Christianity in India

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The Nasrani Menorah, the symbol of the Syrian Malabar Nasrani Christian community in South India.

Christianity is India's third-largest religion, following Hinduism and Islam. Christianity underwent major transformation following European contact and British colonisation, because of laws instated that limited the rights of non-Christians. The 2006 census recorded over 48 million (4.8 crore) Indian Christians, comprising 4.8% of the country's population. There are two main regional concentrations of Christian population, namely in South India and among tribal people in East and North-East India.

In South India in the state of Kerala, the Christian faith is much older than the Europe or America.Kerala christians are called Nasrani's or Syrian Christians and they have a tradition of nearly 2000 years.

Early Christianity in India

A set of palm leaf manuscripts from the 15th century or the 16th century, containing Christian prayers in Tamil
Main article: Saint Thomas Christians

According to the 3rd century Acts of Thomas, the first Christians in India were converted by St Thomas the Apostle, who arrived at Kodungallur on the Malabar Coast of India in 52 AD. It is also important to note that the first Christian baptisms in India were performed by the saint.

The Syrian Malabar Nasrani people are an ethnic community in Kerala, South India. Their tradition goes back to the very beginnings of first century Christian thought, and the seven churches that are established by St. Thomas the Apostle among the natives and the Jewish diaspora in Kerala. They follow a unique Hebrew-Syriac Christian tradition which includes several Jewish elements along with some Hindu customs. Their heritage is Syriac-Keralite, their culture South Indian, their faith St. Thomas Christian, and their language Malayalam.According to the Acts of Thomas, the first converts made by Thomas in India were Malabari Jews, who had settled in Kerala since the time of King Solomon of Israel.

There is a general agreement among the historians that St. Thomas, a Jew himself by birth, visited India in search of Jews settled here.

Although the Christian ideals were foreign, many Hindus embraced the ideologies of baptism because of its similarities to bathing in the Ganges, which was first mentioned in the Rig Veda, the Mahabharata, and the Devi Bhagvatam . After evangelizing in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Apostle is believed to have been killed at St. Thomas Mount in Chennai and buried on the site of San Thome Cathedral. Members of the Syro-Malabar Church, an eastern rite of the Roman Catholic Church, adopted the Syriac liturgy dating from fourth century Antioch. In the 4th century, Apostle’s relics were taken to Edessa at the instance of the then Patriarch of Antioch under whose juridisction the church was and is established in the Church there.The Christian community founded by St Thomas has since developed into a number of churches, including Syriac-rite churches in communion with the Roman Catholic, Antiochian Orthodox churches, and 'Nestorian' churches.

The arrival of St Thomas, and the subsequent establishment of the seven and a half churches is viewed with skepticism by Western historians. However, the theory has never been discounted either, and the Keralites still attribute an apostolic origin to their church.

In the Early Modern Period

The Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica in Kerala, built in traditional Portuguese style
File:The Sacred Heart Church Chandannagar.jpg
The Sacred Heart Church of Chandannagar (l'Eglise du Sacré Cœur), West Bengal, reflects typical French architecture

Portuguese missionaries, who reached the Malabar Coast in the late 15th century, made contact with the St Thomas Christians in Kerala, and sought to introduce among them the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. Throughout this period, foreign missionaries also made many new converts to Christianity. Early Roman Catholic missionaries, particularly the Portuguese, led by the Jesuit St Francis Xavier (1506-52), expanded from their bases on the west coast making many converts. Portuguese missionaries sought to convert the entire Hindu population of Goa. St. Francis Xavier, in a 1545 letter to John III of Portugal, requested for an Inquisition to be installed in Goa. However, it was not installed until after eight years of Francis Xavier's death. During the Goa Inquisition under the Portuguese, Hindus were forced to convert and thousands of Hindus in Goa who refused or were suspected of practicing heresy were burnt alive in public. Modern-day Goa is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. The undecayed body of Saint Francis Xavier is still on public view in a glass coffin at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa.

Beginning in the eighteenth century, Protestant missionaries began to work throughout India, leading to the growth of different Christian communities. In 1793 William Carey, an English Baptist Minister came to India as a Missionary. He worked in Serampore, Calcutta etc as a missionary. He started the Serampore College. He translated the Bible into Bengali and Sanskrit. He worked until his death in 1834.

Anthony Norris Groves, Plymouth Brethren missionary came to India in 1833. He worked in the Godavari delta area to Tamil Nadu. He worked in India until his death in 1852. Mormon missionaries, including Hugh Findlay, arrived in Bombay and Pune in the early 1850s, but did not meet success.

Contemporary situation

A Roman Catholic Church in Kochi.

The total number of Christians in India according to the 2001 census was 24.08 million (2.40 crores), or 2.3 percent of the population.[1] About 70% of Indian Christians in 1991 were Roman Catholics, including 300,000 members of the Syro-Malankara Church. The remainder of Roman Catholics were under the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. In January 1993, after centuries of self-government, the 3.5 million (35 lakh)-strong Eastern-rite Syro-Malabar Church was raised to archiepiscopate status as part of the Roman Catholic Church. In total, there were nineteen archbishops, 103 bishops, and about 15,000 priests in India in 1995.

Most Protestant denominations are represented in India, the result of missionary activities throughout the country. The largest Protestant denomination in the country is the Church of South India, since 1947 a union of Presbyterian, Reformed, Congregational, Methodist, and Anglican congregations with approximately 2.2 million (22 lakh) members as of 1995. A similar Church of North India had 1 million (10 lakh) members. (These churches are in full communion with the Anglican Communion.) There were about 1.3 million (13 lakh) Lutherans, 473,000 Methodists, and 425,000 Baptists as of 1995. Oriental Orthodox churches of the Malankara and Malabar rites totaled 2 million (20 lakh) and 700,000 members, respectively. Pentecostalism, another denomination of Protestantism, is also a rapidly growing religion in India. It is spreading greatly in northern India and the southwest area, such as Kerala. The largest indigenous Pentecostal church in India is the India Pentecostal Church of God (IPC). Another prominent group is the Brethrens. They are known in different names Plymouth Brethren, Indian Brethren, Kerala brethren etc.

During the twentieth century, the fastest growing Christian communities have been located in the northeast, among the Khasis, Mizos, Nagas, and other hill tribes. Today Christians are most prevalent in the northeast (secessionist movements in a few states such as Nagaland are demanding an independent Christian-majority entity), and in western states such as Kerala and Goa. Indian Christians have contributed significantly to and are well represented in various spheres of national life. They are currently chief ministers of the states like Andhra Pradesh , Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya and were chief ministers earlier of Kerala, Goa and Chattisgarh. In the powerful election committee of the ruling Indian National Congress party they take four out of twelve places.

See also: List of notable indian christians

Hindu Christian Conflict

Historically, Hindus and Christians have lived in relative peace since the arrival of Christianity in India from the early part of the first millennium. The arrival of European colonialists brought about large scale missionary activity in South India and North-East India. Many indigenous cultures were converted to Christianity. Sometimes they were voluntary, and other times they were violent and forced.[citation needed] The Goa Inquisition was an example of forced conversions imposed on Hindus, Muslims and Jews in India.

Hindus who converted to Christianity typically retained their social customs, including caste practices.[2] Aggressive proselytizing by Christian missionaries under British rule was a cause of resentment among Hindus and Muslims in the 19th century, who felt that their cultures were being attacked. This was one of the causes of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British Raj. Also, many Christian ideals prompted reform movements within the Hindu society in the 19th century, the most notable being the Brahmo Samaj, which was influenced by British Christian Unilateralism. Also, Indian Christians have retained Hindu customs and practices, and have combined Hindu customs with Christianity to achieve a unique brand of Indian Christianity. For instance, many Christians in India celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali.[3] This form of syncretism has been a source of frustration among the more radicalized and Eurocentric Christian missionaries who wanted a stronger brand of Christian Exclusivism among Indian Christians. For the most part, Indian Christians rejected religious exclusivism and have chosen to coexist with Hindus in peace.

In more contemporary periods, Hindu-Christian amity is sometimes challenged by partisan politics and extremism from both communities. Christian missionary activity among lower-caste Hindus has created groups of Crypto-Christians, particularly among Dalits. However, this has not helped the Dalit community, since discrimination against Dalit Christians remain strong, perpetrated by upper-caste Christian clergy in India.[4][5] As a response, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has successfully converted several Indian Christians back to Hinduism.[6] As a response to aggressive missionary activity four Indian states (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu mainly) have passed laws restricting or prohibiting conversion.[7] This has created some resentment in the Indian Christian community .

In October 2002, governor of Tamil Nadu issued an ordinance aimed at preventing people from converting to Christianity, on the grounds that such conversions occur due to fraud. The accused may be sentenced to up to three years in jail if convicted of such a crime. It should be noted that the majority of instances of controversies with Christians in India do not involve the native Saint Thomas Christians or the Latin Rite Roman Catholics but the Protestants, evangelicals, Fundamentalist Christians and others.[8] This ordinance was reportedly later repealed.

In July, 2006, Madhya Pradesh government passed legislation requiring people who desire to convert to a different religion to provide the government with one-month's notice, or face fines and penalties.[9]

In August, 2006, the Chhattisgarh State Assembly passed similar legislation requiring anyone who desires to convert to another religion to give 30 days' notice to, and seek permission from, the district magistrate.[10]

There have been some instances of violence between Hindu Nationalists groups and Christians. Human Rights groups like Human Rights Watch allege that there is large-scale violence being perpetrated by Hindu Nationalists against Christians.[11] In turn, these human rights groups have been accused of anti-Hindu biases by academics and other figures. [12][13]

Dara Singh allegedly associated with the Bajrang Dal was involved in the murder of an Australian missionary named Graham Staines and the murderers sympathies from Hindu nationalist organization. In addition, there have been sporadic instances of violence between Hindu Nationalist groups like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Christians, although they have also worked together in many enterprises. For instance, the Hindu Nationalist group Sewa Bharati has collaborated with relief groups, such as the Catholics Bishops Conference of India to conduct relief operations in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Activities included building shelters for the victims, providing food, clothes and medical necessities.[14] Also, and some Christian priests have come out in support of the RSS.[15][16]

Fundamentalist Christian groups have emerged into prominence in their polemical attacks on Hinduism and Hindus. The case of a virulently anti-Hindu book names Haqeeqat (reality) launched by an evangelical named M.G. Matthew achieved prominence in Rajasthan.

The Government of the state of Tripura has uncovered evidence to support the assertion that the Baptist Church of Tripura has been supporting the terrorist group National Liberation Front of Tripura, a violent separatist group that has attacked and killed Hindus in the region and that has banned Hindu festivals by force.[17]

The Baptist Church of Tripura was initially set up by missionaries from New Zealand in the 1940s. Despite their efforts, even until the 1980s, only a few thousand people in Tripura had converted to Christianity.

In the aftermath of one of the worst ethnic riots, the NLFT was born in 1989—allegedly with the help of the Baptist Church. Since then, the NLFT has been advancing its cause through armed rebellion.[18] As of 2002, many members of NLFT have surrendered to Indian forces and the movement has split into two groups.

Other Fundamentalist Christian terror groups include the Nagaland Rebels (1947-present), active in predominantly Christian state of Nagaland in Hindu majority India. They were involved in several bombings in 2004.

Muslim Christian Conflict

For the most part, Muslims and Christians form the same votebank in the left-of-center arena of politics, typically at odds with Hindus. However, in troubled areas of India, Muslims and Christians have come into conflict with each other.

Muslims in India who convert to Christianity are often subjected to harassment, intimidation, and attacks by Muslims. In Kashmir, a region overrun by Islamic Fundamentalists, a Christian convert named Bashir Tantray was killed, allegedly by Militant Islamists in 2006.[19]

A Christian priest, K.K. Alavi, who is a convert from Islam, recently raised the ire of his former Muslim community and has received many death threats. An Islamic terrorist group named "The National Development Front" actively campaigned against him.[20]

References

  1. ^ Census of India: [1]
  2. ^ http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9360711/Christian-caste
  3. ^ http://www.hindubooks.org/sudheer_birodkar/hindu_history/christianity.html
  4. ^ http://indianhope.free.fr/site_eng/article_5.php3
  5. ^ http://www.dalitchristians.com/Html/arulappa.htm
  6. ^ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050219/nation.htm#9
  7. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6050408.stm BBC Article dealing with conversion prohibition laws
  8. ^ Christian News source with allegations of Persecution in India
  9. ^ http://www.csw.org.uk/latestnews/article.php?id=536 Anti-conversion legislation enhanced in Indian state as new report condemns abuses of the laws 26/07/2006
  10. ^ http://www.csw.org.uk/latestnews/article.php?id=537 Second State government in India enhances anti-conversion laws 07/08/2006
  11. ^ http://hrw.org/english/docs/1999/09/30/india1626.htm
  12. ^ http://www.saag.org/papers9/paper891.html
  13. ^ http://www.internationalopinion.com/view-listing-details.asp?id=vdrfhyjuvdrfcomw&str=531610&yrid=2003&bk=vdrfhyjubhnbcomw&nx=vdrfhyjunbgtcomw International Opinion
  14. ^ Relief missions from Delhi,The Hindu
  15. ^ RSS neither Nationalist nor Fascist, Indian Christian priest's research concludes,Christian Post
  16. ^ Google Cache of above
  17. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/717775.stm BBC News article explaining links between the Baptist Church of Tripura & the NLFT
  18. ^ http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/tripura/terrorist_outfits/nlft.htm South Asian Terrorist Portal
  19. ^ Christian convert from Islam shot dead in Kashmir, SperoNews
  20. ^ Convert from Islam in India Remains on Death List, Christian Examiner
  • This article includes material from the 1995 public domain Library of Congress Country Study on India.
  • Trec International
  • International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention
  • American Baptist Convention
  • The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, Vol.I (India), Vol.II (Kerala)

See also

External links

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