In Reply to: Re: how about this link for a change posted by Farmer on December 30, 2009 at 18:06:02:
And I am addressing the original India Times statement you posted that India is worse than Saudi Arabia or Iran. It simply isn't. The level of intolerance if any, I repeat, if you check the Pew Forum report, is on the level with Spain and Eastern Europe.
"Freedom to proselytize" is not even something I'd ask for in any country, opposition to it or not. Resistance and reactions to the beahvior of certain "proselytizers" are perfectly understandable in India, and Pew Forum admits to not factoring in whether or not they are "justifiable," but just that they have happened. Why would anyone want to be so arrogant as to convert each other in India anyway? It's already a country where ideas of spirituality abound, religions are already running in full force in lives of almost anyone you meet, so why try to fill a vacuum where there isn't one and create social unrest?
If people decide to leave one religion for another and get into trouble for it, that's something that happens anywhere, not just India.
And wasn't it you yourself who posted reports of trickery used by Indian proselytizers?
As for this link that you posted in support your argumen, just read about some of the "conversions" and reasons for the repercussive incidents.
"arrested for forcibly converting," "forced conversions and carrying of weapons," "ridiculing Hindi deities," "Christian priests have sex with young Hindu girls under the pretext of hearing confessions," "Hindu female minor eloped with a Muslim man; Police charged the man with kidnapping," "conversion by allurement and of distributing candy to Sunday school attendees," "engaging in unethical conversion activities and proselytizing," "engaging in forced conversion," "Muslim youth allegedly
pulled down banners put up by Hindu activists," "engaging in unethical conversion
during school hours."
The people behind most of the violent incidents were: "extremist organizations," "extremist group," "Hindu nationalist group," and they are a minority in India, not the norm.
India is a complex country. It is only a geographical location with no unifying language or culture or religion. Only a percentage of the population speak the language of the central government. If any country cannot be summed up as a single monolithic state it is India. So to say that violence happens in India is a cheap shot. It's only got borders with troubled Muslim states, for Pete's sake. The vast majority of India is peaceful and tolerant. I thought you'd know better.