Posted on 05/19/2006 6:12:50 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Then they have to suffer scorn and ridicule. That's how free speech works.
Should thay allow this kind of hate speech in the name of free speech?
You really don't understand free speech, do you?
The temple vandalization is not just one stray incident but the perpetrators were 19 years old kids who probably have no idea what Hinduism is except for what they probably hear from the Pastors.
Just like the 10 churches in Phoenix that were burned this month?
they dont even have a voice.
They have the same voice that everybody else does. In fact, people are much more likely to listen because Hindus and Sikhs have different life experiences than the larger population. It's why people still listen to CAIR, for example.
But who did this? Were they foreigners or Indians? Were they freelancers or were they representing some church or denomination? Was it a policy of their organization, or a decision made by the guy at the back of the truck?
We'd need to know more about this if we want to understand the situaion, and hold the guilty parties responsible.
Free speech means nothing to someone who was burned alive by some people's ideas of expressing themselves.
And as I understand, the states that are banning conversion are very small in population.
The behavior you linked to is wicked and scandalous. But who did it? And who approves of it?
Okay then...we'll allow Hindu Temples in the Vatican, as long as we can build a Christian Chapel in the Ka'ba in Mecca. And maybe hand out tracts and Bibles in the foyers of said Hindu Temples.
Let's have equal opportunity desecration, please.
Thats all the article says.......doesnt give anymore details.
The US was also never truly free until the suppression of minorities in the South was finally ended during the Civil Rights movement. But I see your point. Perhaps I should have been more precise and focused on Indian states rather the country as a whole, but they are interrelated, and ultimately these states' suppression of fundamental thought, speech, and free will may become so notable as to be a stain on the country as a whole.
India needs to deal with this and grow up as a true democracy. I say this as someone who thinks that it is quite likely that India will in my lifetime rise to the level of America's most important ally, as important as (or even moreso than) the UK.
Deal.
But then Hindus should get to place their idols the Bhagwat Gita inside the Saint Peter's Church.
"Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa" -- These could not be considered small in population, at least according to this chart:
http://finance.indiamart.com/india_business_information/indian_states_population.html
"You really don't understand free speech, do you?"
There is a slight difference in how India and the US interprets freedom of speech. We dont tolerate abuse in the name of of free speech. India was the first country to have banned Satanic verses mind you.
This article also stated that the rebels are getting arms from Islamic and Chinese groups. This makes it very unlikely that the real motivation is Christian, wouldn't you say? Why would Islamic groups fund and supply militant, armed Christians?
Another peculiar thing found in this article:
"The hill tribe 'Jamatiya' worship their traditional god 'Gadiya', who is supposed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva, in the month of March. The terrorists have issued an order that 'Gadiya' be prayed to on Christmas day instead."
Are we to understand that these "Baptists" insist that an incarnation Lord Shiva should be prayed to on Christmas?
These articles you have posted are enormously disturbing, but it is not at all clear that these are "Baptists" as we understand the term. My best guess would be that they are either some kind of bizarre syncretistic offshoot movement, or they are ethnic tribalists or local warlords who want the blame for their crimes to fall upon Christians.
In either case, it looks like criminal rebellion and sedition. I presume it's already illegal, no matter who sposnors it. This is not mission activity.
Like I said...equal opportunity desecration, if that's what your shooting for.
By the way, in regards to this:
"I want to full right to enter your home (even if it maybe against your wishes) also have the right to denigrate and demonise your religion and culture as a form satanic ritual of "Pagans" and I want to have full right to covert you (through whatever means possible) ............. while I will allow no such nonsense on my turf.........because Vatican is a small .....blah blah...."
Aren't you unfairly denigrating and demonizing Christians here?
I am one of those frothing, Bible thumping (aka. Bible believing) Christians who you seem to be alluding to here.
I lived with a Hindu for two years, and have friendships with multiple others. Lovely people. I feel right at home with them. And I love Indian culture...especially the food. As I recall, they are still Hindu's, so I didn't really revert to any means possible to convert them.
In fact, the only way Jesus would approve of as a way to "convert" someone would be share your faith and pray for them. What they choose to do is between them and God.
It's too bad. Europe doesn't understand it either.
Evangelize India, yes. By whatever means possible, no. You have no evidence to the contrary.
Right. India WAS. India was something to see in ancient times. Unfortunately, that was then and this is now.
The part that is taking care of US business interests.
You wrote: "It may not personally affect anyone so much especially the economically influencial Indians but morally it still amounts to unequal treatment."
I think you misunderstood me. I was asking a sincere question: what does the "legal standing" of a religion mean in the countries we are talking about? If any of these penalties were applied to people anywhere because of their adherance to a disfavored religion, I would say such discrimination is unjust.
A truly impartial government would codify neither protections nor penalties specifically for religion.
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