07-20-2008, 01:45 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-20-2008, 01:47 AM by G.Subramaniam.)
http://www.tcgcohio.org/Numrich/CH2_CND_...n_0207.htm
Rev. Bushi senses a significant attitude shift within the immigrant Hindu community in recent years. He feels that the early immigrants tried to assimilate to Americaâs dominant Christian culture, downplaying their Hindu identity and practices in order to fit in. But he thinks that a societal rise in secularism and tolerance for religious diversity has emboldened Hindus. â[Society] says you can believe in any god, so we have religious freedom. They say that there is no need of prayer in the schools, at Christmastime donât use Christâs name in any public places, and even the Supreme Court takes out the 10 Commandments. So these guys [Hindus] get some kind of encouragement, âOK, we can have our own idols, we can have our practice.â So they become stronger and stronger. And Hindus never stop at one place. If they are allowed to go in a evangelistic way, they will try to change and convert people because they also believe in the same kind of conversion that we talk about.â Rev. Bushi identified several strategies used by Hindu temples to attract new members, such as free medical care, classical Indian dance classes, and yoga instruction.
For Rev. Bushi, this Hindu assertiveness is a harbinger of ill for America. âI take it seriously that this country is blessed because of prayers and [Christian] values. But slowly these values are going away because people are not paying attention. So once these idol worshipers come and bring evil things into the society, then probably we will face a lot of problems.â
Recall this statement by Rev. John Bushi: âHindus never stop at one place. If they are allowed to go in a evangelistic way, they will try to change and convert people because they also believe in the same kind of conversion that we talk about.â Discuss the implications of multiple new religious groups with conversionary agendas encountering each other in the United States. Can they all get along? Does this situation strengthen or weaken American society?
Rev. Bushi senses a significant attitude shift within the immigrant Hindu community in recent years. He feels that the early immigrants tried to assimilate to Americaâs dominant Christian culture, downplaying their Hindu identity and practices in order to fit in. But he thinks that a societal rise in secularism and tolerance for religious diversity has emboldened Hindus. â[Society] says you can believe in any god, so we have religious freedom. They say that there is no need of prayer in the schools, at Christmastime donât use Christâs name in any public places, and even the Supreme Court takes out the 10 Commandments. So these guys [Hindus] get some kind of encouragement, âOK, we can have our own idols, we can have our practice.â So they become stronger and stronger. And Hindus never stop at one place. If they are allowed to go in a evangelistic way, they will try to change and convert people because they also believe in the same kind of conversion that we talk about.â Rev. Bushi identified several strategies used by Hindu temples to attract new members, such as free medical care, classical Indian dance classes, and yoga instruction.
For Rev. Bushi, this Hindu assertiveness is a harbinger of ill for America. âI take it seriously that this country is blessed because of prayers and [Christian] values. But slowly these values are going away because people are not paying attention. So once these idol worshipers come and bring evil things into the society, then probably we will face a lot of problems.â
Recall this statement by Rev. John Bushi: âHindus never stop at one place. If they are allowed to go in a evangelistic way, they will try to change and convert people because they also believe in the same kind of conversion that we talk about.â Discuss the implications of multiple new religious groups with conversionary agendas encountering each other in the United States. Can they all get along? Does this situation strengthen or weaken American society?