In this democratic country I'm entitled to follow any religion. The constitution(Article 25) in fact allows me to practice and propagate any religion. "Propagate" here according to my knowledge includes preaching my religion as well.
In this entire debate, 'conversion' denotes, converting a person from one religion to another religion. My point here is, If a person wants to convert from religion 'x' to religion 'y' he is entitled to do so. And government should not be interfering in to such a private decision.
The problem comes only when there are forced conversions. Now, forced conversions according to me are misnomers. You cannot forcibly convert a person (i.e) You cannot threaten to kill a person and ask him to convert to any religion. He may act outside, but in the innermost heart he might still be the same person. So government can intervene and stop any threatened conversion not for the sake of conversion, but because any human being threatening any other human being ought to be punished.
So I wholeheartedly support the much maligned "Gharwapsi" also; Yes, anybody can preach to me about the beauties of Hinduism and help me see the light in that. So also I support Muslims preaching Islam. My only point is, I cannot be and should not be threatened to follow any religion. And yes, that includes Christianity also. Anybody threatening others to follow Christ should be put behind bars. No, two ways about it!
I understand, others will have different opinions on this. And I defend to death their right to say it. We can debate this with all civility and without abuse.
My other worry is, we are fighting the wrong battle. There are bigger battles to be fought and I also just hope in the name of fighting this battle, we will not stop a lot of good works done in the name of religion like the "Mother Teresa's orphanages", "Sai Baba's hospitals" and the "Islamic educational institutions".
In this entire debate, 'conversion' denotes, converting a person from one religion to another religion. My point here is, If a person wants to convert from religion 'x' to religion 'y' he is entitled to do so. And government should not be interfering in to such a private decision.
The problem comes only when there are forced conversions. Now, forced conversions according to me are misnomers. You cannot forcibly convert a person (i.e) You cannot threaten to kill a person and ask him to convert to any religion. He may act outside, but in the innermost heart he might still be the same person. So government can intervene and stop any threatened conversion not for the sake of conversion, but because any human being threatening any other human being ought to be punished.
So I wholeheartedly support the much maligned "Gharwapsi" also; Yes, anybody can preach to me about the beauties of Hinduism and help me see the light in that. So also I support Muslims preaching Islam. My only point is, I cannot be and should not be threatened to follow any religion. And yes, that includes Christianity also. Anybody threatening others to follow Christ should be put behind bars. No, two ways about it!
I understand, others will have different opinions on this. And I defend to death their right to say it. We can debate this with all civility and without abuse.
My other worry is, we are fighting the wrong battle. There are bigger battles to be fought and I also just hope in the name of fighting this battle, we will not stop a lot of good works done in the name of religion like the "Mother Teresa's orphanages", "Sai Baba's hospitals" and the "Islamic educational institutions".
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