If missionaries are technically evaluting or comparing gods and try to prove one as wrong, then, you and I and every citizen has the equal right to reject that statement, if it is wrong? Also, one can also use that opportunity to prove missionaries idea of God as wrong god. Thats our fundamental right. So where is the problem here?
"Technical evaluation" gimme a break !!!
So what are they, the christian missionaries ? And how valid is their self-annointment as "evaluators" of another faith ?
And pray (pun intended) what techniques do they use to evaluate ? BS7799, SOX, Agile, Lean or CMMI ? Just what ?
I think the whole concept of "evaluating a faith" is outlandish. Saying so, i am not trying to shove the problem areas of hinduism under the carpet but by no means can someone come and "evaluate" hindusim.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy didnt evaluate Hinduism when he wanted to get rid of Sati ;
Vivekananda didnt evaluate Christianity when he reached out to Christians with his famous "Brothers & Sisters" address ;
It is almost impossible for someone with only an acadmic view of Hinduism to acknowledge it's greatness. It goes for every faith.
Can a non-hindu with only an academic knowledge of hinduism make a convincing case for Dwaita or Advaitha ? Both have an equal and indelible place in the Hindu system.
What the Christian missionaries engage in, is unadulterated blasphemy. Calling Gods and Goddesses as "prostitutes" as was done by a Christian Church in Karnataka, cant quite qualify as "Technical Evaluation". And the Archbishop of Delhi who later appeared in a television program showed absolutely no remorse at the slur but went on only to express his anguish at the violence that was unleashed subsequently.
Whatever you may try to obfuscate, Christianity is not the host religion of this nation. There's certainly a place for Christianity and Christians to be treated alike but no more than that. I dont think, even in the face of the several warts that Hinduism has, there can be any sanction for a blatant, cocksure blasphemy by the Church.
I dont believe in Christianity being "first among equals" and certainly dismiss any notions of subservience to it's suzerainity.
Actually by "evaluating" other religions, christianity is selling itself short (pun intended).
A faith whose basic tenet was "revised" obviously cannot have the chutzpah to mock other faiths.
You are worried about morphing of carnatic music by missionaries, as an insut to Trimurthy, but fail to understand music is all about 7 notes and music is for all the mankind.
Beyond saying that it is an insult, actually i am not worried. There's always a place for plagiarists as there is for the purists. Also given my poor appetite for classical music, i think there are persons better placed than me to worry about this.
Imagine our Indian music industry without western instruments like Guitar,Organ,Sax, Grand Piano etc.. And most of the popular western songs are morphed/distorted version of Mozart & Bach.. Do we call that as an insult? As a lover of Carnatic music, I feel pride when its copied by someone.. Hope you wont call George Harrison (Beatles) and Miles Davis as blasphemers to Thirumurthies.
Obfuscation.
My point was limited to using a 'Thyagaraja Krithi' to overlap a christian hymn or carol.
I was NOT referring to using the same Raaga.
And come to think of it, you were in the forefront of a copyright violation in this forum, not so long ago.
Hmmm....
And pointing christians for not cremating their dead in line with Indian culture, I think it would become a suicidal argument.. How may people in India torch the dead? Majority of the Indians burry the dead esp, in South Indian. Most of the ancient tamil excavation talks about 'Thazhi' , ie, burying the dead in mud pots. Even Mohanjadaro and Harappans followed this system.. I think, this point cannot be used to refer as a unified relection of Indian culture..
I tend to think that among Hindus, those who cremate the dead (not torch, you cremate someone with honour not torch) and those who bury would be probably in equal proportion.
So it became convenient for the missionaries to take umbrage under this fact and continue their practice.
Talking of obsequies, the argument, but naturally would be "suicidal" in nature.
Again, you should explain in detail,listing the damages done to Indian culture, due to conversions.
In my view, if any one copies our culture, I would only feel proud of it..
I am not an authority to state the "damages" to the Indian culture but i think there's enough proof if one would bother to look around as to how "christianity" is creeping upon india.
I would neither feel proud or dismayed about someone copying "our" culture but i would certainly "question" even if i cant resist attempts to "substitute" the local culture.
I am not keen on "amalgamation" but certainly i am against "acquisition".