So are you equating introduction of Hindu scriptures with activities of Church??
Oh goodness no! The way I worded that could be read incorrectly. What I meant was that like here, kids don't have the connection to their own heritage, or really anything about their religious traditions. Even so many of these kids in these churches just spout the rhetoric and have never really read or have knowledge of their scriptures themselves. My comparison is that this lack of knowledge, lack of roots, makes them vulnerable to be preyed upon in the same way as was being spoken about with the kids in India.
Their is difference in increasing awareness and brainwashing.
Absolutely. A lack of a good knowledge makes them vulnerable. I think the problem is people are looking for simple, easy, "just tell me what to believe", sorts of truths. The search for meaning on an individual level through spiritual practice and searching scriptures is anything but "easy answers". It's a growth process and is hard work. Consumerism is a substitute spirituality because it give the illusion of nutrition, like eating a high-sugar candy bar which makes you feel "full". It's an illusion, and appeals to those looking for quick and easy answers.
And I don't think it has any relation with large sized SUV. It is the most effective method stop the conversion, isn't it?? How can we accept a person to stand for his culture if he know nothing about it, he will simply move on.
But my point is that these churches here see what the mass consumers are interested in, selfish greed, and tries to market themselves to that. "You want Jesus because now you can get that big car you've always dreamed of!". I actually worked in technology at a financial firm helping these brokers who make millions of dollars a year, and are greedy, unpleasant people to work with, and many of them have a "Bible study" before work to be right with Jesus so they can make loads and loads of money that day. How foul is that?
So what I hear is that this same tactic to find an "in" to market their wares to is the same thing in any other culture. Find what the people want, and attach Jesus to it! Sell, sell, sell... and it's all good to them because it "serves God", they tell themselves. No, it serves themselves.
Also introducing kids to vedic scriptures will make them a better person.
I would certainly agree! Anything that opens us to the truly spiritual is good.
Don't know much about Christianity but in Hinduism Introducing kids to their scriptures is definitely a way to connect them to spirituality. Earlier there were Gurukul for that. But after the destruction of Gurukul system not only Hindus but this country India saw worst.
We have had a decline of Christianity in this country, and a replacement by this evangelical/consumerist style religion in its stead. In fact, the rise of fundamentalist to me is a symptom of this implosion of the mainstream. That's what is spreading itself like a virus to the world, not just India, but the African continent as well.
Personally, to me Hinduism has much to teach the world. Certainly its teaching are valuable to me.
