Christianity Christian Conversions In Punjab And India's Strategic Future

[spnadmin]

This article was sent me by forum member Soul_Jyot. I found it interesting and want to share it with the forum. The author Inder T. Singh places the current and increasing trend of Christian proselytizing of Sikhs in India in a different context from the ones generally reported. He looks at the issue from the perspective of geo-political advantage, economics, caste and social consciousness. The article has an ending that will sound familiar to forum members who have much to say about the importance of sangat to the vitality of Sikhi. However, his take on the importance of sangat surprised me.

Christian Conversions in Punjab: Battleground Anew

Here is a selection from the article.

Conversions have been happening all over the world, including Punjab. They are not likely to cease; after all, there is a smorgasbord of religions in the growing and global free marketplace out there. But why all this emphasis on the small state of Punjab?

Keep in mind that there is real geopolitik at work here. The global realities are such that, to a West under siege, a powerful India is the only Asian counterweight to an increasingly muscular China and, as a nuclear power, the only one that can stem the rising tide of Islamic fundamentalism at the same time.

Punjab sits astride what has been the passageway to India for centuries, and it also abuts Kashmir as well as a nuclear Pakistan, two powerful powder kegs ever ready to blow. India today is a critical geographical and political presence. Strategic imperatives and economic interests of the Western world are closely intertwined with the realities of Punjab. For the Western nations, a Christianized Punjab is perceived as a potential bulwark and a dependable ally - not unlike the way Timor has recently been cultivated in the heart of Islamic Southeast Asia.

Read the rest of the article at this link Christian Conversions in Punjab: Battleground Anew :: SikhNN :: The Next Generation of News and Views

 

[harbansj24]

I agree with IJ Singh at least on count that Sikhism has faced several crisis of existence and then had reinvented itself and grew stronger each time and there is no reason why it will not do that again.

But it grew stronger when we had shed anger and hatred. That is what our Gurus taught us and at the time of last revival, that is during the Singh Sabha Movement, that is what personalities like Bhai Vir Singh ji, Sant Sangat Singh ji, Ragi Hira Singh ji etc taught us.

Gurfateh

 

[Randip Singh]

I agree with IJ Singh at least on count that Sikhism has faced several crisis of existence and then had reinvented itself and grew stronger each time and there is no reason why it will not do that again.

But it grew stronger when we had shed anger and hatred. That is what our Gurus taught us and at the time of last revival, that is during the Singh Sabha Movement, that is what personalities like Bhai Vir Singh ji, Sant Sangat Singh ji, Ragi Hira Singh ji etc taught us.

Gurfateh

Sikhism is the most progressive and forward thinking of all religions in the world yet its leadership and some influential sects are the most backward in the entire world (if not the Universe).

Areas where Christianity triumphs:

1) Sex Discrimination – Christianity is perceived as being forward with regard to treatment of the opposite sex. The reality is that Sikhism is far more progressive on this front which some prominent Sikh women being leaders. The Sikh leadership and some sects are however backwards.
2) Casteism – Christianity is seen not to practice caste, but the reality is that caste system is endemic in Christianity. Sikhism abolishes caste and promises total equality. The reality is the Jatt/Tarkhan/Khatri alliance in Sikhi keeps other castes out.
3) Food Taboos (meat etc) – Christians have no food taboo’s. Sikhism has no food taboo’s either. The leadership in Sikhs and some backward minded sects eg Namdhari’s, AKJ, DDT, GNNSJ etc seek to impose food taboo’s and create controversy where there is none.
4) Education – Christians are great at setting up colleges for education and also their Priests achieve Doctorates in Theology. We have no equivalent, instead we have a bunch of lazy fact Baba’s/Bhai’s and Sect leaders who have a limited education and are backward beyond belief. Even Sikh schools impose idiotic rules like head must be covered at all times.
5) Hair – Christians have no taboo’s on cutting Hair. In Sikh’s Hair is seen as the 5k’s, however, historically there has been room for Sehajdhari’s (slow adopters), Monay etc. The leadership needs to include and encourage these people.
6) Mode of Worship – In Churches people sit on benches rather than floors (which seems progressive). In Gurudwara’s we sit on the floor. Why people cannot sit on chairs with the Guru Granth Sahib elevated is ridiculous. In fact we are going backwards and making people sit on floors for langaar.
7) Services in English – fact is more people in the world understand English. Christian services are usually in English. Even your average Punjabi does not understand Gurmukhi properly. Gurudwara services need to be modified to reflect the country they are in.

There are many other points I am sure others can make.

 

[Kuls1980]

Randip Singh, you are on the ball my friend. Well said.

 

[kds1980]

Sikhism is the most progressive and forward thinking of all religions in the world yet its leadership and some influential sects are the most backward in the entire world (if not the Universe).

Areas where Christianity triumphs:

1) Sex Discrimination – Christianity is perceived as being forward with regard to treatment of the opposite sex. The reality is that Sikhism is far more progressive on this front which some prominent Sikh women being leaders. The Sikh leadership and some sects are however backwards.
2) Casteism – Christianity is seen not to practice caste, but the reality is that caste system is endemic in Christianity. Sikhism abolishes caste and promises total equality. The reality is the Jatt/Tarkhan/Khatri alliance in Sikhi keeps other castes out.
3) Food Taboos (meat etc) – Christians have no food taboo’s. Sikhism has no food taboo’s either. The leadership in Sikhs and some backward minded sects eg Namdhari’s, AKJ, DDT, GNNSJ etc seek to impose food taboo’s and create controversy where there is none.
4) Education – Christians are great at setting up colleges for education and also their Priests achieve Doctorates in Theology. We have no equivalent, instead we have a bunch of lazy fact Baba’s/Bhai’s and Sect leaders who have a limited education and are backward beyond belief. Even Sikh schools impose idiotic rules like head must be covered at all times.
5) Hair – Christians have no taboo’s on cutting Hair. In Sikh’s Hair is seen as the 5k’s, however, historically there has been room for Sehajdhari’s (slow adopters), Monay etc. The leadership needs to include and encourage these people.
6) Mode of Worship – In Churches people sit on benches rather than floors (which seems progressive). In Gurudwara’s we sit on the floor. Why people cannot sit on chairs with the Guru Granth Sahib elevated is ridiculous. In fact we are going backwards and making people sit on floors for langaar.
7) Services in English – fact is more people in the world understand English. Christian services are usually in English. Even your average Punjabi does not understand Gurmukhi properly. Gurudwara services need to be modified to reflect the country they are in.

There are many other points I am sure others can make.

The most important point

Christians use all fair and unfair means to convert which includes monetary benefits,bribing etc