Pope - "Harvest India to Christianity"

Spirituality Religion
#25

[QUOTE=thomas;47399]That definately was big of him.

But I don’t see that that statement in principle is all that bad. If Christians believe that through Christianity one can be brought to eternal life and happiness, then why would anyone be offended at the desire to share that with others?

But not in any way forced, of course.[/QUOTE]

Because it is stupid, ignorant, and narrow minded. It reinforces the belief that their religion is superior and their religion is the one that HAS to have converts and the belief that other cultures/religions are inferior to Christianity. The people first smile and say no to conversion offers. Then it gets serious. Shunning, scorning, ridiculing, manipulating. And when they have absolute power as in the case of European nations colonizing the rest of the world…the world has seen what Christians can do.

Flex Penguin is a fool. First he makes several racist comments against Indians, including their skin color. Then he implies that a short stature means “weaker” (one who is critical of everything and not PC) character and a large stature/height, “stronger” character (one that accepts whatever he sees, is PC, pretends to be egalitarian while making crude comments on skin color and Indian stereotypes). Is he really 52? Perhaps his age causes him to be a cantankerous old fool with little remaining intellectual capacity. Perhaps he is a slightly reformed redneck (notice how I am making baseless generalizations as a satire of yours?). I on the other hand am still in my teens. :D. Long way to go before something like that happens.

#26

You must set an example. Just be yourself and live a good life as a Catholic. Maybe people will notice and get inspired. Maybe not.

I mostly agree with this too.

But there is also a time and a place to stand on a soapbox and preach. Nobody has to listen who doesn’t want to. But I don’t mean getting in someone’s face and being obnoxious.

#27

[QUOTE=thomas;47404]I mostly agree with this too.

But there is also a time and a place to stand on a soapbox and preach. Nobody has to listen who doesn’t want to. But I don’t mean getting in someone’s face and being obnoxious.[/QUOTE]

Preach to your own people. That’s fine. But be passive otherwise. It is just rude and offensive to start preaching loudly in a public place, in the hopes that heathens will hear and come. Ultimately, the motivation is important (and the contents of your preaching :D).

#28

All debates should take place in formal arenas. In rational public spheres(read Habarmas)

I am not about to go on the street and preach Hinduism to people or alternatively preach
against abrahamic religions. It is the rational public sphere that I will do that. A Yoga
discussion forum, being a place to discuss Yoga, which is inexctricably tied with Hinduism,
is one place to do that.

#29

[QUOTE=Nietzsche;47400]
Flex Penguin is a fool. First he makes several racist comments against Indians, including their skin color. Then he implies that a short stature means “weaker” (one who is critical of everything and not PC) character and a large stature/height, “stronger” character (one that accepts whatever he sees, is PC, pretends to be egalitarian while making crude comments on skin color and Indian stereotypes). Is he really 52? Perhaps his age causes him to be a cantankerous old fool with little remaining intellectual capacity. Perhaps he is a slightly reformed redneck (notice how I am making baseless generalizations as a satire of yours?). I on the other hand am still in my teens. :D. Long way to go before something like that happens.[/QUOTE]

Hey. I thought I was on your ignore list? Now I know you really care. Xoxoxo

#30

[QUOTE=Surya Deva;47410]All debates should take place in formal arenas. In rational public spheres(read Habarmas)[/QUOTE]

That too. I was thinking about “unorganized” public places, where preaching about brimstone and hellfire is just designed to get attention.

#31

We have television and radio. You can listen or not listen to the Christian stations.

That’s a reasonable and respecful way to reach out.

#32

[QUOTE=thomas;47380]lol, but how do you know he is short? He could be a giant Indian.[/QUOTE]

Haha, I also found this hilarious and completely random X). Hope he does not base his life, and more important matters on assumptions of this caliber.

#33

[QUOTE=Surya Deva;47396]I personally do not want to harvest any Christians to Hinduism. All I want to do is destroy Christianity in intellectual debates and prove it is a false relgiion and Vedic Hinduism is the true religion that must replace Christianity.

The pen is mightier than the sword. The scientific world supports Hinduism, not Christianity.[/QUOTE]

But how can you destroy something which produces the desired spiritual results for so many…and your inability to accept others is a non spiritual practice…for goodness sakes…its not a false religion, it produces the desired results whether you like that fact or not, it does…now what is your answer I wonder???

#34

Who would destroy something before first providing an alternative?

If you have something so wonderful to offer, it will be apparent, and people will be drawn to it. No destruction of the “inferior” is necessary.

#35

The fact is if SD were to accomplish eradicating all Abrahamic religions, he would then want to harvest them to Hinduism.

#36

[QUOTE=kareng;47483]The fact is if SD were to accomplish eradicating all Abrahamic religions, he would then want to harvest them to Hinduism.[/QUOTE]

If Hinduism is so great that’s what he SHOULD want to do.

But he’s going about it all wrong.

Attacking and denouncing other faiths doesn’t do anything positive for Hinduism.

#37

[QUOTE=thomas;47487]If Hinduism is so great that’s what he SHOULD want to do.

But he’s going about it all wrong.

Attacking and denouncing other faiths doesn’t do anything positive for Hinduism.[/QUOTE]

Quite simply, yes

#38

[QUOTE=thomas;47476]Who would destroy something before first providing an alternative?

If you have something so wonderful to offer, it will be apparent, and people will be drawn to it. No destruction of the “inferior” is necessary.[/QUOTE]

So wonderful? Again, you are implying that your religion is the best gift you have to offer mankind. That kind of thinking is wrong. Just wrong. Look at the Native Americans. Look what happened when they basically said “Nah its k, we like the culture that has been handed down to us for millennia and worked the best for us.”

#39

[QUOTE=thomas;47487]If Hinduism is so great that’s what he SHOULD want to do.

But he’s going about it all wrong.

Attacking and denouncing other faiths doesn’t do anything positive for Hinduism.[/QUOTE]

This is also what most missionaries do Thomas. Except they dish it out in the form of sugar coated lies and deceptions. They will pretend to incorporate Hindu practices and culture into Christianity to make it appeal to Hindus. All missionaries want is to convert the rest of the world. If they truly cared about the rest of the world, they would just LEAVE THEM ALONE.

#40

[QUOTE=Nietzsche;47539]So wonderful? Again, you are implying that your religion is the best gift you have to offer mankind. That kind of thinking is wrong. Just wrong. Look at the Native Americans. Look what happened when they basically said “Nah its k, we like the culture that has been handed down to us for millennia and worked the best for us.”[/QUOTE]

I think you misunderstood my statement.

But don’t you think Hinduism is the best gift you could give to mankind?

If not, what would it be?

#41

[QUOTE=thomas;47545]I think you misunderstood my statement.

But don’t you think Hinduism is the best gift you could give to mankind?

If not, what would it be?[/QUOTE]

I do not think that. I have made it clear that I disagree with SD in this matter. I think all religions and belief systems are valid within their own regions, countries, cultures, and so forth (with the exception of Abrahamic religions). I could care less about sharing Hinduism. People are much happier following what fits their circumstances best. Tell them about your religion if they ask. But other than that, I believe it is best to just leave them alone.

The only exception is when devious Westerns with Christianized biases come to India to learn Yoga only to strip it of its Indian roots, to spread lies about its origins, and to keep insulting the religion in question. Then don’t teach them. People who have a history of acting superior and conquering “inferior races” do not deserve knowledge of other cultures, religions, and practices.

#42

What would you say to those Christians who tell other Christians they cannot practice yoga because it is of Hindu origin, involves the practice of Hinduism, and would be contrary to their faith?

#43

[QUOTE=thomas;47552]What would you say to those Christians who tell other Christians they cannot practice yoga because it is of Hindu origin, involves the practice of Hinduism, and would be contrary to their faith?[/QUOTE]

Burn the heretics at the stake. Burn all Hindu books. Shun every Hindu and don’t let your Christian sons and daughters play with demon worshiping Hindu children. :wink:

All sarcasm and cynicism aside, I can see where you are coming from. Perhaps I should have made my point clearer when I said “except Abrahamic faiths.” All religions are ok within their own cultural and geographical contexts. But the problem arises when people use that religion to harm others. That shows an inherent fault within the doctrines of that religion and shows that it needs to be eradicated. A religion that violates the sovereignty of others is no religion in reality.

With that being said, I would proceed answer them in the manner SD and I have answered all narrow minded people on this forum. :smiley:

#44

But I would think you would praise them for their honesty AND for acknowledging the roots of yoga, and not trying to water it down, Christianize it, or deny its heritage.