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Sitaram · Site Admin Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 1079

http://sulekha.com/chpost.asp?for...ilosophy&show=0&cid=74635

Subject: Conversion methods of Christian Missionaries (Dr. Mihir
Meghani)

Dr. Mihir Meghani wrote:

The letter below is from someone who says she is an 'old school girl
of a leading Christian Girl's School in Colombo' (Sri Lanka).

Conversion methods of Christian Missionaries

Here are a few, first hand examples of the subtle ways of the
conversion methods of the Christian missionaries to convert Buddhists
to Christianity occurring also through the past generations - by
force and other ways.

1. My mother a pupil and a boarder at Method list College, Colombo
was
forced to go to church every Sunday and say Christian prayers daily
during her time in the school.

One day, when she forgot to bring the Bible to the church on a Sunday
morning compulsory two hour prayers), she was forced to go round and
round the church premises wearing a thorn crown for the entire two
hours
the service was on.

2. When I was in the primary to middle school (no Buddhist schools
where I lived) in a Catholic private school, I was forced to learn
the catholic prayers and say it with other students three times a day
during school. It was a stiff fee levying school, and all Buddhist
children were forced that way, the only exception being if you
converted to Christianity - no fees.

3. I used to stay after school late till my father picked us up. The
Irish Mothers would bring glasses of milk or cucumber sandwiches to
entice me into their chapel. I would run and they would chase me.
Finally,
if they did catch me, I would eat the lovely wafer thin cucumber
sandwiches (I am allergic to milk)and they would drag me to the
chapel and made me kneel and pray.

Because, whatever you say three times in a day stick, I knew the
Christian prayers by memory (I still remember them) and would recite
with the
nuns, as I had no option. However, because of my strong Buddhist
background and my aversions to force, they failed to convert me. But
they did
convert many of my Buddhist friends - offering free tuition or
forcing
them in whatever way they could.

3. Last year, I went to Sri Lanka and was shopping in a hurry at the
Liberty Plaza. Two young women -looked like Sri Lankans approached me
and started speaking to me in an American accent. They were trying to
convert me to Christianity again. If I was not in such a hurry, I
would have preached Buddhism to them or would have asked where this
wonderful god is, because I could not see him before nor can I see
him now.

4. Buddhism is not a religion, but a way of life. Buddha taught
people to use self discipline, to control ones actions, go the middle
way, not extremes, do good to yourself and others and bless yourself,
your family, friends, neighbors and all living beings with mettha.
Buddha said use your intelligence and freedom to live a good life
not be bound by any human or god.

If only all Buddhist teach their Christians friends this small part,
they will eventually open their eyes to the Christian sham of money
grabbing by the business acumen of the church. I practice what I
preach and have shown the light to a few Christian friends of mine.
It does not matter if they still believe in Christianity, but you
have planted a seed of inquiry in their minds.

All Sinhela Buddhist should be alert to what is happening in Sri
Lankan villages today where the Christian missionaries, - Born Again
Christians and World Vision are on a rampage at an accelerated speed
converting the poor Sinhela villagers by providing food for their
stomach.

World Vision is not a humanitarian institution that we all think they
are. Oh No! They collect your money to convert the poor, providing
food for their empty stomachs to convert them to Christianity.
Remember, they tried it on me and my siblings too, once a upon a
time, I was not poor then and was not poor last year, too.

Yes, They convert the rich too, using them at their most vulnerable
and low esteem time - broken marriages, unhappily married, loss of
someone, in dire straights over finance, anything.

This is where the Buddhist temples fail, the monks have a good meal
but forget to feed the poor, even though this is not what Buddhist
monks are supposed to do, in this age that is the only way for the
temples to keep their poor dayakas from being converted to
Christianity or Muslims, or the monks themselves will go hungry when
the village people becomes a Christian or Muslim strong hold. Monks
too must adapt to the times. Perhaps, the dayakas should take
seperate food to provide for the poor at the same
time.

Yes, the Buddhist population themselves must help the poor Buddhist
at every turn. Not only will you do this meritorious deed to help the
poor but by doing this you gain merit and you make sure your heritage
is preserved for your children, grandchildren and posterity - to save
the Buddhist heritage for few more thousands of years. It was saved
for us from time immemorial by our forefathers. Remember this great
gift they bestowed to us - Honor it well.

Yes, Muslims are at it too. The Sinhela population is enjoying a
peace which is only on the surface. Only a mass elimination of the
Sinhela population might make a jolt in their happy life.

Unfortunately, Sinhela people are so engrossed in material life, they
have forgotten the great Sinhela heritage protected through the ages
by their forefathers and given to them in good faith, and now the
Sinhela people only think of themselves and this moment only.

They should really protect this wonderful Sinhela heritage for their
children, grandchildren and for posterity. What is the answer the
Sinhela people are going to give their children and grandchildren one
day when
they ask you - what did you do to save the Sinhela heritage? or why
didn't you do something to save the Sinhela heritage for us?

[RAJIV comments -THERE IS NOTHING ILLEGAL WITH THIS; IT MIGHT BE
IMMORAL AND IMPROPER. BUT AS A PART OF ANY GANG THEY ARE RECRUITING
MORE MEMBERS, THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT. BUT WHEN PEOPLE WHO
ARE PRETENDING TO BE CHRISTIANS START USING FORCE, BEATING UP
TRIBALS, GRABBING THEIR LAND ILLEGALLY, MAKING FALSE PROMISES OF
JOBS, MOLESTING CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS, ETC. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
GIVING MONEY FROM TEMPLE FUND TO CHURCHES; GIVING MONEY TO HAJ
PILGRIMAGE, REGULATING THE TEMPLES AND NOT CHURCHES AND MOSQUES IS
ALSO NOT ACCEPTABLE.

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