http://www.hamsa. org/vedaprakash- intro.htm
[quote] The distortions sought to be introduced by the myth of St. Thomas in the history of Tamil Samayam are relatable to a larger framework: expressions of Christianity in many parts of Bharatam. These have been effectively demonstrated in: Expressions of Christianity, with a focus on India, 2008, Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan Trust, Chennai 600005
The book ‘Expressions of Christianity, with a focus on India’ presents a few aspects and dimensions of Christianity, in particular Indian Christianity. This volume is meant not only for the specialist intellectual but also for the ordinary man who is interested in knowing about Christianity, which is increasingly confronting him in his everyday life. In short, it gives an academic understanding of the subject of Christianity in India and also helps as a guideline to deal with the Christian experience in an objective manner, keeping the widest interest of the country as a whole.
The Vivekananda Kendra felt it necessary to bring out this volume on Christianity not because there is any dearth of literature on this subject in our libraries. On the contrary, such material is abundant at the present juncture. But it has been written by authors who are keen to present Christianity from a particular angle and with a particular motive.
There are writings by self-confessed missionaries, by acknowledged supporters of Christian imperialism and there are also writings from self-appointed secularists. Even so- called objective historians have been hesitant to come out openly and call a spade a spade. Their hesitation is mostly due to the fear of organized, hostile criticism which will not only adversely affect the book market but also make them vulnerable to charges of being communal. Unpleasant truths are very often played down or distorted, if not totally suppressed. The total outcome of all these is that an Indian student of Christianity finds it difficult to get the truth which is reliable and useful. A lot of misunderstanding has been created by interested missionary writers and Christianity in India and also about the methods Christian missionaries have used to propagate their religion in this country.
The book exposes the methods by which highly placed clerical personalities have unscrupulously tried to fabricate history for spreading Christianity in a systematic manner. The true history of Christianity all over the world, including India, shows beyond a shadow of doubt that missionaries have indulged in cruelty and violence for spreading their religion.The Goan inquisition is well documented and no one can deny or disprove it. The destruction of temples has also been recorded. Francis Xavier who was declared a saint has a history of the cruelest sort of violence used for spreading Christianity in the coastal areas of India. Letters written by Francis Xavier himself to the king of Portugal have been published wherein he publicly declared.
“I have no words to express the joy which I felt at seeing a number of temples destroyed by their erstwhile worshippers after they were converted to Christianity.”
It was not only the poor and the neglected or the outcaste and untouchables of Hindu society whom the missionaries targeted for conversion, though that was their loudly proclaimed objective. They had another strategy of selectively approaching important personalities who wield great influence over the society by their moral and spiritual stature and leadership qualities. They made persistent efforts to contacts and slowly win over such persons to Christianity. Sri.NarayanaGuru, the saint and reformer of Kerala was one such with whom they engaged in a religious dialogue. Similarly, they made serious efforts to appeal to Mahatma Gandhi’s religious sympathy and admiration for the teachings of Christ. Needless to say that their efforts had no impact whatsoever on these stalwarts. But what is significant is that such silly efforts were made with the firm conviction that these great souls are doomed to eternal hell if they do not get baptized and that it was their bounden Christian duty to save them.
The outcaste and the untouchable were inhumanly treated by the upper caste Hindus and their salvation here and hereafter would be assured if they became Christians. That was the carrot dangled before them. But it was only a ploy. The converted Dalits remained in the same plight with all their social and economic disabilities unrelieved. Even separate churches and separate sitting arrangements were provided for them, and equal social status- intermarriage and interdining, for instance-was denied. Even today, these deplorable conditions continue to prevail except nominally. The disillusioned Dalits clamor for better treatment.
The book will bring a clearer, better and more authentic understanding about Christianity in India and will ultimately pave the way for a better and more cordial understanding between all concerned. It deals with Christianity’s historical developments both in the West and in Asia. As the title suggests, the book looks at the practical, outer expressions of Christianity rather than its theological foundations.
What interests us is not how a Christian preacher might ideally present his creed, but how it has manifested in actual fact for pre-r non-Christian Europeans, for the natives of America, Africa or India-also for Western intellectuals who started questioning Christianity. The publishers acknowledge that they cannot do justice to such a vast and complex theme in a single volume, but have tried to offer an overview, of which the average Indian reader will usually be quite unaware as it is: while this perspective is frequently and freely discussed in West, it rarely, if ever, forms part of debates on Christianity in India. Indian Christians themselves have the foggiest notion of the history of their religion, its origins, its expansion, its institutions, its destruction of other cultures, the ways in which it was challenged by leading Western intellectuals, its clash with science, and finally its spectacular retreat in the West.
Just as histories of colonialism have been largely written by the colonial powers, in effect erasing the testimony of the colonized, most histories of Christianity- and in India, all of them –have adopted Christian standpoints as a matter of course. In this volume, the publishers sought to reverse the perspective and assert the right of the countless victims of Christianity to be remembered, and, when still possible, to be heard.
At this stage, sincere Christians usually object that if their religion does have a dark past, that past also has a brighter side: think of the spread of Christian values, or selfless service offered at great personal scarifies in the farthest corners of earth; think of the countless kind –hearted Christians who have been embodiments of compassion, charity or service; think of the vast amounts of literature, painting, sculpture or music inspired by Christian themes; think, finally of the great heights of spirituality reached by Christian mystics. Have such achievements not benefited humanity at large? And do not other religious have their own darker sides, too? Is it fair, therefore, to single out Christianity for a one-sided treatment? Is this not as bad a mis-portrayal as the one Hindus Complain of when it comes to their religion?
These questions contain partial truths. Partial, because the spread of Christian values, in the few cases where those values were practiced at all, was always at the cost of earlier cultures which were illegitimately assumed to be inferior, because every religion gave rise to literature and art, which conquering Christianity often destroyed, because Christian mystics have been far fewer than those of others religious ( especially India’s native religions) and were often regarded with much suspicion, sometimes persecuted, by church authorities, and because whatever dark spots there may be in non-Abrahamic religions, none has ever treated dissenters or adherents of other belief systems remotely as cruel as Christianity did.
There lies Christianity’s Central and persistent problem: it has been all too eager to practice its God’s declaration that “every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood” ( Genesis 8:21) – a dismal stamp of sin and evil put on humanity. Again , no non – Abrahamic religion or culture so demeaned the human being.
Nevertheless, if a Christian chooses to believe in a doctrine of original sin and redemption, of damnation and salvation, of eternal hell or paradise, the Hindu, for instance, will respect such a choice. If a Christian claims to find spiritual fulfillment in his religion, the Hindu will feel happy for him, even if the reverse is rarely true.
But the Hindu, the Buddhist, the Native American, African or Australian, the Neo pagan also have a right to ask
Why the spread of Christianity has meant so much misery and the dehumanization to non- Christian?
Why the “good news” and glad tidings” had to manifest through physical and cultural genocides, leaving trails of broken families and shattered cultures?
Why Christian colonizers stole land from non-Christian cultures when they were supposed to follow a commandment enjoining them, “you shall not steal” ?
Why criminals and abusers among them were more often protected than prosecuted?
Why apologies have been so few and vague, and concrete reparations even rarer?
In this era of human rights, they are entitled to ask what will be done to restore the rights of those who threatened no other culture, but whose land and traditions were preyed upon.
And what will be done to protect the rights of those still preyed upon today. Those questions and many more, remain largely unanswered; our sincere Christians must address them.
For Christianity’s dark side is regrettably not confined to the past; a companion volume will focus on proselytism – a euphemism for predation-again adopting the perspective of the prey rather than the prevailing one of the predator.
The materials presented in the book are authentic and intended to stimulate an informed debate. The articles are arranged under the following five sections:
Ø Origins and early history of Christianity
Ø Expressions of Christianity in the west
Ø Expressions of Christianity in India and elsewhere in asia
Ø Intellectual Challenges to Christianity
Ø The decline of Christianity
All boxed items appearing in the book have been prepared by the Vivekananda Kendra’s editorial team.
The authors who wrote papers specially for this book and its forthcoming companion volume, Christianity: Proselytism and Conversion, with a focus on India; include eminent thinkers such as Michel Danino, Nicole Elfi, Sandhya Jain, M. Pramod Kumar and S. Aravindan Neelakandan.
A book of this nature might be opposed by the Pseudo-Secularists and by the liberalized and Westernized Hindus, who are interested only in continuing their Utopian ideas of Westernization and in whose eyes, Indian religious values are all superstitions. Communists are bound to disapprove all what is written, in spite of the fact that they are still deeply immersed in the Hindu religion. The maximum opposition may be expected from the Pseudo-Secular politicians of today, who are always engaged in double talk. [unquote] Book review by Pradeep Kumar, 9 June 2008.
http://www.haindava keralam.com/ HKPage.aspx? PageID=6459&SKIN=C
Thamizhar Samayam: A reply to the Christian protagonists and propagandists?
The public seminar on Thamizhar Samayam was conducted by Dharma Rakshana Samithi, Chennai at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, T Nagar, on 07-12-2008 at 6.30 pm. Muthukumaran Former Barathidasan University Vice-Chancellor presided over the function and Krishna Jagannathan of Vidhyabarathi Educational Trust gave the introductory speech. Sri Omkarananda Swamigal of Sri Bhuvaneswari Avadhutha Vidhya Peetam, rendered the special address[1].
Muthukumaran Former Barathidasan University Vice-Chancellor[2]: Delving on the Christian and Mohammedans methods of evangelization, he pointed out that the educational system of Tamilnadu had completely devoid of the religion of Tamil people. 60 years before, Tamils were taught about their religion and the Temples were functioned as their nerve-centre of all activities, but now, the Temples have gone into the hands of politicians.
We still read the “Indian history” written by the British: He pointed out that as we read the “history written by the British”, the Tamil society has been at loggerhead with divisions of hatred. The text books have not been re-written in right perspective[3]. The more our children read, the more they grow with such planted ideas.
He told a story to expose the irreligiousness and hatred of the missionaries: Three persons – one Christian, one Mohammedan and a Hindu travelled in a boat and suddenly, the boast was about to be drowned. The Christian prayed to Jesus and he was saved; the Mohammedan prayed to Allah, he was saved; but the Hindu started addressing prayers to different Gods one by one, but he could not be saved! But it s wrong to say that Hindus have been not monotheistic and idolatrous, as they know very well about Unity of Godhead.
While the Tamils spread nearly 50 countries all over the world celebrated Tamil festivals, the Tamils of the TN, ironically do not know even the significance of their festivals and days, drawing the nearing of “Periya Karthhikai”.
He denied the “Aryan-Dravidian” racial dichotomy and pointed out as to how the people of north and south respected the southern direction and followed common culture and tradition[4]. Tamils wherever went followed only such tradition, even in naming the places as Uttara Kasi, Dakshina Kasi and so on[5]. Due to climatic changes, men originated from the equatorial region could have spread north and south[6]. Actually, the mention of “Dwaraka” and “Kapadapuram”, where people tried to enter and settle down after deluge could be one and the same, as both convey the same meaning (the city, where people entered).
The entire Tamil literature has been full of religious references to Sanskrit literature. Perhaps, there is no other literature like Tamil, which has religious aspects in it. When Jainism and Buddhism tried to enter Tamizhagam, Bakti movement originated and spread to the north. This Bakti movement was revived again, when the Mohammedan incursions started.
From Kumaragurubarar, we can understand that Tamil poets had never been against any language, as he could lecture in Hindusthani, as Sanskrit was used before.
The nature of Tamils had / has been to build temple first and then house, wherever, they went. In Mauritius, Tamils have built almost all temples. Such has been their religious consciousness.
Krishna Jagannathan of Vidhyabarathi Educational Trust: Referring about the Christian manipulation of religious propaganda, he warned the Tamils about the misinterpretation of Christians that their religion was derived from the Christianity etc. He openly accused Deivanayagam, John Samuel, Devakala and others for organizing “International conferences” and blaspheming Hindus under the guise of “Thamizhar samayam”. He referred to three conferences conducted –
1. One at Newyork in 2005[7].
2. Second in 2007[8]
3. Another in 2008[9].
He urged that Tamils cannot take such nonsense lightly, as they have been trying to repeat such lies thousands time to make it to appear “truth”.
He regretted that even former president had participated in such anti-Tamil conferences conducted in 2007[10]. Ironically, they use cine-actors directly and indirectly for their propagandist activities, while Rajinikanth name was mentioned for the role of Tiruvalluvar in their proposed 100-crore mega movie on “mythical thomas”, Kamal Hassan was made to blabber out that Tiruvalluvar could be a Jain, a Buddhist or Christian!
He retold the above story: In the context of Mumbai-Jihadi attacks, he added that Christians and Muslims could not be saved, as Jesus and Allah had to run here and there being a single entity, but Hindu God sent different Gods to different places, so that Hindus could be saved.
The DK ideology and DMK rule have only made the Tamils irreligious forgetting their Temple culture, tradition and heritage.
Sri Omkarananda Swamigal of Sri Bhuvaneswari Avadhutha Vidhya Peetam: Being a Tiruvalluvar exponent, Tirukkural teacher and Mutt Head, he expressed his anguish, the way in which Tiruvalluvar is degraded and Tirukkural disrespected by the Christians and Tamil atheist groups.
Hindu Religious Heads and Hindus feel offended and pained much: Religious Heads pained, wounded and anxious about their activities. They might think that Hindus have been very tolerant and learned to be patient to the core, thus keep quiet. The Hindus have never been taught hatred against other religious Gods and religious beliefs and that is why they do not ask any inconvenient questions, even when the Christians and Mohammedans ask why you God has many wives, Why Vinayaka has elephant head and so on. But such non-hatred quality cannot be considered weakness of Hindus. But now a situation has come that Hindus should learn how to answer them or question them effectively.
Babar and Teresa are quoted for Tirukkural: He pointed out as to how a Vice-Chancellor[11] of a University of TN requested him to preside over his book release function on “Tirukkural”, but he was totally taken aback to note that he had only given examples from Therasa, Babar and others, but none from Indian personalities in citing references to the Kural. He observed that the author of the “Tiruvalluvar book” could not recite even Tirukkural properly.
The Hindu haters should read “Azhukkaranai” chapter of Tirukkural[12]: “Azhukkaramai” means the psyche of without jealousy, envy or covetousness. The Christians, Mohammedans, Tamil atheist groups and Hindu-haters should read and understand before talking nonsense about Hindus. He questioned the duplicity of the Dravidian-Tamil politician about the hypocritical approach towards Tiruvalluvar[13]. He challenged the politicians that they should recite Tirukkural before the public, before contesting elections.
Tirukkural should be written in the hearts of the Tamil people: As he has been preaching and teaching Tirukkural, he exposed the hypocrisy of the Tamil politicians. He pointed out that it is not enough, if Tirukkural is written on the buses or commentaries given by CMs and VCs, but they should be written in the hearts of the Tamil people.
Can Hindus send books urging Mullahs and bishops to “change their minds”? He also pointed out the audacity of a Christian, who sent him books on Christianity and appealed him to “change his mind” to accept Christ. He sent a suitably reply and challenged him to come for a public debate at Palayankotai itself, bringing his Christian heads, but there was no reply from him. While mentioning this, he also pointed out as to how a “Hindu journal” did not publish his letter![14] Retorting, he asked whether any Hindu had guts to send books to Bishop, Imam. Mullah etc., and urged them to “change their minds”?
He urged that one conference should be conducted, taking this meeting as a starting point, to refute such misinterpretations.
VEDAPRAKASH
07-12-2008
Also see at:
[1] The entire proceedings were conducted in Tamil, just for convenience and the news to reach the non-Tamil people, it has been typed in English.
[2] He has been associated with the “New Educational Policy of Tamilnadu” known as “Samac-ceer kalvi murai” to be implemented.
[3] Would the Dravidian / Tamil friends agree for this, or would be he dubbed as a party to “saffronization of textbooks” project!
[4] Referring to the discarded race hypotheses and theories still followed by the Dravidian political parties in Tamilnadu.
[5] Implying that the so-called “Aryans” or “Dravidians” could not ave come from outside, that is from north to soputh, but the other way!
[6] Hinting to Gondwana / Pangaea / Kumarik-kandam hypothesis and theories linked with the “Three Sangams” existed 12,000 YBP.
[7] First International Conference on Early Christianity in India, August 13th-16th, 2005.
[8] Held at Chemmencherry at the premises of Instutute of Asian Culture and Sathyabhama Deemed University.
[9] The First Tamizhar Samayam Cionference at Pastoral Centre, Mylapore August 14th to 1th, 2008. For details refer to my blogs in www.indiainteracts. com
[10] Mentioning “Abdul Kalam” specifically!
[11] This has been the status and standards of Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of Universities of Tamilnadu and what Tamils could expects from them?
[12] Chapter 17 of Tirukkural containing ten verses aptly placed between the chapters “Forgiveness” and “Covetousness”!
[13] Obviously, referring to what has been going on in Tamilnadu miusing Tiruvalluvar and Tirukkural.
[14] Such has been the quality of “secular standards” even by the so-called “Hindu journals”, why then blame “The Hindu” then?
Tamilbrahmins 