US scholar raps Maha Sabha over Christian converts

US scholar raps Maha Sabha over Christian converts
Narissa Subramoney Published:Sep 28, 2008

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CRITIC: Thayalan Reddy says Islam and Christianity are the biggest threats to Hinduism. Picture: THEMBINKOSI DWAYISA


Hindu leaders ‘don’t do enough for their followers’


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An American-based Hindu scholar has accused the South African Hindu Maha Sabha of not doing enough to stem the tide of conversions to Christianity.



Thayalan Reddy, from San Francisco, is visiting temples around the country to raise awareness of the growing number of Hindus converting to Christianity.

Reddy, who is being hosted by the International Hindu Revival Movement, lambasted the Maha Sabha during a talk at the Shri Mariamman Temple in Mount Edgecombe last Sunday.

He said the conversion rate had “increased dramatically” in the past 35 years, adding that Hindu leaders and temples “don’t do enough for their followers”.

“That is one of the tactics that Christian ministries use to convert people: they offer to pay the families’ rent, get their lights and water connected and buy them groceries. Then they tell the family that Jesus saved them,” said Reddy.

He has written books on Islam and Christianity, titled Jesus is Satan and The Plotted Course , and recently completed a third work, Why Hindu Gods are superior to Allah and Jesus.

He regards Islam and Christianity as the biggest threats to Hinduism.

“Islam and Christianity are actually working together, and both are on a fast track to convert Hindus in India and around the world.”

Maha Sabha head Ashwin Trikamjee said the organisation did not fight conversions.

“We concentrate on Hindus knowing and understanding their religion,” said Trikamjee.

“Reddy should go back to San Francisco and save the Hindus in America. He turned his back on South Africa a long time ago.”

Pastor Siva Chetty of Centre Ministries in Durban said conversion was a personal decision.

“Christianity does not need to defend itself,” said Chetty, adding that Reddy’s comments “should not shake anyone”.

Meanwhile, the Maha Sabha has also received complaints from Hindus about a crossword that appeared in a Christian newspaper, Challenge the Good News Paper, owned by Multi Ministries.

They regard as blasphemous and an attack on Hinduism a crossword clue that states: “Their goddess Kali cannot see, hear or help them — because she is made of stone ... she is an idol.”

Trikamjee said it was “unacceptable” and described the crossword as “a further attempt by a Christian organisation to denigrate Hindu religion and belief”.

“We will be reporting this to the Human Rights Commission,” he said.

Multi Ministries’ South African director, the Rev Harold Peasley, said that the paper was published in Australia.

“We apologise to the Hindu community and will withdraw the crossword,” said Peasley.

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