Does Conversion to another Religion Benefit????????

[prasad1]

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There is an article in Times of India
The Times of India - Indian Newspapers in English Language from six editions.

There is a Sufi song which Wadali Brothers sing; the lyricist compares the humans to pigeons.

The song says

“Oh Lord what have we humans done in dividing our religions and separating ourselves in the name of God, a Hindu never goes to a Mosque, a Muslim does not enter a Temple. Christian is bounded to a Church and a Sikh to Gurudwara, Oh Lord; I feel that a life of a pigeon is far better than mine. Once it sits on Minaret of a Mosque and the next on the Gopuram of a Temple or on the Bell tower of a Church and on the Dome of a Gurudwara.”

Every religion has one common ideology and preaches that there is one and only one Absolute which is the Supreme Power. This one and only Absolute is in such that He accepts what ever way we relate Him to and however we address Him as. Any kind of devotion irrespective of the manner in which He is adored or worshiped, whether it is in accordance to a prescribed ritual of a religion or any other it does not matter to Him. Now if an individual is not satisfied with the situation he is living in does the change in the religion he is interacting with the Absolute help him????? Does conversion to another religion get him solace??????

Main issue to get converted is not due to the belief in the Absolute in that religion but may be the dissatisfaction in the social discrimination or the financial tribulations. The name and form of the Absolute may differ in the Temple, Mosque, Church, or Gurudwara and the rites and rituals may be different but the Absolute who wishes to grace the devotee is the same. The difference in the customs due to the peculiarity in the region has given rise to many religions with accordance to the mental outlook of the people inhabiting there. The goal of all religions is to lead the believers to the same Absolute according to the different attributes of the devotees concerned. So if an individual is deciding to get converted because the Absolute of that particular religion he is does not care for him it would look silly and ridiculous. Such kind of converts demean not only the religion of his birth but also the one to which he wishes to get converted to. In fact it will demean the Absolute also.

The beliefs and customs of the various religions cannot be a cause for complaint and it will not make sense to make them all look similar also. The important thing is for the individuals of the various faiths to live in harmony with one another. The goal must be unity even when there is no uniformity. Here we can align to universalism. Universalism is the ideology which prepares us to tolerate and respect other religion as the religion we are practicing. It also guides us to accept the intent of the philosophies which are to fortify human values.

 

[Govinda]

Prasad,

That Sufi song has a wrong analogy. The pigeon just wants a place to sit and prey, not to pray. lol! If that be the case with a nomad, one can go to any place of worship for a Friday or Sunday feast. Esp. with Hinduism, anyone is free to explore and the proof is the origin of Sufi/Buddhism/Jainism/Sikhism etc. in India. But, the case of Absolute cannot be based on the feast, place for relaxation or political situation or for temporary benefits/boons, but only on a sound, coherent, logical and a realistic philosophy.


Coming to the Universalism, we have the best quote in Upanishad and so in Gita, " One who sees all in The Greater Self (Brahman), and sees The Greaterr Self in all, is Self-Realized". All religions dont have the similar understanding of self (Atma) being subservient to the Greater Self. Even most indian philosophies deny them and the other religions dont accept the authority of Vedas, thus lack any understanding of the nature of one' self and its obligations. When the nature of ones' individuality, nature of the Absolute, and the requisites in achieving the Higher goals are complete different, how can they all lead to the Same Absolute.???

We have clear cut instructions on one's svadharma, obligatory karmas and consequences upon failing willfully in this life. One changing the religions or faiths is totally upto one's own karma. All these are driven by Lord Will, and everyone is left to experience on their own (based on karma) and the Creator/Lord takes responsibiilty to drive each one of them. But, like our preceptors/Acharyas, we also have the responsibility to share the earned knowledge. But, those who have good karma (sukrutam) will accept that right knowledge, provided the Lord has a graceful glance on them. But, the Universalism is only about co-existing within the bounds of Law and Rights, but not at the sacrifice/cost of knowledge, wisdom and high principles.

 

[Raghy]

Greetings.

I would take any Times Of india article with a pinch of salt. I have seen way too many articles in that paper slightly unbalanced against hinduism.

Cheers!

 

[biswa]

Not sure most people convert for such noble reasons or think one god is greater than another. IMHO, some reasons for conversion are:

1. Cold, hard cash (current Christian missionaries in India).
2. Fear of losing your head if you don't convert (more in the middle ages aka Jihad).
3. Peer pressure. If everybody around you has converted, what have you got to lose. Spanish inquisition for example.
4. Revenge or frustrated from being mistreated by previous religion authorities or higher castes. (Population of Bangladesh, perhaps recent SI converts).
5. Some miracle performed by some guru. (like AR Rahman's sister getting cured).

 

[renuka]

Not sure most people convert for such noble reasons or think one god is greater than another. IMHO, some reasons for conversion are:

1. Cold, hard cash (current Christian missionaries in India).
2. Fear of losing your head if you don't convert (more in the middle ages aka Jihad).
3. Peer pressure. If everybody around you has converted, what have you got to lose. Spanish inquisition for example.
4. Revenge or frustrated from being mistreated by previous religion authorities or higher castes. (Population of Bangladesh, perhaps recent SI converts).
5. Some miracle performed by some guru. (like AR Rahman's sister getting cured).

Dear Biswa,

You forgot the most important reason for conversion...Marriage.
Enough Hindus convert to other religion to marry a person of another religion.
In some countries its compulsory to convert to marry people of a certain religion.

So I guess that Pigeon in that Song was still single..if he had fallen in love with some chicken for example he would have left Pigeonism and converted to Chickenism!!

 

[Brahmanyan]

Does Conversion to another Religion Benefit?

We must look into the underlying reason for religious conversion. Primary reason is the Caste. If we look into the Caste statistics, it is the down trodden in the society who get converted easily. Every human being expects respect in the society, which is denied for a group of people because of their birth. It is to escape from the clutches of the social degradation they migrate to other religions, which offer respect to them. There may be many other reasons for religious conversions, but in my opinion, this support from the community and their religious institution is the most important reason for conversion.

Our helping maid in the house is a Christian convert. She claims herself to be "Aadi Christian".(ஆதி கிருஸ்துவர்) She is a devout church going christian.She feels comfortable to work in our house, since she is treated as one among our family members. Interestingly she follows all the Hindu religious customs still. The support and guidance that she gets from the Church and Parish Priest is immense. The Church helps her to get financial help from micro finance organization at the time of need, helps to get registered in voters list, or UDAI cards, any other benefit from Government etc. Recently she got a financial grant from her church for her mother's surgical operation. She feels the comfort of having some one to help her at the time of need. It is her Church.

Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[renuka]

We must look into the underlying reason for religious conversion. Primary reason is the Caste. If we look into the Caste statistics, it is the down trodden in the society who get converted easily. Every human being expects respect in the society, which is denied for a group of people because of their birth. It is to escape from the clutches of the social degradation they migrate to other religions, which offer respect to them. There may be many other reasons for religious conversions, but in my opinion, this support from the community and their religious institution is the most important reason for conversion.

Our helping maid in the house is a Christian convert. She claims herself to be "Aadi Christian".(ஆதி கிருஸ்துவர்) She is a devout church going christian.She feels comfortable to work in our house, since she is treated as one among our family members. Interestingly she follows all the Hindu religious customs still. The support and guidance that she gets from the Church and Parish Priest is immense. The Church helps her to get financial help from micro finance organization at the time of need, helps to get registered in voters list, or UDAI cards, any other benefit from Government etc. Recently she got a financial grant from her church for her mother's surgical operation. She feels the comfort of having some one to help her at the time of need. It is her Church.

Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

Dear sir,

I agree with what you wrote but I would like to add that the so called Down Trodden of the Hindu society do come with Double Standards themselves.

Many a times out here where I stay when Hindu Religious Organization approach them to render similar help like what you mentioned..these organizations are even told off in their faces 'I dont want to follow any new way of prayer..leave me alone with my poor man Kula Devata and why should it bother you that I am suffering..are you my Mama or Machan!!"
Believe me sir..this has happened so many times.
They are afraid they have to start praying too any new guru or change their Kula Devata even though no one is asking them to do so.


But when these same down trodden are approached by the Church..Lo Behold!! they become Born Again Christians and keep praising the church but they never realize there is a poor man church and a rich man church too.
They will keep quiet to any form of discrimination faced in their new found religion.

 

[vgane]

Dear sir,

I agree with what you wrote but I would like to add that the so called Down Trodden of the Hindu society do come with Double Standards themselves.

Many a times out here where I stay when Hindu Religious Organization approach them to render similar help like what you mentioned..these organizations are even told off in their faces 'I dont want to follow any new way of prayer..leave me alone with my poor man Kula Devata and why should it bother you that I am suffering..are you my Mama or Machan!!"
Believe me sir..this has happened so many times.
They are afraid they have to start praying too any new guru or change their Kula Devata even though no one is asking them to do so.


But when these same down trodden are approached by the Church..Lo Behold!! they become Born Again Christians and keep praising the church but they never realize there is a poor man church and a rich man church too.
They will keep quiet to any form of discrimination faced in their new found religion.

The Church is very active in conversion on account of the money power mainly from the developed world...The Pope has infact marked the 21 st century as a time for harvest in Asia...Each person who gets converted gets a neat sum...
However when it comes to equality, Discrimination in Churches are rampant & Dalit Christians are treated differently & they have a separate church. Also most of the Christians vote as per the direction of the Church...This is similar to the Muslims who follow the Shahi Imam's diktat
It is only the Hindus who are disunited & are divided by caste & creed

 

[C RAVI]

Yes!!! Conversion to another religion is beneficial to those who find it so. What ever may be the reason, may be due to social discrimination in the name of caste, to get some quick financial aid or having married a person of different religion. As well may be due to some miracles.

Whatever may be the reason, converting to another religion is always found to be beneficial by those who felt the benefit some or other way, getting something in return, as mere human beings.



Religion, God, Spirituality are not like some substance that can be used to fulfill one's material desires, professional desires, relationship desires etc.etc. These are not to change one's destiny as per one's whims and fancy. The fundamental philosophy in all the religion is - Do good deeds ever and be a humanist. Do your duty, be responsible and live an ethical life. Be a philanthropist as possible, be mercy full, help others and don't cheat others to satisfy your needs. That is one should strive hard to indulge in GOOD KARMA.

If people understand these basic essence of their religious teaching, they can well be sticking to their own community and live their life in peace in devotion to their God. As well, can let others live the same way following their respective religious spiritual systems. And more importantly, can well live in harmony with every community people, sharing love and respect, while retaining sense of respect and admiration towards one's own religion.

BUT, things are different and we find many people converting to other religion for their own valid reasons. More than the need of spirituality, need of one's own fulfillment of personal needs of one's practical/realistic life are the reasons behind conversions.

 

[vembu]

Huge amount of money is pumped in towards conversion purposes by the missionaries. If a dalit hindu converts to dalit christian, he gets all the reservation benefits which he does not enjoy being a hindu. The govt does not bother at all.

this is the list of NGO's who received more than one crore foreign funds from during 2010.11



Bharatkalyan97: NGOs in Tamil Nadu which received over one crore of foreign funds in 2010-2011

 

[Iyyarooraan]

One should seek or see god from any where. When you are influencing some body to change his "faith" that is commercialism and corrupting the mind. Hindus have no objection to Christianity or Islam. The realization or enlightenment should come to anyone who is a Christian, Muslim or Hindu or NONE of anything. Then why attempt? We are already praying to him and seeking his blessings. Converts have had feeble minds or there has been other compulsions. A disturbed mind should seek peace within itself and on its own. Dont pray for anything and pray for wisdom to be Happy. I wish the gentleman from Gudiyaththam is at peace now, after jumping over three faiths.