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| Sunday, 5 September 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Conversion Forum : Charge against subversion Many articles have appeared in the media about conversions. I do not wish to add to this rabble rousing debate, but merely define the word conversion.
In our society, currently, most of us are invited to participate in the rituals of all faiths. Would this, constitute a breach of this intended legislation? After all, in this display of one's faith, it may be tantamount to influencing, those who are not born into this faith. So, should or shouldn't we legislate that all faiths must strictly serve only its followers. This current Bill is more like a charge against subversion, than conversion. Conversion cannot and should not attract any of these punishments. The reasons are simple. When this world came into being, there also began an evolution which was not controllable by man. NO man was a Buddhist, Christian, Hindu or a Muslim. It is the subsequent turn of events that created these divisions in humanity. There is nothing to stop humanity from discovering another way of life or belief which can replace all current religious beliefs, and this may even unite the world.
There are born again of all sorts, in all these religions. Many who follow these faiths do not fully subscribe to all the teachings. They would like to alter it here and there, and they are born again. How many practice their faith to the letter? Not even religious orders of all faiths. Christianity grew stronger due to martyrdom, so the Christians need not fear, for even if they are martyred, eventually Christendom will prevail. The Constitution of this Nation, by giving priority and a special place to Buddhism has acknowledged that Buddhists were also martyred, and unlike their Christian counterparts are frightened, that this may lead to the fall of Buddhists in numbers, and that seems to be the reason for this legislation. Is this fear real? Or is it for political mileage? In other words the majority, the 70 per cent who constitute Buddhists, administered by a Buddhist majority Government is unsure of its ground, and is looking for a frivolous and a destructible piece of paper and ink protection, called legislation. If this nation is such a religious society, protecting Buddhism as well other religions how come we lead the world in murder, rape, corruption to its core, and the largest consumers of alcohol? Let us examine ourselves that more and more legislation would only make it more and more difficult, for the legislators and its citizens. We are a nation so blind, that we want to weigh down with legislation, knowing very well, that, we do not have the will and resources to enforce same. We are hoping that legislation will carry our responsibility, which we have neglected for opportunistic reasons for centuries. Is Buddhism such an easy philosophy without substance to become so easily corruptible by financial or any other material constraints? Buddhism is indeed a very high philosophy, it's substance achievable by people who are devoted and truly dedicated to its preaching. Therefore the only conclusion is, that either, the Buddhist philosophy is not being understood and not being imparted, in the true realistic spirit in the temples, (who are the custodians of this great philosophy) or the Buddhists have become deaf to the preaching in the temples and have become so materialistic, contrary to the preaching of the Buddha. There is no doubt that the advocates of this legislation are avoiding their responsibility in preaching and practising this belief and are circumventing their role in the hope that legislation would do, what they have failed and neglected to do. Take an example from the LTTE, their self governing declaration states, that religion is only for its people, and not for the Nation and its Constitution. V. Thiranavakarasu Right of reply : Distorted picture Ajith Perera's letter appearing in the Sunday Observer of August 22, 2004 has been written totally ignoring the available facts, thus presenting a distorted picture to the readers and as such, he had erred. For the benefit of the readers, who may have taken the contents of his letter at its face value. He says 'Who is held responsible for the black July massacre? The leaders and the extremists who were blind by 'patriotism'. They were not patriots but blood thirsty monsters" It appears that Mr. Perera had not been in Sri Lanka, when these incidents took place. July '83 was in fact, only a reaction to 13 innocent soldiers, not on combat duty, being killed in cold blood. If this killing did not take place, there would not have been a 'July 83'. In any event, 'July 83' becomes a speck in the sea when compared with what happened during the last 20 years; all such atrocities being premeditated and without any provocation whatsoever, in direct contrast to July '83. It defies imagination as to why he thought if fit to totally ignore these incidents and also not to speak, a single word of appreciation of the tremendous restraint and compassion shown by the majority community in the midst of these very grave and sudden provocations. He also asks "What did the Sinhala only Bill do in 1956". This bill made provision in the same manner in which Hindi has been made the official language in India, where there is a Tamil population of nearly 60 million. His invitation to 'prove with evidence any unethical conversion' he is kindly requested to read the Silumina of January 11, 2004 which gives details of the most deplorable manners of conversions, giving facts and figures, with the photograph and the identity of the person giving such information. This is only the tip of the iceberg. He is also requested to read the news article which appeared in the Daily News of August 7, 2004 under the heading 'Fears of religious suppression unfounded' He asks if NGO's are the major threat, why aren't such NGO's prevented from coming to Sri Lanka. Preventing NGO's coming to the country is not something the voluntary organisations could do and it has to be done only be state authority and it is, in fact, what the Anti Conversion Bill is partly for. He says that the 'present patriots with an inferiority complex urge for a religious war'. If a 'religious war' is what they wanted, such war could have been easily started when a bus load of Buddhist priests were mercilessly killed at Arantalawa. The patience, tolerance, compassion shown by the Buddhist, throughout the last two decades, had been mercilessly exploited. As to his other comments on conversions, such comments have been adequately replied to by the letter of Mr. Waruna Fernando appearing in the same page of the Sunday Observer. This writer is in total agreement with Mr. Perera when he says that "we all should fight against poverty, hunger, terrorism, youth unrest etc.," But then that is something that cannot be done by individual Buddhist priests or Buddhists organisations. They certainly are not in possession of the vast financial resources and manpower required for such fights and to expect them to engage in such 'fights' is only a figment in his fertile imagination. Such 'fights' could only take place with state patronage supported by massive financial resources. He further asks "What will happen to other religions. Where should they live? Where do they belong to etc? The only answer is nothing has happened and will happen to other religions. They are living in complete harmony. If at all, it is the Buddhist places of religious interest that had been vandalised during the past centuries, details of which are available in the book written by Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera titled "Our heritage in the North and the East" places of Buddhist religious interest, continue to be plundered and vandalised and Buddhist priests murdered as will be evidenced by news reports appearing in the press regularly. Mr. Perera's letter is full of vituperative remarks, which the Editor has been magnanimous enough to permit. I am, therefore, justified in making just one innocent remark. 'There is none so blind as those who refuse to see'. D. H. Gunadasa. |
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Events connected to the word conversion are numerous. It can be defined
as subversion, alteration, adaptation or mutation.
There is no one who can stop another religion or philosophy, emanating
from the dissensions of this world.
