jaycdp wrote:I think in India the majority respect you as long as you do not force people ... It does not matter what they did in the past, we should show a tolerant and non-violent approach to other religions.
This is a subject I contemplate often. The real problem, as I see it, is that,
"whilst light does not encroach upon dark, dark is constantly enroaching upon light"
What do I mean by that and how does it apply?
The vast majority of us, especially on these pages, just want to live a quiet life with others and nature. We have an attention to improve our character and thought that, our impact on others and the world. Good and fine.
We have no desire to invade another country, rape and pillage, most (but not all) of the BK family have no money lust nor would chose to go along with it. All we want to be are happy little deities in a heaven on earth ... and, frankly, even today that could be 99% possible.
Unfortunately ... we are not alone. And for as long as humanity has existed there have been those that wish to conquer, take, divide and rule for themselves. Whether it is America over Iraqi oil, the British over Indian gold and cotton, the Jesuits over South American and African slaves ... or even just a noisy next door neighbour that wants the right to play their rap music at 4 am in the morning, an exploitative boss wanting an extra profit, a nosey relative meddling in your life; life is full of people that seek to encroach (invade) on your circle.
Generally, these individuals do not seek anything for YOUR benefit. It is all about THEIR benefit or mental disease, in other words, their vices.
Now, this 'imperialism' - the expansion of their empire into your rightful lands/self - takes place at all levels. One of which are the mental and spiritual levels. Those that seek even greater gains, economical usually, power and status often, realise a connection between mental or spiritual imperialism and financial political imperalism ... and they consciously use it.
Hinduism, Buddhism and other create highly pluralistic society. Adherents of religious pluralism recognize that different religions make different truth claims and live peacefully. However, it does not seem to be that the Yahweh and the Gods of the Middle Eastern tribes afford this. Each one is
Monotheistically "the way, the truth and the light". Their god threatens;
I am a jealous God and you shall have no other gods but me!
If you study Judaic, Biblical and general history their gods have been encouraging war and invasion from the very beginning. Christianity was originally an anti-violence reaction AGAINST this but around 300 AD it was entirely corrupted and taken over by the powermongers. Mohammedanism was born of the sword and lived by it, as India well knows. Whereas I agree that within both traditions there are genuine mystical and loveful traditions of 'light'; the mainstream is and has been used and controlled by the darkness ... evil and corruption.
In short, religion is used by these people as a kind of war, an invasion force, a "hearts and minds campaign" to call it what it is called by the US today.
The BKWSU leadership is playing to the same tune. They do not need to invade and conquer, they do not need to use violence (mostly). They and their gods are conquering and invading hearts and minds. They say it is for the one monotheistic God ... but I doubt it. In this, I think the PBKs are right; these people are the Islamicists of the BK family, the metaphorical Moguls conquering the metaphorical Bharat.
So where do your evangelist footsoldiers fit into this? ... On one level, and historically, they are mostly an invasion force seeking mental and spiritual real estate. The minds and hearts of foreign lands. SOME are genuinely "Christian", beings of love and genuine social service but I would say the number of those become less the higher up the ranks you climb. People with good intent are used and discarded, just like in the BKWSU.
So what should one do when faced by an invasion force? Welcome them in and let them walk all over you? Its a difficult question. Everyone wants everyone to join their religion. Why?