HVK Archives: Christ - Bad news for the Sangh Parivar!
Christ - Bad news for the Sangh Parivar! - Indian Currents
A. C. Ram
()
September 21-27, 1998
Title: Christ - Bad news for the Sangh Parivar!
Author: A. C. Ram
Publication: Indian Currents
Date: September 21-27, 1998
The recent atrocities committed against the Christians at the
instance of different outfits of Sangh Parivar require total
condemnation. There have been instances ranging from desecration
of holy places and holy books to gruesome murders of missionaries
including consecrated priests.
These instances of persecution and religious intolerance have
phenomenally increased during the past 5 months of BJP rule.
Though there have been a few protests and reactions from the
leaders of the Christian communities, so far there has not been
any public outcry against such atrocities which are more than
ordinary human rights violations. It is true that many secular
minded political leaders have condemned such incidences and
requested the Sangh Parivar to desist from such crimes and
vandalism.
However, a close look at all these incidents should make all
Christians venture into an exercise of examination of conscience
and self evaluation. This should be an occasion for Christian
communities to read and interpret these events as signs of the
times calling for their immediate and urgent response. Of
course, one natural response would be a categorical opposition to
such instances of cruelty and blatant violation of human rights
including religious rights.
At the same time, the equally important other response ought to
be an evaluation of the circumstances which have led to such
occurrences. Are the Christians not in any way responsible in
creating an atmosphere conducive to such acts of atrocities? In
some cases the acts and omissions of Christians or their
communities have contributed to instigate or induce such actions.
Thus there are sufficient reasons which should persuade the
Christians to examine and evaluate their own actions.
It is important that the Christians pose a few questions to
themselves. Are these acts of vandalism and atrocities caused by
the acts of Christians being committed to the cause of Christ or
witnessing to the good news to the poor? There might have been a
few instances where because of the Christians siding with the
poor and the oppressed for their liberation, the oppressors or
exploiting classes in association with the outfits of Sangh
Parivar tried to annihilate or threaten the Christians or the
missionaries from their commitment.
The majority of the instances reported in the press show that the
causes of vandalism were mostly reactions to the superstitious
practices of the Christian communities who nowadays give more
importance to holy books, holy places, holy persons, devotional
singing, devotional dances and miraculous or supernatural
hearings, all of which have nothing to do with the message of
Jesus which is the good news to the poor preached by Jesus of
Nazareth.
With regard to most of the incidents, there have been allegations
that the demolition or the destruction was of a building or
construction built unauthorisedly or illegally. Hence, even
though the demolitions were at the instance of some of these
outfits who are declaredly religious fanatics, it maybe difficult
to support those Christian structures if they were built
illegally or unauthorisedly. It is worth noting that the
representatives of the different Christian communities were not
much upset or agitated at the murders of some Christian
missionaries who were committed to the cause of scheduled castes
and scheduled tribes and were martyred brutally on account of
their siding with the poor and against the oppressors.
It appears that the church and the Christian leaders are shy of
being identified with such missionaries who had invited the wrath
of the oppressors and the powerful. It is common knowledge that
the official church is identified with the exploiting and
oppressor class except for a kind of a minor agitation in the
name of asking for extension of reservation benefits to the
scheduled caste converts. There has not been much voice in favour
of the poor and the oppressed masses. Even the tone of the so-
called demand for a SC status for the converts did not have any
real zeal, since the voice was routed though the upper class
lobby in the Christian churches which is reluctant to march with
or identify with lower class in the Christian communities.
It is evident that the church in India is symbolised through the
pompous church leaders - Cardinals. Bishops, Priests and Nuns -
who have nothing in common with Jesus or his gospel to the poor.
Nor have these people any substantial contribution to make to our
country except a few outmoded educational and medical
institutions.
Perhaps it may be true, as per the interpretation of traditional
Christian theology, that Christ may be speaking to the Christians
through the actions of the Sangh Parivar, inviting them to shed
off their oppressive shells and meaningless practices and return
to the original message and cause of Jesus, which is the good
news to the poor and the oppressed, irrespective of caste, creed
or religion.
Let us hope that the Christians of India, especially their
leaders, pay heed to the voice of Jesus resounding in these signs
of the times!
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