Author:
Publication: The Asian
Age
Date: July 25, 2000
Bhutan's National Assembly
has expressed concern at "increasing attempts" at proselytism by Christians
and said the development could create resentment within the close-knit
society of the Buddhist kingdom.
The Assembly discussed
proselytism by Christians during its ongoing session, and several representatives
said that "unchecked conversion could undermine Bhutan's identity and even
its security," the state-owned Kuensel newspaper said in its latest issue.
Participating in the
discussion, home minister Thinley Gyamtsho said the country's existing
laws did not bar the practice of Christianity within one's home but proselytism
among the local population, who were either Buddhists or Hindus, was prohibited
because it involved "condemning and criticising of the Buddhist and Hindu
religions."
At the conclusion of
the discussion, the National Assembly resolved to strictly enforce the
existing law on religious conversions. Speaker Kinzang Dorji noted
the concern expressed by members that conversions could have an undesirable
impact on Bhutan's small society and "alienate Bhutanese values" and undermine
existing establishments founded on Buddhism.
Drukpa Kagyupa, a branch
of Mahayana Buddhism, is the kingdom's official religion and more than
75 per cent of the population of 600,000 is Buddhist. The chief abbot,
who is chosen from among the most learned lamas or Buddhist monks, enjoys
an equal rank with the king. A majority of the remaining 25 per cent
are Hindus, and the country has a minuscule Christian population.
Home minister Gyamtsho
said, "Bhutan cannot afford too many divisive factors which would divide
and even lead to conflict within families, communities, and eventually
at the national level." Having been informed of the growing attempts at
proselytism, the Council of Ministers had twice discussed the findings
of the Centre for Bhutan Studies, which conducted research on the causes
and effects of proselytism in Bhutan. He said that Bhutan's achievements
in promoting its rich religious and cultural heritage over the past 40
years had been a major deterrent to proselytism.
Most of the concerns
expressed by members of the National Assembly centred around fears that
Christianity could weaken the strong social bonds that hold together the
closely-knit Bhutanese society. They claimed converts to Christianity
"had undermined village cooperation and even brought discord within families."(India
Abroad News Service)
