The analysis of conversion and its controversies by R. Jagannathan (DNA,25/9) looks very inconclusive. All faiths arose to fill a void in the people's lives. All faiths have promoted values like brotherhood man and fatherhood of God. All faiths believe in truth, non-violence, love and all such great values of life. Changing rituals does not make any difference. However, certain values predominate in some religions – Hindus uphold non-violence ( ahimsa paramo dharma ; Christians believe in love and charity ( schools and hospitals) and Muslims in fraternity ( eating together and praying together). At the same time no religion in practice has covered itself in glory. If Hindusim has untouchability to account for, Christianity has to answer for colonization, slavery and inquisition and Islam for violence ( destroying places of worship of other faiths,riots for banning books, cartoons) and human indignity ( triple talaq, burkha).
In this age of reason and science, people have to learn from each other and understand each other to live in peace. In the book, God Needs No Passport, Professor Peggy Levitt talks about ' Cafeteria Catholics' who pick and choose religious doctrines rejecting some of the church's teachings ( abortion and divorce). Immigrant Hindus and Muslims in USA also have made changes in their rituals to suit their envirnment. This is the future of the multi-cultural and multi-religious world. Pick and choose what you want. Without changing one's ancestral religion, one can always pick and choose what is good from other faiths. One need not change his religion to practice yoga or vipasana meditation. The concept of market share through free food and education is demeaning both to the giver and the receiver – to the human dignity.
September 28,2008
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