***** UNTOUCHABILITY IN CHRISTIANITY *****
and/or www.mantra.com/jai
Does Indian Christianity Allow Untouchability?
Posted September 28, 2005
Laura Kelly (laurake...@rediffmail.com)
Journalist and Christian Historian
Christian Hendersen
Anthropological Documentary producer
Kunta Runta
The Artic
Finland
We have been reading with great interest letters from
readers, that followed after publication of the article
"Ensuring equal rights to all Dalits", by Archbishop A.M.
Chinnappa and A. Philomin Raj, The Hindu, Sep 22,
2005.With some trepidation it is necessary that we have
to point out, vital points have been left out on this
important issue,hence this critique.
The Privy Council (UK) as early as 1936 had ruled out
that there is no "Scheduled caste in Indian
Christianity". To �Cast the Nets to the Marginalized
Side� and the argument again and again in new terminology
"Dalits" is untenable both legally and morally. Dalit
Openness �to Gods unknown� comes with a price tag - loss
of 'self' and Identity'. Dalits with their Spirituality
and life style are now protected and needs enhanced
fencing. The rituals and ceremonies of the Dalits mirror
the space that their men and women occupy in the society
and the values they cherish. The spontaneous out burst
against the utterances of the Tamil Movie star Kushboo is
a case in point, that values are still too precious.
Dalits have both men and women as priests and priestess
to talk and mediate with their Deity and to offer
sacrifices.
Theodore Wilber Elmore in his �Dravidian Gods in Modern
Hinduism: A Study of the Local and Village Deities of
Southern India� identifies some of such ceremonies. These
rituals are well integrated into the religious life of
Hindus. Neem, Banyan and other trees are held sacred. The
worship of nature resulted itself in the preservation of
the nature. Thus the Dalit religion is eco-friendly.
Clarence Clark, in his Talks on an Indian Village,
describes this phenomenon to children in the West in
following sentences,". . . there were evil spirits all
around him (a Dalit) living in trees and streams and
large stones, and they would do him a great harm if he is
not careful.� Thus Dalit religion is eco-friendly.
Victor Premasagar, "The Gods of Our Fathers - Towards A
Theology of Indian Religious and Cultural Heritage", has
called for a sensitive, critical and inclusive appraisal
of Dalit religions in the process of our theologizing. He
wonders of how capable they were in sustaining for
thousands of years the life of the communities that were
always under the threat of extinction. Abraham
Ayrookuzhiel did study the Dalit religiosity but had
remained a social scientist and never attempted to allow
Christian �god-talk� to dialogue with Dalit cultural
resources. V. Devasahayam in his "Outside the Camp" has
made a deliberate attempt to utilize the cultural
resources of Dalits in interpreting the Biblical texts.
Dalit religion could discern the divine in natural
objects and the presence of supernatural in natural
forces. Western christian writers, whose twin mission was
to subjugate other cultures and to mutilate the Nature,
had called this world-view as �animism� (P.Y. Luke and
John B. Carman, Village Christians and Hindu Culture
(London: Lutterworth Press, 1968)
Does Indian Christianity allow untouchablility?
The Synod of Diamper held 1599 at Diamper (Udiamperur,
Kerala ), India; pressure was brought on Syrian
Christians temporarily to accept Roman Church as Malabar
Uniate Church, clearly recognized and endorsed the Indian
caste system within the Roman Catholic Church. This is
held intact even today with the Doctrines of the Roman
Church, even though the constitution of India has
abolished untouchablility within Hinduism. It is
surprising both the authors of the article have skirted
the key issue.
Roberto De Nobili, Francis Xavier and John Britto all
practiced untouchability.Jesuits like Nobili claimed
himself to be a Brahmin from Rome and administered the
Eucharist on a long pole to the new "untouchable
converts".(sic)
In a reply to a question are not Christians entitled to
combat untouchablility, Mahatma Gandhi said, "Not only
are the Christians entitled, but it is their duty to
combat untouchablility in their own midst. But if the
question is that Christians should combat untouchablility
in Hinduism my answer is that they simply cannot do it
because untouchablility of Hinduism should not be
untouchablility of Christians. The anti-untouchablility
movement means weaning Hindus from their error. This
cannot be effectively done by non-Hindus, even as Hindus
cannot bring about religious reform among Christians and
Mussalmans. If the question means that Christian should
combat untouchablility among Hindus by converting
untouchables to Christianity they do not advance the
cause in any shape or form; the cause being reform among
caste Hindus. If the latter repented their sin the
Harijans would be delivered from the yoke of
untouchablility in a moment. Conversion can never do it.
It can only add to the prevailing bitterness and
introduce a disturbing factor in a situation which is
already bad".
Most Pakistani Christians today still do the same work as
their untouchable ancestors: sweeping the streets and
doing other menial jobs deemed ritually or literally
unclean by higher-caste Hindus. (The Untouchables' Church
despite a Catholic bishop's protest suicide in 1998,
Christians holds little hope for repeal of blasphemy law,
Ethan Casey in Pakistan. Christianity Today Magazine.)
The Term Dalit Christian is a misnomer. Mr.V. T.
Rajshekhar, editor of "Dalit Voice" had very aptly
described the Unchristian side of the Indian Church. In
his article of above name published in "Dalit Voice" some
years ago, he had commented that the missionaries are
educating the children of oppressors, who tomorrow will
come to power and see that these very schools, where they
obtained first lessons of alphabets, be closed. It is
like feeding milk to the serpents' offsprings. He had
also suggested that at least 50% of seats in all
Christian convents must be given only to SCs and STs at
no charge, and the deficit be made good by charging
double fees from the children of oppressors. I do not
think that article made any dent on missionaries; they
are following their own ways says Dr. K. Jamanadas in his
Dalit Identity.
On May 9, 2001, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
sent its first open letter to the Rev. Fr. Peter-Hans
Kolvenbach, the superior general of the Jesuit order in
Rome, about the expulsion from the order of Fr. Pallath
J. Joseph of the Kerala Province of Jesuits in India.
This article continues the series of open letters that
have ensued to the superior general about Fr. Pallath's
case. Because each letter begins with the same
introduction stating the facts of the case, these have
been omitted after the fifth letter below. For further
details about the expulsion of Fr. Pallath from the
Jesuit order, see the web site created by AHRC at
http://jjpallath.ahrchk.net.}
Mr.P.N.Benjamin wrote for the Deccan Herald on the eve of
the Synod said, �The Church has sinned more than others
in perpetuating social injustices against Dalit
Christians. In Indian Christian communities, caste
discrimination takes many forms. There are some churches
built for separate groups. These places of worship even
today retain their caste identity. Another example of
casteist practice is allotting separate places in
churches. Usually, the Christians of Scheduled Caste
origins occupy the rear of the church. A glaring instance
of caste distinction is found among the dead. The dead of
the Dalit communities are buried in separate cemeteries."
There is rampant casteist mentality in Christianity that
takes pride in the egalitarian nature of its society. Its
missionaries sell dignity to the underclasses in the
Hindu society but forget about it after their conversion
to Christianity. The Hindu society at least throws up
periodically reformers who champion the cause of Dalits
who are useful to Christianity only to swell its flock.
Only two years ago, the Catholic bishops meeting at
Varanasi resolved to bury casteism among Christians.
The appointment of India's first "Dalit"(low caste)
archbishop evoked mixed reactions among church community
in Andhra Pradesh. The Vatican came under attack for
ignoring "ground realities'' in transferring Bishop
Marampudi Joji of Vijayawada to Hyderabad, while others
said his promotion as the state's metropolitan archbishop
will bring "new life'' to the million-strong Andhra
church. Expressing shock over the appointment, outgoing
Archbishop Samineni Arulappa of Hyderabad said, "Rome is
being taken for a ride. Rome does not know the ground
realities.'' He belongs to the upper caste Naidu
community.
Out of 156 Catholic bishops in India, 150 bishops belong
to the upper castes. Only six bishops are Dalits. Out of
12,500 Catholic priests, only 600 are from Dalit
community. Though Dalits constitute 75 per cent of the
Indian Christian community, the control over church is in
the hands of 25 per cent upper caste Christians. (Outlook
Magazine Aug ,30 )
It is not as though the problems of Dalit Christians have
not received attention from the government. Several
commissions appointed by the government have referred to
the disabilities Dalits suffered in Christian society.
Kaka Kalelkar, chairman of the Backward Classes
Commission of 1955, said, "We discovered with deep pain
and sorrow that untouchablility did obtain in the extreme
south among Indian Christians, and Indian Christians were
prepared in many places to assert that they were still
guided by caste, not only in the matter of
untouchablility, but in social hierarchy of high and low.
While the Harijans among the Hindus, classified as
scheduled castes stand a fair chance of bettering their
condition under the Indian government's reservation
policy, their Christian counterparts stand twice
discriminated."
On the eve of Pope John Paul's visit to India in November
of 1999, Dr Mary John, president of Dalit Christian
Liberation Movement, wrote: "Since the powers, authority,
official posts, organizations and financial resources are
all in the absolute hold of the caste-priests, nuns,
bishops and the religious, the Dalit Christians are not
able to get an equal share for them in education,
employment opportunities, welfare and development schemes
available in the church. This has hindered the progress
of Dalit Christians for long and has forced them to the
situation of fighting for their rights. But the church
authorities are least worried about this."
About ten million Dalit Christians of India feel cheated
by the church that converted them to Christianity with
the assurance that they would be given equal rights and
status in the community.
Benjamin quotes some interesting statistics: A study of
all the landed properties of churches in India put
together shows that the church is the second biggest
landlord in the country, next only to the Government. In
addition, the Church institutions and Church or
Christians-led NGOs receive foreign financial support
amounting to over Rs. 2500 crores per year. There is no
transparency with regard to these funds as well as the
massive income accruing from the elite schools, colleges
and hospitals and also shopping complexes built all over
the major cities in the country. The poor Dalit Christian
does not even get the crumbs, leave alone participation
in Church matters. There seems to be a vested interest in
keeping the Dalit Christians where they are to maintain
the status quo in the church.
But now Dalit Christians are more untouchable in
Christianity than they were in their original faith,
according to Francis. "Swadeshi Church could be a
solution to this problem as the management of our
organizations will come into our hands. Today we have to
look to World Council of Churches (WCC) and Vatican for
every little effort to better our community. This is a
fact that the church organizations are not "Dalit
Christians' friend", said Francis in New Delhi recently.
More at:
http://christianaggression.com/item_display.php?type=ARTICLES&id=1127947136
Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti
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uNmaiviLambi
Jai Maharaj) wrote:
> UNTOUCHABILITY IN CHRISTIANITY
Christianity is the cult excelling in deception like Islam is in
violence
and/or www.mantra.com/jai
uNmaiviLambi <tripur...@yahoo.com> posted:
> Dr. Jai Maharaj posted:
> > UNTOUCHABILITY IN CHRISTIANITY
> Christianity is the cult excelling in deception like Islam is in
> violence
Yes. And they try to blame others for what destructive things
they themselves do.
Peter Webb
"racist"). The caste in which you are born dictates what sorts of job you
can get and where you fit into society. The treatment of untouchables in
India is comparable to the treatment of blacks in South Africa under
apartheid; nobody seems to care too much about this massive discrimination
against people on purely religious grounds.
In terms of their treatment of Christians, these are pretty much equivalent
in standing to caste-less Hindus (ie untouchables). Spend much time in
India, and you will realise that however polite they may be, upper-caste
Indians believe Christians are of low social standing, and no better than
untouchables.
dolf
than racist--since marriage is associated to piety, this makes it
difficult to separate the social and civil practice from religion.
Hunter
> UNTOUCHABILITY IN CHRISTIANITY
You hindutva nazis worship the Manusmriti, and this is what it has to say:
I � 91. "One occupation only the lord prescribed to the shudra - to
serve meekly even these other three castes."
I � 93. "As the Brahmana sprang from (Prajapati�s i.e. God�s ) mouth, as
he was first-born, and as he possesses the veda, he is by right the lord
of this whole creation."
II � 31. "Let (the first part of ) a brahmin�s (denote) something
auspicious, a kshatriya�s name be connected with power and a vaishya�s
with wealth, but a Shudra�s (express something) contemptible."
II � 100. "Whatever exists in the world is the property of the Brahmana;
on account of the excellence of his origin the Brahmana is indeed,
entitled to it all."
VIII � 37. "When a learned Brahmin has found treasure, deposited in
former (times), he may take even the whole (of it); for he is the master
of everything."
VIII � 270. "A shudra who insults a twice born man with gross invective,
shall have his tongue cut out; for he is of low origin."
VIII � 271. "If he mentions names and castes of the (twice born) with
contumely, an iron nail, ten fingers, shall be thrust red hot into his
mouth."
IX � 189. "The property of a Brahmana must never be taken by the king,
that is a settled rule; but (the property of men) of other castes the
king may take on failure of all (heirs)."
IX � 317. "A Brahmin, whether learned or ignorant, is a powerful divinity."
X � 129. "No collection of wealth must be made by a shudra even though
he be able to do it; for a shudra who has acquired wealth gives pain to
Brahmana."
XI � 261-62. "A Brahmana who has killed even the peoples of the three
worlds, is completely freed from all sins on reciting three times the
Rig, Yajur or Sama- Veda with the Upanishad."
XII. 4. "If the shudra intentionally listens for committing to memory
the veda, then his ears should be filled with (molten) lead and lac; if
he utters the veda, then his tongue should be cut off; if he has
mastered the veda his body should be cut to pieces."
Hunter
Racial bigotry.
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?250317
Caste-based bigotry.
http://rupeenews.com/2008/04/12/indias-caste-based-exploitation-and-control-a-dalit-view/
Sexual bigotry.
http://blixity.wordpress.com/2008/06/21/indias-female-feticide-sexism-before-birth/
Religious bigotry.
http://en.wordpress.com/tag/religious-persecution-in-india/
North/South bigotry.
http://gradwolf.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/the-north-south-divide-in-india-language-culture-prejudice/
Cultural bigotry.
http://www.livemint.com/2007/05/23163813/Cultural-bigotry-rises-as-Indi.html
Nationalist bigotry.