Hindu Nationalists Seek to 'Indianize' Christians
In a fresh attack on Christians and Muslims, the Hindu nationalist Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in demanding their Indianization. "We are not demanding conversion of Muslims and Christians into Hindus. For the sake of unity and integrity of the country, we are demanding that they should be indigenized, and be given Indian names," he said.
Last October, RSS chief K. S. Sudershan called on Christians and Muslims to cut their spiritual links with "foreign sources." In a separate development, the VHP's general secretary claimed that about 33,000 people had been converted to Christianity in the northern state of Sikkim in the last 25 years. He added that the figure was compiled by VHP workers touring villages, cautioning people against conversion.
Meanwhile the VHP says it is planning to revamp its image and highlight its "social work" component in the rural areas among the backward castes and tribals. According to VHP's chief of social projects, the aim is to counter the influence of Christian missionaries.
Missionaries Beaten in India
Beatings and threats did not deter four native missionaries in Orissa, India. The men were praying recently when an anti-Christian mob broke into their apartment and seized them, according to Advance newsletter.
They were tied hand and foot, beaten, and subjected to electric shocks, then dragged naked into the streets and forced to flee the town after their release, the newsletter reported. The gang threatened to kill them if they returned, but the missionaries came back as soon as they had the strength.
"We have been beaten and wounded here," the missionaries said, Advance reported. "We will not leave until we see a church of people committed to following Jesus."
Attempt to Nationalize Churches in India
India's Christian community is rejecting suggestions that its churches be nationalized. A Hindu spiritual leader last week proposed that churches be reorganized and placed under government control, as official churches are in China, Ecumenical News International reported.
The Chinese model "does not go with the secular democracy of our country," a spokesman for the National Council of Churches in India said. The suggestion shows the "true colors" of Hindu radicals, Roman Catholic Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Agra said. If the ruling Hindu political party had a clear majority in the parliament "they would certainly do such things to isolate Indian Christians from the outside world," he said. Lutheran church leader K. Rajaratnam called the suggestion mad and "an insult."
Missionaries should be expelled from India, says a prominent Hindu leader. K.S. Sudarshan said the government should establish an all-Indian church and tell foreign missionaries "to pack up and go," according to the Guardian, a British tabloid. Sudarshan is a leader of the radical Hindu Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh spiritual organization, which has close ties to the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Hindu ruling political party.
India should establish a state-sanctioned church similar to China's, Sudarshan said in a speech to 21,000 followers. India's Catholic Church should be severed from the Vatican and submit only to government authorities, he said.
Catholics and Protestants have been the targets of a "well orchestrated campaign of hate and calumny" in recent years, Christian leaders told the Guardian. Radical Hindus, with the tacit approval of government officials, have attacked Christians and their churches and homes, they said.
Inferior religions use that kind of tactics to combat Christianity but Christianity thrives when perscuted.
10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
(Matthew 5:10-12)
Religious perscution in the 21st century is only done in 3rd world countries. Usually very backward 3rd world countries where few of the population can even read.