Friday, June 20, 2008

இந்து மதம் ஒரு லைப்ரரி, மற்றவையெல்லாம் புத்தகம் - அமெரிக்க இந்து

நீங்கள் ஏன் இந்துவாக மதம் மாறினீர்கள் என்ற கேள்விக்கு, மற்ற மதங்கள் எல்லாம் ஒரு புத்தகத்தை படிப்பது போன்றது, இந்து மதம் ஒரு லைப்ரரியைப் போன்று பரந்தது என்கிறார் இந்து மதத்திற்கு மதம் மாறிய இந்த அமெரிக்கர்.


Features


Jeffery Armstrong in Leicester
Jeffery Armstrong in Leicester

Religious Conversion

By Dharma Panchal, Guest Contributor
Dharma from Leicester is intrigued about what converting religion is really about after meeting a Christian, who has converted to Hinduism. Dharma asks... Why would people seek to convert?


I recently attended a lecture in Leicester by a Christian born American who had converted into Hinduism. This sparked my thoughts about the whole topic of converting religion and why people do.

I met lecturer Jeffrey Armstrong, who was talking about Hinduism and discovered how converting into a different faith changed his life. He was a Protestant Christian and now believes in Hinduism.

Watch my interview with Jeffrey here...

video Watch: Interview with Jeffrey Armstrong >
Audio and Video links on this page require Realplayer

Kalpesh from Leicester shares his view with me...

Kalpesh from Leicester shares his views
Kalpesh from Leicester

"It's an opportunity for us speaking both languages to actually get a better understanding of who we are and our purpose in life. I have three kids, so I have a big challenge".

Born Christian now Hindu, meet Jeffrey

Born and raised in Detroit Michigan, USA, Armstrong started life with his family as a Christian. So naturally I was intrigued to find out why he was now travelling the world giving lectures and teaching others about Hinduism.

"It’s like the difference between one book and a library. I had to be a bad Hindu in order to be a good Hindu."
Jeffrey Armstrong, International Speaker and Ayurvedic Astrologer

He comes across as a charismatic speaker relating parts of Hinduism to everyday life, how we as humans can upgrade our hardware and install new software, like computers. I found I could easily relate and understand to the way he was describing Hinduism.

He relates his teachings to his previous jobs in silicon valley USA to identify and connect to members of the public of all ages about Hinduism.

Knowledge is power!

He had mentioned to me after the lecture that he had gone against his parents to convert to being a Hindu. One reason, for converting was feeling limited by knowledge.

"It’s like the difference between one book and a library. I had to be a bad Hindu in order to be a good Hindu".

Jeffery Armstrong in Leicester
Jeffery Armstrong explains

He had gone against his parents' traditions and was forced to leave his family behind to follow what he believes in.

Why convert?

Reasons to convert would depend on a number of factors, such as belief in the path of god, for the love of another, or because another faith promotes a different way of living.

You may want to follow a different set of beliefs from your family and friends in rebellion. It may be a way to make a change in your life, a new direction.

What choice do we have?

You are born into the religion, your parents bring you up then once you are able to develop a good understanding you have a choice.

Crowd at the Lecture in Leicester
People at the Lecture in Leicester

You can either follow the tradition of your family or you can convert. Consequences can result in upsetting family and friends and therefore being isolated.

I am happy with the idea that everyone should be allowed to believe whatever he or she wants, and to practice their religion how they like.

Ethics and morals by the way you live your life should be more to do with who you are than religion and a mutual respect for others should come from a mutual respect for yourself first.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2006/05/03/religious_conversion_dharma_panchal_feature.shtml

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