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'Christian missionaries are a worse enemy than even Pakistan'

Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2000, 06:38:38EST -0400
Subject: Attack on Christians

The reporter should visit Nagaland or Tripura and write the view point of tribals who have been terrorised and forcefully converted en-masse. You people seem to adore sensationalism, don't you?

Srinivas Murthy

Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2000, 02:20:57EST
Subject: Who's the Saint? Who's the Satan?

How can someone come up with a series of articles on the persecution of Christians by Hindus when in fact the opposite is happening? Why don't you people write articles on the north eastern region of India where Christian majority states like Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura are fighting for a separate nation and are actively supported by the church? You have come up with this article when all the major newspapers have carried news reports on the capture of a few Muslims (possible ISI hand) who were responsible for the bomb blasts in churches.

Please do not underestimate the intelligence of those who visit your site. They do read other newspapers too and have informed opinions.

Sunil Bajrang

Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2000, 20:56:31EST -0400
Subject: Who's the Saint? Who's the Satan?

This reporter is only one among many others in the Indian media who do not know what unbiased, objective reporting is all about.

Throughout this interview, the reporter has been sarcastic. For instance, he wanted to see what made the VHP and the Bajrang Dal activists tick. Well, to find that out you need a clear mind without any prejudices and self-formed opinions/views, which is clearly lacking in this case. Didn't the reporter read the reports carried yesterday in all the major newspapers about the arrest of a Muslim involved in the church-blast cases?

Then again, why can't he believe that there have been "forcible cases (of conversion) in Mathura too?" Also, the way Christian priests preach their religion as also practice it is well known. I have studied in a catholic school and I know what the Dal activists meant when they said that they (priests) practice their religion in way quite different from what they preach.

Another point to note is that it was the missionaries/priests whom the Dal activists were talking about and not an "average Christian."

The reporter also spoke of the age old question -- the involvement of the Bajrang Dal and the VHP in the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Doesn't he know about the excavation articles that were removed from beneath the structure which clearly proved that it was definitely built over a temple? Didn't it therefore deserve to have been torn down?

Sanjay Achharya

Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2000, 08:37:25EST +0530
Subject: Who's the saint? Who's the Satan

The persecution of Christians is nothing new. Christ himself was crucified, remember? And as for the statement that the Christian is born Indian with his heart overseas is totally uninspired, foolish propaganda to incite suspicion, discrimination and segregation within the general public. Look into proportionate statistics and one will find more people of other denominations abroad than Christians, more tax evaders of other denominations in India than Christians, more black market traders of other denominations in India than Christians.

C P Taites

Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000, 18:39:51EST -0700
Subject: Who's the saint? Who's the Satan?

I wonder why some, rather almost all, 'intellectual' journalists, who unfortunately happen to be Hindus, consider the VHP, Bajrang Dal, BJP and the RSS to be untouchables? Aren't Christians and Muslims fundamentalists? If there are Hindus left in India it is due to the existence of these parties. Do you find any VHP, RSS, Bajarang Dal volunteer standing in the marketplace and handing out printed papers to every passerby stating that only Hindu gods are their saviours? Do you find any Hindu religious preacher going from door-to-door, appealing to every non-Hindu household to 'come to Ram/Krishna'?

I have just read reports that it is a Muslim organisation which is behind all the recent church blasts. So there is no need to call the RSS and others satans.

The Indian Christian missionaries are a worse enemy of ours than even Pakistan. But unfortunately, most Hindus still prefer to send their children to missionary schools. We have only ourselves to blame for this.

Rohit Tambe

Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000, 15:22:12EST -0700
Subject: Who's the saint? Who's the Satan?

I am concerned about the attacks on Churches in India. Until now, we all used to think it was the militant Hindus who were responsible for the attacks. But the latest arrests in Bangalore of three Muslims and further investigations are pointing to Muslims and the ISI as the culprits. It would be a great story if rediff could find out why Muslims are targetting Christians, at least in South India. It would also clarify the unnecessary hatred and suspicion that is developing between Hindus and Christians because of the media's irresponsibility.

Venkatesha Murthy

Non-violent protests, condemnation, excessive criticism and exposure of the nefarious designs of some of the most virulent creeds of Christianity is a must and is well within our Fundamental Rights and that is the only way to peacefully fight the forces detrimental to national and societal interests. For example, when Southern Baptists in the US came out with what they claim to be prayer books for different religions, both the media and the public alike criticised and protested vehemently against Southern Baptists throughout the US. This is precisely the how, in a democratic system, we should articulate our point of view.

Open repudiation of other religions is a rule rather than an exception for different proselytizing fundamentalist Christian groups as clearly written in the Bible: "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."(John 14:6) and that further explains the anti-pluralistic policies pursued by them. Even violence is not ruled out by several Christian groups, it can only be deferred until the need arises.

It is really surprising to note that the open denunciation of violence by the RSS, VHP, etc. is always a matter of suspicion but at the same time open threat to resort to violence by others doesn't even register in the minds of the media. Take the recent statement of the state secretary of the Catholic Congress, Jose Vithaythil who warned: "The Christian community would react violently against the NMC if it was not ready to ensure impartiality in its functioning." They are already talking of violence publicly, one can only imagine what they are engaged in privately.

Anyone and everyone who begs to differ from the projected image of the VHP, BD, RSS etc are looked down upon. What hounds the opponents of the VHP, RSS etc the most is their simplicity and straightforwardness, lacking the kind of sophistication Christian organisations possess. The reason is simple, Hindu organisations never even thought about defining themselves overtly or by playing into the media or by advertising their activities. As a result, they continue to be defined by the opposing forces. The so called violent image of the RSS, VHP, BD etc. has been consistently projected by those who treat them as a threat to their proselytization or political efforts.

The media must play its crucial role in exposing the nefarious designs of anti-national forces. Several Christian groups are hell bent on the decimation of other cultures. Non-Hindus and Hindus, ignorant of the work done by the RSS, VHP etc, must try to comprehend the reality at hand rather than engage into fanciful, distorted exaggerations when it comes to judging the non-violent nature of the RSS and the other parties.

However strong the temptation might be to blame Hindu groups in India, one must resist such temptations at all costs and let the evidence speak for itself. The recent sabotage of the proposed talks between different religious groups by Christian groups is a clear indication of what is in store for the future. Christian groups themselves have to decide first what they are against -- violence or Hindus.

Shyam Tiwari

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