09-13-2008, 10:43 PM
From Crusadewatch.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->THE CASE OF BOBBY JINDAL
As it turns out, the story of Piyush Bobby Jindalâs transformation from a
devout young Hindu to a zealous Catholic offers an intriguing glimpse into the
struggle, often traumatic, of a young Indian American caught between his heritage
and his parents on the one hand and his intellectual and emotional turmoil in
America.
âMy journey from Hinduism to Christianity was a gradual and painful one,â Bobby
Jindal acknowledged in a 1993 article that he wrote while he was a graduate
student at Oxford. As Jindal readily confessed in that article, âit never occurred
to me that I should consider any other religion; to be a Hindu was an aspect
of my Indian identity.â So his parents were especially surprised that he had
investigated Hinduism and found it lacking. âIt was important that I had given
our shared faith fair consideration.â
Jindal recalls, âmy parents were infuriated by my conversion and have yet to
fully forgive me.â
As Jindal explains, âMy parents went through different phases of anger and
disappointment. They blamed themselves for being bad parents, blamed me for
being a bad son and blamed evangelists for spreading dissension. There were
heated discussions, many of them invoking family loyalty and national identity.
He elaborates: âMy parents have never truly accepted my conversion and still
see my faith as a negative that overshadows my accomplishments. They were hurt
and felt I was rejecting them by accepting Christianity. According to Jindal,
his parents resorted to âethnic loyaltyâ to counter his new faith.
What was the motivation for Jindalâs rejection of Hinduism and his acceptance
of Christianity? The answer can be pieced together in his own words.
Essentially Jindal claims that having studied the Bible, he accepted Jesus
Christâs radical claim to divinity, along with Christâs redemptive sacrifice
on the cross. That is, Christ had died to redeem mankind from sin.
âI was comfortable in my Hindu faith and enjoyed an active prayer life; I only
gradually felt a void and stubbornly resisted Godâs callâ¦it was truth and love
that finally forced me to accept Christ as Lordâ Jindal recalled in an article.
In comparing Hinduism with his new faith, Jindal noted that whereas âHinduism
taught me to earn my way to Godâs graceâ he found Christâs sacrifice on the
cross meant something personal for him. âGod loved me and was lifting me up
to Himâ declared Jindal, two years after his conversion. The young Hindu American
had examined Hinduism and found it wanting. Looked at from another perspective,
the Hindus whom he approached were not competent enough to satisfy his intellectual curiosity.
While he explains that he is aware of âgross injustices in the name of truth
and Godâ committed by missionaries in India and elsewhere, Jindal is appreciative
of their enormous contributions to health and education. Thatâs why he exhorts:
âLet us all become missionaries and live so that the world will know us by our
love.â
In his 1993 article, Jindal wrote wistfully, âI long for the day when my parents
understand, respect and possibly accept my faith. For now I am satisfied that
they accept me.â<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->THE CASE OF BOBBY JINDAL
As it turns out, the story of Piyush Bobby Jindalâs transformation from a
devout young Hindu to a zealous Catholic offers an intriguing glimpse into the
struggle, often traumatic, of a young Indian American caught between his heritage
and his parents on the one hand and his intellectual and emotional turmoil in
America.
âMy journey from Hinduism to Christianity was a gradual and painful one,â Bobby
Jindal acknowledged in a 1993 article that he wrote while he was a graduate
student at Oxford. As Jindal readily confessed in that article, âit never occurred
to me that I should consider any other religion; to be a Hindu was an aspect
of my Indian identity.â So his parents were especially surprised that he had
investigated Hinduism and found it lacking. âIt was important that I had given
our shared faith fair consideration.â
Jindal recalls, âmy parents were infuriated by my conversion and have yet to
fully forgive me.â
As Jindal explains, âMy parents went through different phases of anger and
disappointment. They blamed themselves for being bad parents, blamed me for
being a bad son and blamed evangelists for spreading dissension. There were
heated discussions, many of them invoking family loyalty and national identity.
He elaborates: âMy parents have never truly accepted my conversion and still
see my faith as a negative that overshadows my accomplishments. They were hurt
and felt I was rejecting them by accepting Christianity. According to Jindal,
his parents resorted to âethnic loyaltyâ to counter his new faith.
What was the motivation for Jindalâs rejection of Hinduism and his acceptance
of Christianity? The answer can be pieced together in his own words.
Essentially Jindal claims that having studied the Bible, he accepted Jesus
Christâs radical claim to divinity, along with Christâs redemptive sacrifice
on the cross. That is, Christ had died to redeem mankind from sin.
âI was comfortable in my Hindu faith and enjoyed an active prayer life; I only
gradually felt a void and stubbornly resisted Godâs callâ¦it was truth and love
that finally forced me to accept Christ as Lordâ Jindal recalled in an article.
In comparing Hinduism with his new faith, Jindal noted that whereas âHinduism
taught me to earn my way to Godâs graceâ he found Christâs sacrifice on the
cross meant something personal for him. âGod loved me and was lifting me up
to Himâ declared Jindal, two years after his conversion. The young Hindu American
had examined Hinduism and found it wanting. Looked at from another perspective,
the Hindus whom he approached were not competent enough to satisfy his intellectual curiosity.
While he explains that he is aware of âgross injustices in the name of truth
and Godâ committed by missionaries in India and elsewhere, Jindal is appreciative
of their enormous contributions to health and education. Thatâs why he exhorts:
âLet us all become missionaries and live so that the world will know us by our
love.â
In his 1993 article, Jindal wrote wistfully, âI long for the day when my parents
understand, respect and possibly accept my faith. For now I am satisfied that
they accept me.â<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->