Inspired by this. India is not the only nation where there are laws covering religious conversion. Egypt for example has a complete procedure for converting from Copt Christian to Sunni Muslim (no worries about the reverse, they'll just kill you for leaving Islam).
It's certainly a strange to me. As an American I am completely used to the idea of the Government having no business in whatever religion I chose (arguements over the current government and religion may start their own damn thread and leave this one be).
So let's ask, should there be any paperwork for converting? Do you believe it is anything but a private/personal experience, or do you feel that there is something to the idea of a national government or any group having a stake in it?
I honestly believe that religion is a personnal event and not for any government to be involved in.
On Conversion.
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frigidmagi
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#1 On Conversion.
"it takes two sides to end a war but only one to start one. And those who do not have swords may still die upon them." Tolken
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Comrade Tortoise
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#2
Well, India is a bit...odd. For one, Hinduism is a cultural religion which is thousands and thousands of years old. Second, they have been literally invaded and butchered by islam and the current state of tension in Kashmir is expressely over which reigion will control the territory.
When india finally united, they had to make compromises with the rulers of the muslim majority states and the percentages of people who are part of which religion is actually very important for their national security in some cases. I can then understand why they would want to know who belongs to which religious sect.
As an aside, christian conversion there, and I have this on authority of someone fresh off the boat, is kinda sneaky. Not in the cloak and dagger way, but in the "steal your cultural traditions and incorporate them into christianity" sort of way. It is really interesting because it is like a historical throwback to the dark ages and how christians converted most of northern europe.
When india finally united, they had to make compromises with the rulers of the muslim majority states and the percentages of people who are part of which religion is actually very important for their national security in some cases. I can then understand why they would want to know who belongs to which religious sect.
As an aside, christian conversion there, and I have this on authority of someone fresh off the boat, is kinda sneaky. Not in the cloak and dagger way, but in the "steal your cultural traditions and incorporate them into christianity" sort of way. It is really interesting because it is like a historical throwback to the dark ages and how christians converted most of northern europe.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
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frigidmagi
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#3
Yeah so? Why should any of these people be forced to remain a religion that literally demands they be treated like garabage? As far has I care, as long as no one is being forced to change religions or stay in their religions, what they chose to believe, or what tradition they chose to keep is between them and God.
Hell Ben, Christianity as a number of wildly different strains. Do you honestly think the Chinese Christians in the secret churches are anything like the ones you know in Pheonix?
Hell Ben, Christianity as a number of wildly different strains. Do you honestly think the Chinese Christians in the secret churches are anything like the ones you know in Pheonix?
"it takes two sides to end a war but only one to start one. And those who do not have swords may still die upon them." Tolken
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Mayabird
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#4
The government should keep the hell out of conversions, which also includes de-conversions. I can't blame the Untouchables for wanting to get out of their enforced lot in life (which in many places means being forced to clean outhouses and carry the nightsoil on their heads). It's not just Christianity they're converting to, but also Buddhism, neither of which say that they must spend their lives cleaning out the shit of the rich. Cultural institutions? Fuck cultural institutions that say that a segment of a population must be oppressed. The classic quote of Navier comes to mind.