MEETING WITH AN EDUCATED HINDU WHO HAD CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY

By Maria Wirth

This is a true story about a Hindu who had converted to Christianity, and who felt the need to convince his family also to convert.

Once on a flight from Germany to India, one of those bright, young Indians sat across the aisle. We started talking. He was a science lecturer at an American university.

When food came, he ordered non-veg and I ordered veg. I teasingly asked him "non-veg"? He replied, "Yes, I started to eat meat when I converted to Christianity eight years ago."

"You… converted… to… Christianity?" I asked in disbelief. "How could you do this? Are you not aware of their belief?" I kept throwing questions at him. He surely had not expected this reaction from a white woman with the name Maria. In all likelihood he had converted because he wanted to belong and fit in into the new surrounding in America.

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But since I grew up as a Christian, I knew what Christianity claims and he didn't have answers. Ultimately he fell back at the 'personal experience with Jesus' which convinced him that Christianity is the true religion.

I told him, "If your trust in Jesus helps you, great, but why convert?" Doesn't your own tradition stress the importance of devotion and does it hinder you from trusting Jesus?" And while for you Jesus may be the ideal guide, for others it may be Shiva or Krishna or Devi. Your tradition allows you all freedom whereas the Church binds you to the doctrine. For example it claims that Hindus go to hell. Do you believe that your Hindu brothers and sisters go to hell?" I asked.

I couldn't believe his answer and by now he did not look anymore so bright. He said, "Yes, we have to believe this." … we have to…

So I asked him about his family. Will they burn in hell? He had managed to convince his parents to convert, but his siblings had not (yet?) converted.

I really felt pity for him. His mental freedom to question and to enquire was gone.

He had earlier told me that he wanted to return to India. If he did, I hope he has found his way back to common sense and realised the folly to believe that Hindus go to hell.