WaPo 'On Faith': The Politics Of Religious Conversion

The Washington Post:

This year, eight Indian Americans, most of whom are Hindu, are running for national or statewide office--a record number--and the questions of faith become increasingly urgent. The media storyline--"Haley and Jindal triumph despite questions about their faith"-- leaves millions of America's adherents of Dharma faiths stone cold: What is so miserably wrong and unelectable in being a Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist or Jain?

Read the whole story: The Washington Post

Comments

[333888999]

01:18 PM on 07/05/2010

Brought up in Catholicism of a more culturally(not theologically) more conservative time: 1950's. What strikes me as really weird in this time are all these politicians of all political stripes talking about "prayer." Their prayer...our prayer..."prayer life"...Phew! Enough already. Time out. Vacate this rhetoric. Bear witness with actions not words flying out of your mouth.

[Skenderbeg025]

11:35 PM on 07/04/2010

I wonder why no one ever mentions Obama's conversion, did he do covnvert for political reason? or when rich Jews marry none Jewish women many convert, its not because all of the sudden they believe in Judaism, it might be done for other reasons and not based on real faith, or when women Marry a Muslim most end up converting to Islam and change their name, as a matter of fact most converts to Islam change their names to Arab Muslim names.......I don't know why people only focuse when someone converts to Christianity as something to question and not when they convert to other religions...I think some people just don't like that people follow and believe in Jesus, his message is powerful and when none Christians learn about Jesus
many are drawn to him not just in American but around the world....

[333888999]

01:26 PM on 07/05/2010

Always ask what is meant by "conversion." Pop culture defines it as adopting an institution and sucking into your brains what that institution believes...giving assent to a belief system and adopting it as ones own. To me conversion is when I take up responsibility for starting to work my life for "God".....polishing my "diamond" as the Greeks had it. Polishing that diamond so bright that ones death would as Spanish Christian philosopher Unamuno put it: seem like an injustice.

[CanterburyTale]

01:12 PM on 07/03/2010

I guess we are even outsourcing our politicians.

[SaraSH]

12:50 AM on 07/01/2010

Jindal's case is very different. He is from a CHRISTIAN family who has been christian probably earlier than christian in Europe through the Iranian missionaries who went eastward. But in case of Haley, her Christianity may be a phony one and surely a political one. Plus, as someone who knows sufficient enough about the Hindu culture, I must say she fits perfectly with the Republican 'ANTI poor help the rich only' mindset. In fact, she may be the meanest Republican when it comes to the underprivileged due to her Hindu culture. Those who have seen those dead buddies running over by cars in Bombay and reaction of people saying 'OH it was his/her Karma'....know what I am talking abt!

[chandran007]

05:53 PM on 07/05/2010

No Jindal is not from a christian family. His parents are Hindus!

[chandran007]

05:56 PM on 07/05/2010

How does Hindu culture stand against the Christian culture

Christian Culture wiped out the American Indians
Christian Culture propogated Slavery
Christian Culture committed Iynchings (Partioculalry in the bible belt)
Chrtistian Culture had Jim Crowe.
Christian culture was the impetus for the H0locaust (MArtin Luther's anti semtic rantings)
Christian culture showcased christian lower c aste during Katrina,

You want me to go on?

[SaraSH]

04:33 PM on 07/06/2010

Go on. I am an atheist, could care less to be frank.

U missed the whole point. I said Hindu culture of Haley is perfect MATCH/FIT with the Republican culture. You figure why. Sure u can't DENY the cast system of your culture, can u?

[Leviathan21]

08:34 PM on 06/29/2010

There's large swathes of this country where you are probably unelectable is you're not Christian.

[zanzig]

09:25 AM on 06/29/2010

I was born in a Hindu family but have been an atheist for at least two thirds of my half century of life and firmly believe that what politicians believe as an article of faith is their business not mine. However, I was thrilled today when Prime Minister Julia Gillard (Australia) was asked on public radio "Do you believe in God?" and answered "No I do not". Of course the predictable howls have gone up from the fundies but amazingly the local Archbishop came out in absolute admiration of her honesty.

[fredgladys]

02:02 AM on 07/02/2010

I agree, nothing makes me more irritated than those phoney politicians who rave on about their faith. Just do the job you're paid to do and keep your beliefs to yourself. Although to be fair, in the US unless you babble on about the bible you would probably be out of a job.

[savroD]

09:31 PM on 06/28/2010

Or object lessons in how the ignorant can profit by being more ignorant!

[spilkus]

03:54 PM on 06/28/2010

As far as I can tell Buddhism is the only one that asks its adherents to check the teaching against their own experience to see if it is true. Don't believe a book or a teacher or any authority. Any one who believes that Christian story will sell some whoppers to their constituency.

[chandran007]

11:30 AM on 06/30/2010

So does Hindusim. You can be an atheist and still be a Hindu

[RJ2500]

09:37 AM on 06/27/2010

Bobby and Nikki live in the South and know how we'll saying you're "born again" goes over with the natives.

[RJ2500]

09:37 AM on 06/27/2010

well, not we'll --sorry my typo

[riff4u]

02:43 PM on 06/26/2010

Jindal is obviously an opportunist to "convert" from Hinduism to Christianity. He knows that in Louisiana a Hindu is basically unelectable. In any case Hindus often add Jesus to their pantheon of gods just as Constantine the first "Christian" Roman Emperor did. So they are Christians but Hindus at the same time.

[jjdrma]

05:04 PM on 06/26/2010

no no one adds jesus other than christians in the list of their men on the job, just that hindus dont ridicule other faiths and, they dont believe in heaven or hell for afterlife. Dharma and yoga ensure the required accumulation of karma to accomplish moksha. Thus they believe in merger of atma into cosmic soul brahma. Sadly, Christians firmly believe in and gift away eternal hell for all nonchristians just as muslims do for nonmuslims......my way or hellway...

[riff4u]

10:52 PM on 06/26/2010

I have seen Hindu alters in India where a picture of Jesus is added to those of Krishna, Shiva, Ganesh........etc. The man whose alter it was told me he was a "Christian." I'll take him at his word.

[Uproar]

03:11 PM on 06/27/2010

Um, as someone whose every family member is Hindu, I can say not one of them identifies even a little bit as Christian. Hindus aren't "Christian at the same time." They're just Hindu, and do not believe in other religions. It's just that Hindus aren't so bothered by other religions, the way fundies do.

[jjdrma]

08:23 PM on 06/25/2010

Piyush Jindal and Namrita Randhawa's conversions are as intriguing as some americans embracing Islam and tossing a clip on youtube as to why they converted...search youtube watch and....go figure...

[jjdrma]

12:33 PM on 06/26/2010

Muslim-turned-preacher out as Baptist school dean
http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/ap/june/113540/Muslimturnedpreacher-out-as-Baptist-school-dean

opportunists and selfish individuals take you for a ride
dont buy their resumes tainted with psudoconversions
treat them as traitors
many americans read understand cherish sanskrit scriptures but dont convert out, thats real essence of religious texts, inner wisdom...cheers

[riff4u]

02:53 PM on 06/26/2010

Not only did Jindal and Haley "change " their faith...........unlike the president, they even changed their names.

[jjdrma]

05:05 PM on 06/26/2010

level of deception is striking...

[goodmarina]

06:22 PM on 06/26/2010

Good point and a painful truth about the conditional faith that so many embrace as absolute truth. Hipocricy @ its best!

Faved : )

[blue53]

05:41 PM on 06/25/2010

I want to know exactly what candidates religious beliefs are, and I want it in detail. The Congress, Pentagon, State Dept, and the Military are loaded with members of the “Family” and other Christian nationalists, Christian Reconstuctionist,and biblical capitalists, who believe along with Sister Sarah, the Dominionist, that all of our laws should be based on the bible. Any religion with a "biblical world view"--code for biblical law, is out in my book. These people are unable to separate their faith from every decision they make.
There may not be a test for religion, but only a fool in 2010 thinks it should not be in the mix.

[mommadona]

11:01 PM on 06/26/2010

That's the NEXT thing Gates, Panetta and Obama are going to need to confront ~ the "Onward Christian Soldier" embeds at all levels of the military and government. Dominionism is NOT a 'spiritual practice' ~ its a move to a theocracy. Right now, being pushed by the mormon 'flavor of the day' in coordination with the Moral Majority leftovers from BUSHCO. Check out Orrin Hatch's utterances lately with that paradigm in mind....

[been2there]

01:32 AM on 06/25/2010

There is no religious test allowed for holders of public office in this nation. We, as a people, should ask about attitudes and behavior, not religious affiliation. My ethics and attitudes are, naturally, founded in my religious beliefs, but I do not want to force my views on others. Demanding "Christian" faith does two things--it leads people to put on a facade, and it makes smears easier.

[Super Mitt]

12:13 AM on 06/25/2010

Anyone remember Bobby Kennedy saying ,
" The question of a person religion died with my brother . " ?

[bklynsparrow]

06:45 PM on 06/24/2010

"What is so miserably wrong and unelectable in being a Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist or Jain?"

American discrimination is what's wrong.

[kasukabe]

07:13 PM on 06/24/2010

People typically vote for people with whom they can identify personally which would explain why there are more elected Christians. Secondly California and Hawaii both have elected officials who are non-Christian.

You seem to always want to find the worst in the USA when in reality it is one of the few nations where people who follow minority religions can be elected.

[Etruscate]

07:24 PM on 06/24/2010

Doesn't stop people from trying

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20091208/NEWS01/912080327/Critics-of-Cecil-Bothwell-cite-N-C-bar-to-atheists
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6781156.html

[bklynsparrow]

07:42 PM on 06/24/2010

You seem to be assuming an awful lot about me. I happen to love this country but that doesn't make me blind.

Unfanned, for blind "patriotism."

[goodmarina]

06:24 PM on 06/26/2010

As someone that just returned from a few countries that held national elections ... the discrimination based on religion alone is astounding in other countries compared to what happens in America.

I do not agree with the hypocricy or the wearing of religion or spirituality on ones sleeve for political reasons -- yet, let's not just blatantly accuse the US as the biggest violator of religeous discrimination

[bklynsparrow]

03:16 AM on 06/27/2010

Don't put words in my mouth. I never said the US was the biggest violator. But only the blind would say discrimination doesn't exist. And word to the wise- don't overreach.