Mark Juergensmeyer (Scholar, Sociologist)

Christianity …  has always had a violent side. The bloody history of the tradition has provided disturbing images and violent conflict is vividly portrayed in the Bible. This history and these biblical images have provided the raw material for theologically justifying the violence of contemporary Christian groups.

Global Hindu Heritage Foundation has organized the Ghar Waapasi program in Bombay Colony in Visakhapatnam city and talked to about 30 individuals belonging to Christian and Hindu family members about our efforts to welcome back to the Hindu field those who converted to Christianity. Our Associates Kollu Srinivasa Rau, Santosh (John Paul was his name before he returned to Hinduism) and his friends have been actively involved in visiting a number of villages in West Godavari District and Visakhapatnam. They distributed a 4-page document containing the rights of Hindus to encounter Christians and how to stop the construction of illegal churches.

They approached several families and were told that they are welcome to come back to Sanatana Dharma. Many of them asked about their Pastor's assertion that they took the oath with Bible on their head, and they may be burning eternally in the fire. Our Associates informed them that God is not a killer and would not punish. God’s character is all-loving, compassionate, and all-forgiving. So, they do not have to fear God to return to Hinduism if they desire to do so.

Our associates invited Christians to return to Hindu Dharma by applying Tilak on their foreheads. They talked about the richness of Sanatana Dharma, its tolerance, its nonviolent philosophy, and the concept of Vasudeva Kutumbam. They compared it with the Bible which highlights the hatred of other religions and what the Bible says about incest and sexual promiscuity.  

Many of them were surprised to find out what was written in the Bible and were happy to know something about Sanatana Dharma. As we all know very few Hindus have any idea about the richness of Hinduism. It was a pleasant surprise to find out something about their ancestors’ faith.

Let us look at few verses where Jesus cursed a fig tree:

Genesis 20:12

Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife.

Genesis 49:4

But you are as unruly as a flood, and you will be first no longer. For you went to bed with my wife; you defiled my marriage couch.

Although many Hindu activists are doing many things, their efforts have not infiltrated into the villages where the conversion is taking place on a large scale. As Hindus concentrate on their intellectual endeavors, Christians are concentrating on conversion. It is time for all the intellectuals and activists to pause for a few minutes and look at the ground realities. Our intellectual endeavors and activists’ protests are not reaching the villages where conversion is rampant. We cannot ignore or turn away from what is happening on the ground.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

We appreciate it if you can help in hiring more people who can go to these villages to do Ghar Waapasi. We have employed 8 people so far. More people we hire more villages can be covered to welcome them back and also create Chaitanya (Awareness) among the students and villagers.

1) Donate any amount to help the Dharma Pracharaks to work at the ground level.

2) Sponsor one Pracharak: In order to expand our base and hire one Pracharak, it would cost approximately $3000.00 per year. We have five anonymous donors who sponsored Assistants.

DONATIONS

PayPal Method: To donate visit our website: savetemples.org. Click on the Donate button, then press the Purpose category, and select the Ghar Wapsi Donation category.

By Check: Or you can send a check payable to GHHF, . It is tax-deductible.

RUPEES, if you would like to contribute to rupees, please either call or send an email. We will call you back to give you the required information.

For more information, call Prakasarao Velagapudi at ; Email: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com