Tuesday, September 07, 2004
A question of unethical conversion
By Damitha Hemachandra
The two proposed Bills Preventing Forceful Conversion of Religions had triggered more debate and controversy in the country perhaps more than any prospective legislation to be passed in Parliament in the near future.
The original or the first bill presented by the all Bikkhu Political Party, Jatika Hela Urumaya (JHU) seeks to prevent forceful attempts to convert one’s religion through favourisem in educational or occupational fields, financial offerings and other direct or indirect gains while biding imprisonment for five years and a fine of Rs.500, 000 for anyone found guilty of forceful unethical conversion.
The initial draft of the bill, which is to be presented by the Ministry of Buddasasana, too indicated marked similarities to the JHU bill while being considerably lenient with the penalty.
Commenting on the necessity of the Bill leader of JHU, Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera said that unethical conversion has become a major dilemma to the predominantly Buddhist Sri Lanka.
"Buddhism is one religion in the world that was not and will not be propagated at the point of sword. There has been a 'Dharma Vijaya by Emperor Ashoka, when he shared the gift of Buddhism with the rest of the world through Bikkhus. We too are beneficiaries of that act of sharing of the Dhamma. But conversion today has become a dirty business and has reached terrifying proportions," Ven. Thera said.
Having waged in a long war and experienced an inner revolution after meeting samanera Negrodha, Emperor Ashoka of India also wished to share this newly acquired wisdom with his friend King Devanampiyatissa of neighbouring Sri Lanka. He sent his son Arhanth Mihindu and six others bearing a message of Dhamma in third BC and to date, King Devanampiyatissa remains one of the most famous converts to Buddhism of all time.
However much water had flown since then. Today the modes of religion conversion have changed dramatically around the world as well as in Sri Lanka, and in most cases had failed to be an enlightening personal experience. An element of inducement or 'faith buying’ had been playing a larger role in conversion than the inner transformation and true belief in embracing a faith.
Religions today appears to be force-fed, and in extreme cases, even the traces of early religions, which bear remembrance to other faiths, are not tolerated, like in the case of Afghanistan's Taliban rule that wiped out valuable Bamiyan Buddha statues.
According to the 1998 Buddasasana Commission 188 Non-Governmental Organisations were engaged directly in spreading Christianity around the country. As a result the introduction of a bill prohibiting 'unethical conversions', is being heavily campaigned with renewed interest in Sri Lanka, one of the few remaining Theravada states, in the world.
The bill which was a matter of life and death to many ardent Buddhists was tabled in Parliament in early May and is now under the heavy criticism some Christian NGOs, who propagate unethical conversion while receiving support from Muslim and Hindu religious leaders.
The main fear and allegation against the Bill is that it would curb religious freedom. The Catholic Church was eager point that the proposed bill would prevent religious harmony among Sri Lankans and prevent converts through true belief.
They alleged that many Sri Lankan temples around the world in fact could to be charged under ‘Unethical Conversion’.
However Ven. Sobhitha Thera was quick to indicate that Buddhist and Christian ways of conversion are as opposite as water and fire.
‘While many Christian evangelists in Sri Lanka are practising this aggressive mode of conversion by getting to destroy symbols of Buddha statues and making offensive comments on the belief and rituals of Buddhism, Buddhist conversion depends solely on the theory of ‘Come and Discover’,” he said adding that in the case of spreading Buddhism in Christian majority countries the Bikkhus do not even advertise their presence at the neighbourhood.
“Usually Buddhist Temples are established in a neighbourhood after the invitation of a group of Buddhists in the area and the Bikkhus in the temple never engage in door-to-door ‘advertising, as in the case of evangelists,” he pointed.
Ven. Thera said that it is absurd to compare the visit of Arhanth Mihindu to Sri Lanka with present trickery of evangelism.
“Arhanth Mihindu did not arrive in Sri Lanka with Thripitaka in one hand and a sword in the other as the way Portuguese who came to Ceylon 500 years ago did,” he pointed.
There is no dispute that every person is free to follow the religion of his choice or for that matter not follow any religion. The difference arises when this freedom is deprived as in proselytization, which in fact means going beyond free choice making one to accept a doctrine by inducing someone to convert to one's faith.
Meanwhile the Minister of Buddasasana, Rathnasiri Wickremanayake reassured that the traditional churches would not be affected by the proposed Bill.
According to the Minister the only groups, which would be affected by the bill, would be the newly established minor churches or evangelical groups run with American, European and South Korean funds who were eager to show a speedy increase in their flock within the shortest time to get more grants from donor agencies.
When Columbus led the Spanish expeditions, he tacitly justified all the atrocities committed by the conquistadors by declaring his mission as "Gold for my Sovereign and Souls for The Church".
Critics observe that this is happening even today with the most powerful nation with her allies beginning to grab and steal the resources both natural and biological of the poor nations.
“It had become a game of numbers with deceitful champions of Christianity backed by big money, registering their institutions under the Companies Ordinance coming to exploit the poverty of our people by proselytizing them by financial and other inducements,” Buddhist Activist Hema Gunathilake said.
“The more people they have in power, easier for them to handle the resources of a country,” she added.
However Unethical Conversion and Evangelism are not issues restricted to Sri Lanka alone. Three Indian states had already introduced legislation to curb Unethical Conversion while response towards evangelists is not as pensive as in Sri Lanka.
Not so long ago a missionary was burnt alive inside a motorcar in India by Hindu extremists while evangelism is prevented through law in many Islamic countries. Attempts of unethical conversion had been often dealt with heavy violence at many neighbouring South Asian countries but this violent behaviour had been successful in keeping missionaries at bay in countries like India and Pakistan.
Meanwhile few feel that a Bill to prevent Unethical Conversion could harm Buddhism in the long run.
Senior Law Lecturer at the University of Colombo, Rohan Edrisinha feels that it is best to keep restrictions and religion factors at two ends. According to Mr. Edrisinha such regulations could be abused at largely and could trigger sensitive social and political situations.
“There has been a great deal of abuse of such laws in India,” he pointed adding that there was a case in India where an electrician accused a Priest of trying to convert him after a payment dispute.
But to minimise legal abuse Edrisinha suggests”Council of Religious Leaders” to sort out religious differences instead of a new law.
If one's faith is like commodity and could be purchased at a price, let it be so. Buddhism does not mean maintaining numbers but having even a handful of true followers. According to the Buddha himself few who understand and value the true meaning of Buddhism could keep the flame of Buddhism alive besides masses, who are bind to it by blind faith or restriction.
The teachings of Buddha encourage self-discovery and logical thinking against blind faith. Are we not destroying the foundation of that liberal teaching by binding an individual to a religion by law? Yet would total persistence as Buddhists endanger Sri Lanka‘s future?
Professor S.T.Hettige – Professor of Sociology. University of Colombo warns that unethical conversion could have long-term consequences on the Sri Lankan society.
“ The Agro-Aqua culture we found in the country today was introduced with Buddhism and have its roots dug deep into it,” he said adding that although Sri Lanka is considered to be a multi cultural and multi ethnic country the main cultural system we find in the country today is based on Buddhist roots.
Mass scale conversion without a correct foundation could show its consequences in the future, he said.
Unethical or forceful conversion from one religion to another according to Dr. K. Vigneswaran, advisor to the Ministry of Hindu Affairs is a serious threat to the humanity.
“ It is not a threat faced by the Sri Lankan Buddhists alone the situation is worst in North and East and even in the central province of the country,” he said adding that legislation to control forceful, unethical conversion is an essentiality today.
According to Dr. Vigneswaran Sri Lankan Hindus are the worst hit by the wave of unethical conversion by missionary groups who luring away poor Hindus away from their religion by promising various perks.
Father Cyril Gamini Fernando of the National Catholic Social Communication Centre (NCSC) however fears that the proposed prevention of forceful conversion to other religions could limit ones’ right to convert to another religion based on true faith.
“ I do agree that there is a issue of mass scale unethical conversion by unconventional religious groups but yet we feel that it could be solved through discussion and agreement and not through restriction,” he said.
According to Father Fernando an all-religious council is a better option to solve the problem over restriction and legislation.
The two proposed Bills Preventing Forceful Conversion of Religions had triggered more debate and controversy in the country perhaps more than any prospective legislation to be passed in Parliament in the near future.
The original or the first bill presented by the all Bikkhu Political Party, Jatika Hela Urumaya (JHU) seeks to prevent forceful attempts to convert one’s religion through favourisem in educational or occupational fields, financial offerings and other direct or indirect gains while biding imprisonment for five years and a fine of Rs.500, 000 for anyone found guilty of forceful unethical conversion.
The initial draft of the bill, which is to be presented by the Ministry of Buddasasana, too indicated marked similarities to the JHU bill while being considerably lenient with the penalty.
Commenting on the necessity of the Bill leader of JHU, Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera said that unethical conversion has become a major dilemma to the predominantly Buddhist Sri Lanka.
"Buddhism is one religion in the world that was not and will not be propagated at the point of sword. There has been a 'Dharma Vijaya by Emperor Ashoka, when he shared the gift of Buddhism with the rest of the world through Bikkhus. We too are beneficiaries of that act of sharing of the Dhamma. But conversion today has become a dirty business and has reached terrifying proportions," Ven. Thera said.
Having waged in a long war and experienced an inner revolution after meeting samanera Negrodha, Emperor Ashoka of India also wished to share this newly acquired wisdom with his friend King Devanampiyatissa of neighbouring Sri Lanka. He sent his son Arhanth Mihindu and six others bearing a message of Dhamma in third BC and to date, King Devanampiyatissa remains one of the most famous converts to Buddhism of all time.
However much water had flown since then. Today the modes of religion conversion have changed dramatically around the world as well as in Sri Lanka, and in most cases had failed to be an enlightening personal experience. An element of inducement or 'faith buying’ had been playing a larger role in conversion than the inner transformation and true belief in embracing a faith.
Religions today appears to be force-fed, and in extreme cases, even the traces of early religions, which bear remembrance to other faiths, are not tolerated, like in the case of Afghanistan's Taliban rule that wiped out valuable Bamiyan Buddha statues.
According to the 1998 Buddasasana Commission 188 Non-Governmental Organisations were engaged directly in spreading Christianity around the country. As a result the introduction of a bill prohibiting 'unethical conversions', is being heavily campaigned with renewed interest in Sri Lanka, one of the few remaining Theravada states, in the world.
The bill which was a matter of life and death to many ardent Buddhists was tabled in Parliament in early May and is now under the heavy criticism some Christian NGOs, who propagate unethical conversion while receiving support from Muslim and Hindu religious leaders.
The main fear and allegation against the Bill is that it would curb religious freedom. The Catholic Church was eager point that the proposed bill would prevent religious harmony among Sri Lankans and prevent converts through true belief.
They alleged that many Sri Lankan temples around the world in fact could to be charged under ‘Unethical Conversion’.
However Ven. Sobhitha Thera was quick to indicate that Buddhist and Christian ways of conversion are as opposite as water and fire.
‘While many Christian evangelists in Sri Lanka are practising this aggressive mode of conversion by getting to destroy symbols of Buddha statues and making offensive comments on the belief and rituals of Buddhism, Buddhist conversion depends solely on the theory of ‘Come and Discover’,” he said adding that in the case of spreading Buddhism in Christian majority countries the Bikkhus do not even advertise their presence at the neighbourhood.
“Usually Buddhist Temples are established in a neighbourhood after the invitation of a group of Buddhists in the area and the Bikkhus in the temple never engage in door-to-door ‘advertising, as in the case of evangelists,” he pointed.
Ven. Thera said that it is absurd to compare the visit of Arhanth Mihindu to Sri Lanka with present trickery of evangelism.
“Arhanth Mihindu did not arrive in Sri Lanka with Thripitaka in one hand and a sword in the other as the way Portuguese who came to Ceylon 500 years ago did,” he pointed.
There is no dispute that every person is free to follow the religion of his choice or for that matter not follow any religion. The difference arises when this freedom is deprived as in proselytization, which in fact means going beyond free choice making one to accept a doctrine by inducing someone to convert to one's faith.
Meanwhile the Minister of Buddasasana, Rathnasiri Wickremanayake reassured that the traditional churches would not be affected by the proposed Bill.
According to the Minister the only groups, which would be affected by the bill, would be the newly established minor churches or evangelical groups run with American, European and South Korean funds who were eager to show a speedy increase in their flock within the shortest time to get more grants from donor agencies.
When Columbus led the Spanish expeditions, he tacitly justified all the atrocities committed by the conquistadors by declaring his mission as "Gold for my Sovereign and Souls for The Church".
Critics observe that this is happening even today with the most powerful nation with her allies beginning to grab and steal the resources both natural and biological of the poor nations.
“It had become a game of numbers with deceitful champions of Christianity backed by big money, registering their institutions under the Companies Ordinance coming to exploit the poverty of our people by proselytizing them by financial and other inducements,” Buddhist Activist Hema Gunathilake said.
“The more people they have in power, easier for them to handle the resources of a country,” she added.
However Unethical Conversion and Evangelism are not issues restricted to Sri Lanka alone. Three Indian states had already introduced legislation to curb Unethical Conversion while response towards evangelists is not as pensive as in Sri Lanka.
Not so long ago a missionary was burnt alive inside a motorcar in India by Hindu extremists while evangelism is prevented through law in many Islamic countries. Attempts of unethical conversion had been often dealt with heavy violence at many neighbouring South Asian countries but this violent behaviour had been successful in keeping missionaries at bay in countries like India and Pakistan.
Meanwhile few feel that a Bill to prevent Unethical Conversion could harm Buddhism in the long run.
Senior Law Lecturer at the University of Colombo, Rohan Edrisinha feels that it is best to keep restrictions and religion factors at two ends. According to Mr. Edrisinha such regulations could be abused at largely and could trigger sensitive social and political situations.
“There has been a great deal of abuse of such laws in India,” he pointed adding that there was a case in India where an electrician accused a Priest of trying to convert him after a payment dispute.
But to minimise legal abuse Edrisinha suggests”Council of Religious Leaders” to sort out religious differences instead of a new law.
If one's faith is like commodity and could be purchased at a price, let it be so. Buddhism does not mean maintaining numbers but having even a handful of true followers. According to the Buddha himself few who understand and value the true meaning of Buddhism could keep the flame of Buddhism alive besides masses, who are bind to it by blind faith or restriction.
The teachings of Buddha encourage self-discovery and logical thinking against blind faith. Are we not destroying the foundation of that liberal teaching by binding an individual to a religion by law? Yet would total persistence as Buddhists endanger Sri Lanka‘s future?
Professor S.T.Hettige – Professor of Sociology. University of Colombo warns that unethical conversion could have long-term consequences on the Sri Lankan society.
“ The Agro-Aqua culture we found in the country today was introduced with Buddhism and have its roots dug deep into it,” he said adding that although Sri Lanka is considered to be a multi cultural and multi ethnic country the main cultural system we find in the country today is based on Buddhist roots.
Mass scale conversion without a correct foundation could show its consequences in the future, he said.
Unethical or forceful conversion from one religion to another according to Dr. K. Vigneswaran, advisor to the Ministry of Hindu Affairs is a serious threat to the humanity.
“ It is not a threat faced by the Sri Lankan Buddhists alone the situation is worst in North and East and even in the central province of the country,” he said adding that legislation to control forceful, unethical conversion is an essentiality today.
According to Dr. Vigneswaran Sri Lankan Hindus are the worst hit by the wave of unethical conversion by missionary groups who luring away poor Hindus away from their religion by promising various perks.
Father Cyril Gamini Fernando of the National Catholic Social Communication Centre (NCSC) however fears that the proposed prevention of forceful conversion to other religions could limit ones’ right to convert to another religion based on true faith.
“ I do agree that there is a issue of mass scale unethical conversion by unconventional religious groups but yet we feel that it could be solved through discussion and agreement and not through restriction,” he said.
According to Father Fernando an all-religious council is a better option to solve the problem over restriction and legislation.
