CHRISTIANS ISSUE RULE BOOK FOR SPREADING FAITH

CHRISTIAN COALITION ISSUES
RULE BOOK FOR SPREADING FAITH

Reuters - A coalition of major Christian churches including the Vatican launched a rule book on Tuesday for spreading their faith that aims to reduce hostility from Islam and other religions to efforts to convert their followers.  The code, entitled “Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct”, comes amid growing tension between small local Christian communities and majorities from other religions in many, especially Muslim, countries. This is often sparked by the activity of missionaries, both overt and covert, who seek to convert non-Christians, and are often denounced by local religious leaders - Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist - as enemies of what they see as the true faith.  

In some Islamic countries, a Muslim who converts to another faith can face the death penalty, and Christians who proclaim their religion are often accused of blasphemy, which can also be a capital offence.

It was unveiled at a Geneva news conference by the World Council of Churches, a senior Roman Catholic prelate and the World Evangelical Alliance.  It urges Christians wanting “to share the good news of God’s kingdom” - missionary work or simply publicly testifying to their faith - “to build relations of respect and trust with all religions” and adapt their approaches to local conditions.  It reaffirms their right to proselytize, or promote their beliefs and seek converts.  But it also urges them to abandon “inappropriate methods of exercising mission by resorting to deception and coercive means”, saying that such behavior “betray the gospel and may cause suffering to others”.

A five-page code of conduct was unveiled at a Geneva news conference by the World Council of Churches (WCC).  It urges Christians wanting “to share the good news of God’s kingdom” - missionary work - “to build relations of respect and trust with all religions” and adapt their approaches to local conditions.  The new code says conversion “is the work of the Holy Spirit,” but Christians should “conduct themselves with integrity, charity, compassion and humility, and overcome all arrogance, condescension and disparagement” with regard other religions. 

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

Hindus do not take it upon themselves to convert others to Hinduism. Theynever target a certain religion or faith to be subject to their criticism or attempts to be converted to Hinduism. They feel that the focus of any spiritual path should be on God, not on making or accumulating converts like some network marketing scheme that counts profits in terms of the quantity of followers it has. The effort should be in giving high quality spiritual education and, thus, by purity, inspire others to go toward God. Therefore, they have no motive to spread hate or lies or discord amongst any other community or religion. ... We should point out that real Hinduism, Vedic culture, is a most broad-minded and gentle way of life, and is not interested in campaigning for making converts. It is not part of the Hindu values to indulge in violence. Hinduism lets anyone choose the path they wish to take.

Stephen Knapp (Śrīpad Nandanandana dasa) :
Why Be A Hindu: “The Advantages of the Vedic Path”
“Followers of Vedic Philosophy Do Not Target Others for Conversion.”
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/why_be_a_hindu_booklet.htm
http://www.stephen-knapp.com  -  http://www.stephenknapp.info/