At Hindu temples, malls, convention centers and other public places, you may often see a stranger accosting you with sweet smiling face carrying a leather cased book. Similar to marketing persons, they look humble, trying to establish eye contact and in spirit of good manners if you respond back with smile they would grab the opportunity to engage in a conversation.  When the intention to convert becomes obvious in such conversations, some Hindus choose to immediately step-away or silently listen and ignore.

While both these approaches are common, are probably the best ways to avoid argument on face and help in minding our own business, they might not work for those who feel helpless and want to do something about it without losing dignity, and wish to prevent such narcissist preachers in approaching someone in future.

Behind every supremacist missionary preacher involved in business of religious conversion, lies a deep sense of inferiority complex, identity crisis and insecurity.  Instead of turning a blind eye, refuting and disproving such missionary preachers will not only checkmate their narcissist tendencies, but also help in respecting diversity and peaceful co-existence of all religions.

For those who wish to take that extra step of refuting them and want to teach good lesson to these supremacist preachers, here are some conversion tactics that are commonly used by Christian missionaries and how you can refute them with dignity by cross-questioning.  Keeping in mind Hindu Dharma’s spirit of respecting every religion, the following refuting techniques are outlined.

Conversion Tactic # “False God” Concept

Initiative to convert someone into one’s faith, comes from feeling of deep insecurity and from profound inferiority complex.  This leads them to believe that ‘My God is True’ and ‘Other Gods are False’.

Missionary Preacher: How many gods are there in Hinduism? (Intention of this question is to impress upon you that there is only one God and how their religion believes in praying only one True god and rest are false Gods).

Hindu Refuting: There are more than 1 billion people who believe Allah is only God, more than 1 billion people believe Jesus is only way to God.  In the same way over 1 billion don’t believe in God.

According to bible, Jehovah is the one and only God, and Jesus is the only way to reach him.

(Quote Bible verses:  Isaiah 45:21: “There is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.” John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”)

According to Quran, Allah is only one God and true God.

(Quran verses: Quran, 5:73: “They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.”Quran 5:75, “Christ the son of Mary was no more than a messenger; many were the messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how Allah doth make his signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth!”)

There are atheists who believe there exists no God.

Out of these three groups, if one group is correct then other two groups are wrong.  If one God is correct, another God is False.  How come God becomes False?

Hindu Dharma preaches universal spiritualism of Brahman.  Brahman is an all-inclusive concept that resides in everyone including those who don’t believe.

• Brahman is in every mother who creates, nurtures and protects us in physical form. That’s why we call mother “Matrudevo Bhavah” and see divinity in mother. Similarly, in father, teacher as well.
• Brahman is Universal, all-expansive ultimate reality which creates all, lives in all, and transcends all.
• Brahman is in cosmos and resides in each one of us, including you, me, our parents, our gurus, earth, sun, water, stone and air. Realization of such Brahman in you is possible with Adhyatma Vidya.  There are spiritual masters who attained this stage during all times to guide the rest.

Indrammitramvaru Namagnimãhuh, athodivyahsasupar Nogarutmãn,
ekam sad viprãh bahudhã vadanti,agnimyamammãtari ’švãnamãhuh. (Rigveda 1.164.46)

They hail Him as Indra, as Mitra, as Varuna, as Agni, also as that divine and noble-winged Garutmãn. It is of One Existence that the wise ones speak in diverse ways, whether as Agni, or as Yama, or as Mãtari’švãn

There is NO FALSE God concept. Its all about realizing absolute truth that Brahman is within you and in everyone.

Conversion Tactic # “Good News” approach

Good news tactic is where a missionary preacher approaches you with an intention to save you from God’s curse on humanity for the sin committed by Adam and Eve.

Missionary Preacher: Have you heard of Original Sin? (Explains how God first created Adam and Eve as immortal (no death) beings. God then asked them not to eat a particular Apple in Garden of Eden.  After which how Adam and Eve ate apple due to which they became mortal (death) and have sinned by not following instructions of God. Due to this, entire humanity as descendants of Adam & Eve carry burden of original sin.  Good news is that this sin can be redeemed if one affirms Jesus as Savior.

Hindu Refuting: Will a responsible God keep Apple (cause of mortality) near his children Adam & Eve? Will you as a responsible father keep poison beside your children and wash off your responsibility by instructing them not to drink the poison?

What kind of a God punishes children for fault of parents (Adam & Eve)? Even in modern society, children are not punished for criminal activity of a parent.

Have you heard about Hindu “Better News”? Better News is that everyone is born divinely potent instead of being born sinful.  By following Adhyatmik (spiritual) practice one can realize the Brahman in oneself.

We will address more such conversion tactics in the next part.

Disclaimer by Author:  This article applies to only those who don’t see the value of inclusiveness, diversity and peaceful co-existence of all religions and try to convert by disrespecting sentiments of other religions.  There are many Christians who are inclusive and respectful of other religions.

(HinduPost Disclaimer: This article represents the opinions of the Author, and the Author is responsible for ensuring the factual veracity of the content. HinduPost will not be responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information, contained herein.)