrong picture by such headlines. Merchants and traders of India, particularly from Indian peninsula, carried their religious ideas, which led to religious conversions to Hinduism in Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia . "Islam is egalitarian, and we get the self-respect," said Khalik. Some people say that missionaries are forcefully converting them. [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. "Psychological Explanations of. [15] Because the churches of the Latter Day Saint movement operate under a lay priesthood, children raised in a Mormon family are usually baptized by a father or close male friend or family member who has achieved the office of priest, which is conferred upon worthy male members at least 16 years old in the LDS Church. These laws are invoked and enforced only when a group of people, not individuals, seek to move out of Hinduism. [38][39][40] Some sects of Hindus, particularly of the Bhakti schools began seeking or accepting converts in early to mid 20th century. control of land. 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. "India investigates reports of mass 'reconversion' of Christians". We will be happy to have you on board as a blogger, if you have the knack for writing. When performing a Baptism, Latter Day Saints say the following prayer before performing the ordinance: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. But its record in adjudicating the evidently unsecular anti-conversion statutes is dubious. Persons newly adhering to Buddhism traditionally "Taking Three Refuge" (express faith in the Three Jewels Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha) before a monk, nun, or similar representative, with often the sangha, the community of practitioners, also in ritual attendance. But these benefits aside, there was another more substantive reason why many Indians, especially the Dalits (Untouchables) and tribals embraced Christianity, and even Islam. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice" (Article 18.1). This applies also for the presence of New Age centres. 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. In December another group conducted a similar ceremony for more than 200 Muslims in the northern city of Agra. Can you explain why? . "I have hidden my roots. May1: 500. More portentous was the grand ghar wapsi (homecoming, or mass-reconversion) programme announced by the Dharam Jagran Samiti (loosely translated into Hindi-Religious Awakening Front) in the neighbouring town of Aligarh, where Christmas was to be celebrated by bringing 4,000 Christians and 1,000 Muslims back into the folds of Hinduism. Mass conversions of areas and communities to Buddhism occur up to the present day, for example, . [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. Modi has denied any wrongdoing and a supreme court inquiry has found insufficient evidence to support the charges. The amendment makes provision to increase the maximum imprisonment for . Buddhism means I can simply say I am not a Hindu. Advertise With Us | 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. The bench of Justice Manju Rani Chauhan was dealing with the anticipatory bail application filed for anticipatory bail in a case registered under Sections 153-A, 506, 420, 467, 468, 471 IPC and 3 & 5(1) U.P. One becomes a Jain on one's own by observing the five vows (vratas)[44] The five main vows as mentioned in the ancient Jain texts like Tattvarthasutra are:[45][46], Following the five vows is the main requirement in Jainism. Nagpur (Maharashtra): - The First and the biggest mass conversion, which the country has ever witnessed, took placed on the 14th day of October 1956. AAP Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam's video, in which he is seen at an event where mass conversion of Hindus took place, has gone viral. In 1339, Shah Mir established his own kingship and founded the Shah Mir Dynasty, which lasted till 1561. Though ostensibly secular in objective, the, Indians look up to the judiciary to uphold the secular values of the republic, and the Supreme Court has, time and again, thwarted onslaughts on peoples core fundamental right of religious freedom. I think Hinduism's influence is weaker than one god religions. In Tibetan Buddhism, for example, the current Dalai Lama discourages active attempts to win converts. With the demonstrated Indian genius of turning all schemes involving money into scams, Coalgate and Spectrumgate might soon yield headlines to Conversiongate. According to the report, the converts said they were neither lured nor coerced into Hinduism. All the comments will be moderated by the newindianexpress.com editorial. In fact they stop talking to me. The rise of the BJP to power at the national level in 1998 spurred a spate of anti-conversion legislation. But often on trains people ask about my background, what my father did, where I am from. {{#more}} "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. Missions of the 19th century spread against a background of North Atlantic revivalism with its emotionalism and mass-meeting crowd psychological behaviours. Despite officially being a secular nation, organizations allied with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are actively promoting mass conversions to Hinduism. In a shocking update, an alleged 'mass conversion' took place in Rajasthan's Jaipur as around 400 families have been allegedly converted. (CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.4, General Comment No. Like tens of thousands of other untouchables - or dalits - across India today, Mr Cherlaguda will be ritually converted to Buddhism to escape his low-caste status. His blog takes a contrarian view of topical and timeless issues, political, social, economic and speculative. Just drop in a mail at [email protected] with a brief bio and we will get in touch with you. Christanity has 2.5-3% base in 82% Hindu dominated India. According to official figures for the year 2020, the biggest gainer in terms of new converts was Hinduism. For example, the New Testament chronicles the personal activities of the Apostles and their followers in inspired preaching, miracle-working and the subsequent gathering of followers. However, people who converted to Buddhism said they faced caste. Khusro Khan, step-son of Alauddin Khalji.After Alauddin's death in 1316, Khusrau Khan managed to kill Alauddin's son and successor as sultan Qutb ud din Mubarak Shah, ending the Khalji Dynasty in 1320. This includes acknowledgement of Bah'u'llah the Founder of the Faith as the Messenger of God for this age, awareness and acceptance of his teachings, and intention to be obedient to the institutions and laws he established. "Acts of Faith: Explaining the Human Side of Religion." Despite mass gatherings like the Kumbh Mela, Hindus have traditionally never practiced congregational worship. "Conversion" is a very charged word for Hindus. Another step towards remoulding Hinduism into semetic form is the promotion of a congregational faith. BJP divide people on religion wise for vote. Display results as threads They are fringes. There is no specific ritual for becoming a Jain. Esther Dhanraj converted to Christianity and then reverted back to Sanatana Dharma. Proselytism is the act of attempting to convert by persuasion another individual from a different religion or belief system. The mass conversion was part of a . So all tribals and SCs converted to Christians here. Amen. Copyright - newindianexpress.com 2023. "My mother died of her injuries. Instead, they looked for exclusive ground, literally, i.e. Gauri Viswanathan (1998), Outside the Fold: Conversion, Modernity, and Belief, Princeton University Press, "Artists Find Inspiration, Education at Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre Nashville. The Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) government in the western state of Gujarat controversially amended an anti-conversion law to classify Buddhism and Jainism as branches of the Hindu religion, denying them status as unique religions. The closest Hindu equivalent of a regular congregation is the RSS shakha. [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. Even as its protg, the BJP, has initiated a country-wide drive to recruit members and overtake the Chinese Communist Party as the worlds largest political association, the RSS has set a target of annually converting 1 lakh each of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism. Mass Conversion to Hinduism In India By Faheem Belharvi Bajrang Dal, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) converted at least 57 Muslim families (200 people) into Hindus at a "Purkhon ki Ghar vapsi" coming home of the ancestors ceremony held at Agra, Uttar Pardesh. conducted by Indian Hindu nationalist organisations Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and their allies. UP's Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020, promulgated last week penalises mass conversions - defined by the ordinance as conversions of two or more persons. BJP is in power today only because other parties played religious politics by oppressing the majority Hindus and providing every right. 77% of the new converts to Islam were Hindus and 63% women. This doctrine answers the question of the righteous non-believer and the unevangelized by providing a post-mortem means of repentance and salvation. Before becoming prime minister, Modi was previously denied a US visa following accusations that he stood by during, or even encouraged, sectarian violence in the western state of Gujarat in 2002, when he was chief minister. This situation stems from a law passed in the 1930s by the dictator Ioannis Metaxas. All rights reserved. In another case, Larissis v. Greece, a member of the Pentecostal church also won a case in the European Court of Human Rights.[68]. Conversion is illegal if there is any element of compulsion or bribery. Indonesia has the world's largest population of Muslims. Morris, Harold C., and Lin M. Morris. LESS Conversion to the Bah Faith carries with it an explicit belief in the common foundation of all revealed religion, a commitment to the unity of mankind, and active service to the community at large, especially in areas that will foster unity and concord. Also, not a single legislation even addresses, let alone punish, reconversion which the many Hindu zealots are painstakingly claiming as totally voluntary and a righteous reply to the violation of rights by colonisers and their ilk. Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.. 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. In terms of spiritual practices, there are many you can try and see what works for you such as r/Introspection, r/yoga, r/meditation or r/bhajan. [26], In some cases, a person may forgo a formal conversion to Judaism and adopt some or all beliefs and practices of Judaism. Apostate is a term used by members of a religion or denomination to refer to someone who has left that religion or denomination. "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). [61][62] The Church of Scientology requires that all converts sign a legal waiver which covers their relationship with the Church of Scientology before engaging in Scientology services. Welcome! For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service, {{{add_comment_link}}} Adaptation in favour of Matrimony "Love Jihad" is the hot all the rage a chain of the methods second-hand in favour of the determination. A total of 144 persons adopted Islam. [14], In addition, Latter Day Saint theology requires that baptism may only be performed with one who has been called and ordained by God with priesthood authority. The peace we seek in the world begins in human hearts; it finds its glorious expression when we look beyond any differences in religion or tribe and rejoice in the beauty of every soul, said Obama, who namechecked prominent Indian Muslims, Sikhs and sportswomen. A List of Converts to Hinduism: 1. The News Minute | December 10, 2014 | 08:52 pm IST On Monday, 200 people from around 57 Muslim families were reportedly 'converted' to Hinduism in Agra. Look at the net impact not the gross. ", "Justice and reforms after airmen were given criminal convictions for their religious activities". 29 January 2015. The worst part is Casteism. The Shakers and some Indian eunuch brotherhoods do not allow procreation, so that every member is a convert. This is list of converts from Indian-origin religions. For example, in the 11th century in Burma, king Anoratha converted his entire country to Theravada Buddhism. Stark, Rodney and Roger Finke. Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. Many dalit thinkers say that what is happening in India is a "religious rebellion" against a hierarchy that condemns them to a life of suffering. A former associate editor with the Times of India, Jug Suraiya writes two regular columns for the print edition, Jugular Vein, which appears every Friday, and Second Opinion, which appears on Wednesdays. Careers, Home | Nation | World | Cities | Business | Columns | Entertainment | Sport | Magazine | The Sunday Standard. This is list of converts from Indian-origin religions. [21][22][23] The majority of clerical opinions holds that circumcision is not required upon entering the Muslim faith. Without defining what all would, and could, possibly count as inducement or fraud, these laws impose stringent criminal sanctions on violators. Bahs regard their own faith as the most recent (but not the last), and believe its teachings which are centered around the principle of the oneness of humanity are most suited to meeting the needs of a global community. Hinduism is often described as a way of life. The widespread Dalit mass conversions to Buddhism have enraged many Hindu organizations from Delhi in the north to Yadgir in the south. But, the solution a national legislation to ban and criminalise conversions assertively advocated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which commands an absolute majority in parliament, and despite repeated disavowals, remains rooted in essentially a chauvinistic, right-wing Hindu ideology, is far more disconcerting, and if implemented, would deal a grievous blow to the constitutional ideal of secularism. Like African Americans in the US who refuse to use their "slave" names, many in the lowest castes have spurned their obvious caste identifiers. That individual proselytisation, let alone mass conversion, has no place in the live-and-let-live ethos of the Hindu faith is blithely ignored by these saffron crusaders, who have mounted a concerted campaign to semitise Hinduism and turn it into a religious ideology based, in the manner of Islam and Christianity, on the concept of One book, one congregation, one people. What is God? 978--8122-9600-6 Peace & Conflict Studies, Sociology, Religion Early Christianity attracted followers by offering community material support and enhanced status for disadvantaged groups such as women and slaves. Christianity is not an inclusive religion. [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. Now media also started putting venom into public mind? Latter Day Saint churches do not recognize baptisms of other faiths as valid because they believe baptisms must be performed under the church's unique authority. "Power and purpose: Correlates to conversion." Falkenberg, Steve. newindianexpress.com reserves the right to take any or all comments down at any time. Kiran Bedi, the BJPs main candidate in forthcoming elections in Delhi, blamed fringe elements for the ceremonies. But its record in adjudicating the evidently unsecular anti-conversion statutes is dubious. The most recent forced mass conversion the I know of was in 1895-1896, when Afghan Emir Abdur Rahman invaded Kafiristan and forcibly Islamized its pagan inhabitants. Islam attracted 144 converts overall, compared to 119 converts to Christianity. No society is immune from the darkest impulses of men. 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