Book Title: Jain Spirit 2000 03 No 03 Author(s): Jain Spirit UK Publisher: UK Young JainsPage 13
________________ GLOBAL NEWS SHOULD JAINS PREACH THEIR religion? This is a question which has been recently brought into the foreground of debate due to the activities of certain American Southern Baptist Christian organisations. Having already attracted great international controversy for their distribution of the anti-Hindu pamphlet Diwali; Festival of Light, Circle of Darkness', for which they were eventually forced to issue a public apology (but, it is interesting to note, not a retraction), Southern Baptists are now beginning a similar campaign against Jainism. Students from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky recently travelled to India to conduct research into Jainism for the purpose of converting Jains to Christianity. Converting adherents of other religions to Christianity, or 'evangelism', is considered by the vast majority of Christians to be a central tenet of their faith- it is allied closely to an idea that Christianity is the only true religion, and non-adherents are punished by God. The seminary's magazine, The Tie, discusses the trip in an article that has provoked a large amount of comment from the Jain community. The article is mainly concerned with two topics: criticism of Jainism, and tactics for converting Jains to TO Christianity. Missy Woodward, Student Co-ordinator of the trip, speaks about the 'hopelessness' of Jainism, while Chris Smith, another student present on the trip, curiously criticises Ahimsa for 'affecting the food Jains eat and the way they live. Presumably referring to Anckantvada, George Martin, the leader of the trip, talks about Jains' willingness to accept new people, and advocates using this openness as an aid to conversion. Woodward starkly summarises the goals and attitude of the missionaries, saying "It's really different when you're talking to somebody and you know that this person will spend eternity in hell if somebody does not 12 Jain Spirit March May 2000 Jain Education International 2010_03 Divali: Festival of Lights Prayer for Hindus SOUTHERN BAPTISTS TARGET JAINISM come and work with these people". Many Jains are more concerned about the misrepresentation of the religion than the activities of missionaries. Amar Salgia, former Jain youth leader, remarks that "while it seems fairly certain they won't manage to 'convert' anyone within the Shravak Jain Sangha, Jains should become more aware of how their way of life is being misrepresented". 'Nick', writing to the Jain Friends notice board (jain friends@onelist.com, visit see WWW for details) comments that "Jainism is too non-violent, too open minded, and too The controversial Diwali pamphlet For Private & Personal Use Only intelligent [to be affected]. Baptist philosophy is completely intolerant, very violent, and poorly thought out. Why would Indians leave a well respected religion in India for one that is not respected?". This article is the latest event in a long line of Christian activities which are generating increasing concern in India. The proselytising activities of Christian missionaries, particularly amongst Hindus in communities in relatively. undeveloped areas of India such as Orissa and Madhya Pradesh have been the subject of a great deal of discussion, www.jainelibrary.orgPage Navigation
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