Conversion Zindabad — 7
Does conversion destroy culture?
Before we discuss the question “how do we know the truth?” from my previous conversation, let me bring another assumption from another friend. He said to me, “Conversion destroys our culture.” In India, when we say culture in the context of religious conversion, we actually mean traditions. When anyone says this, we need to ask a few questions. Who is making this statement? Does the faith of that person demand exclusivity? Does that faith accept converts from other faiths?
Since my friend comes from the Hindu faith, I asked him if Hinduism claims exclusivity. By that I mean, is Hinduism unique vis-a-vis other faiths? Though Hinduism is a conglomeration of many religions and not a single coherent system, it has few core doctrines that are unique. Like, for example, the doctrine of reincarnation. My friend agreed. Just hold this thought there, we will get back to this soon.
Next question that I asked was, does Hinduism accept converts from other faiths? He said, “Hinduism is open to all who wish to convert.” That is a nice way of saying yes. There are many organizations across the world who convert people from other faiths to Hinduism. So I asked my friend, don’t you think when a person from another faith converts to exclusive claims of Hinduism there is a demand to adopt new practices? In fact, you know Hinduism is more a religion of practice than belief. He did not respond.
If a convert adopts new practices that are exclusive to Hinduism then it obviously demands change from few of their old traditions to new ones. So, don’t you think you are complaining about something that you are demanding yourself? “But those are good practices,’’ my friend replied. Well, good or bad is not the point. The point is that there are changes in traditions. Isn’t it?
Beside that, tell me, is it not true that traditions within Hinduism — even without conversion — have evolved into something that is against what the scriptures demand? Hindu reformers themselves have fought against them to bring change for the better. Even Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishna in his speech on the Flag of India in 1947 said, “There are ever so many institutions which are worked into our social fabric like caste and untouchability. Unless these things are scrapped we cannot say that we either seek truth or practise virtue.”
Don’t you think he rightly said that our pursuit should be to seek the truth? Do we follow all the old traditions our scriptures demand? Don’t you think your complaint is invalid?
In the same way Islam also cannot make this complaint because it demands complete rejection of your old traditions and beliefs and even language. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other major religions have scriptures prescribing even common habits like how one should eat, dress, etc.
Cultural values always evolve which is critical for human flourishing. As a follower of Jesus, I want to add one comment here. When you begin to follow Jesus you are not asked to change your culture, rather you bring Jesus into your culture. Just as God came into our world and our cultures.
That is what Frank Wesley is trying to say in his above painting “Jesus in Varanasi”. Unfortunately, in the last few centuries, Western Christianity (or Christianities) has imposed its traditions on other cultures which is, in fact, against the teachings of the apostles. Cultural change is good when its pursuit is to seek truth.
‘Conversion Zindabad’ series is a partly fictional and partly actual conversations on the concept of ‘freedom of conscience’. If you like these posts and want to be notified on the new posts, follow us by clicking the button below.
