All Comments (12)

Mother Theresa of Calcutta and her nuns offer help to the homeless and dying WITHOUT making any attempt to convert them to Christianity in their emotionally vulnerable state.

Dear Mr Gandhi

When as a Hindu you write, “In India, for instance, even today Christian priests and activists are known to lure poor people into their fold with promises of food, shelter and a better life,” I presume that you are not familiar with the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46 about the criterion by which people who call themselves Christians will be judged. Jesus COMMANDED His disciples to love others - in action - as proof of love for Him. Jesus died for the sins of all the people, so salvation itself, which takes several lifetimes of hardwork in Hinduism – is free. But Jesus wants concrete proof of the love Christians claim to have for Him.

What exactly is wrong with Christians following the commandments of the person they believe to be the Incarnation of God, like a historical version of Krishna or Rama? What is wrong with Christians following the tenets of their religion, which does no more “harm” than giving food and shelter to the hungry and homeless and gives them a better life in this world, with liberation from the caste system and the prospect of escaping many lifetimes of hard work to attain moksha?

Hinduism is after all a con-federation of religionS, with people worshipping their own
favourite diety and following a spiritual path of their own liking. Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism are all different religions which took root on Indian soil, and in their own way is different from Hinduism. On what grounds does anyone prevent another human being from changing religion? Is not such a decision strictly between that particular human being and God?

Does not the right to practice a religion also include the right to change it? Wouldn't we all be living in caves and worshipping lightning and the sun as gods if we had to imitate our parents and not do anything differently?

Soja John Thaikattil
Sydney, Australia

The Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

If those poor people lured to religion with food etc were smart enough to take the food and leave the religion that problem would be solved. Actually, the adults are that smart. It's really the children that are preyed upon by missionaries.

Don't you wonder if being baptized by he himself the pope washes the soul that much cleaner, like cleaner than clean. Maybe that was a test case to see if Muslims would flock to the soul laundry operated by Mr Big? Of course one religion's gain is another's loss. That's not stealing is it? Just friendly competition for the easy faith dollar like McDonald's and Burger King with slightly different flavors seeking the cholesterol dollar.

Not only is the subject act not a positive one for peace among faiths but it's just another of millions of similar acts over the centuries. Not much chance they will ever end or there will ever be peace among faiths. Theres still a significant riff among American Christians in spite of ecumenical. I suspect competition for the faith dollar is the real culprit. Now if they were all rich...

But he said unto them

Faith, Hope, Love

That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.

But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

“For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb”

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
This day came ye out in the month Abib.

“whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine”

Love- hear me

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

“there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men”

And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

“they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded”
“we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord”
“The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever”

Hope- save with thy right hand

The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

“and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake”

And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.

“The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him between his shoulders”
“his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.”
“But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us?”

Faith- That thy beloved may be delivered

“And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.”
Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day

Faith
Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive
And they went in unto Noah into the ark
Faith- That thy beloved may be delivered
“whose hearts God had touched”

Hope
eyes to see
two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.”
Hope- save with thy right hand
“they kissed one another”

Love
ears to hear
two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.”
Love- hear me
I love them that love me
“born from their mother's womb”

MIGUEL,

ARUN IS A BIGOT. PERIOD. HE WAS FIRED FROM HIS JOB AT ROCHESTER FOR THAT REASON. HE IS CONSIDERED A NOTORIOUS BUNGLER IN HIS OWN COUNTRY.

QUINN SAID SHE WOULD HAVE ARUN REPORT ON "WHAT HE HAD LEARNED" IN THE AFTERMATH OF HIS LAST BIGOTED ESSAY. WELL, YOU SEE, THREE MONTHS LATER AND NOTHING LEARNED.

THEREFORE, EVERYONE, DO NOT POST HERE. LET THE OLD

MAN GO TO HIS ROOM AND PLAY WITH HIS BLOCKS.

So a person should not be allowed freedom of conscience if it upsets bigots?

A lot of Benedict's dialogue with Islam has little to do with Europe or the US, but is about the fleeing of traditional Christian communities from the middle east, the burning down of churches etc. by thugs (with little government intervention to stop the crimes) in Muslim countries like Pakistan, Indonesia and Egypt, and with the over one million Catholics (including many from Kerala) who work in Saudi as guest workers but face deportation or worse if they try to worship in secret...

If you buy the snake oil should you complain when they throw the snake in for free?

Kudos Mr.Gandhi, for calling a spade a spade. If only the pseudo-secularists amongst us Indians realise what harm is being done by them in the name of "secularism".

Mr. Gandhi,

Magdi Allam, the Muslim being referred to, joined the Catholic Faith on his own volition. It was not forced upon him.

The real problem here is that there are far too many members of the Islamic faith who look upon Allam as an apostate, and who will advocate killing him.

If a man is free, can he not choose his own manner of faith?

Perhaps you should have read up a little on Magdi Allam before tossing out your criticism of the Pope. It might have made you appear less of a fool.

What do you mean that Islam does the same thing. Moslem in India are poor and hungry themsleves!

The Moslems must feed each other and their Hindu neighbours before they go spreading their faith--which is spreading naturally--if they have food or resources to do so!!!

Moslems don't have the same resources or even the hidden agenda like the Christians.

besides Hinduism is more of an Epic than it is a religion!

Does it not seem that we are so into "political correctness" that some think that everyone should get permission from someone else to do something?

I am a Catholic and I cherish my Catholic Faith and I am also an American and by the Constitution there is freedom of religion, and a separation of church and state and with so many people more into "political correctness" than in the fact that there are not many places on this planet where there is "FREEDOM OF RELIGION", we sometimes are the first to take it so much for granted.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.