Bhagavad Gita - Prosetylizing?

[Anonymous]

I was walking on the Mall during my lunch break and I was approached by a cute young lady, early 20's. She enthusiastically introduced herself and asked where I was from. Ok, alarm bells going off. She introduced me to her companion, an older woman in a sari who would not look at me and did not speak. She started a hard sell religious, cultlike spiel about undergoing stress and finding peace, and pulled out an English translation of the Bhagavad Gita. I said "no thanks" and bolted. To my knowledge, Hindus do not prosetylize or seek converts. Anyone know what group might be doing this?

[Anonymous]

Hare Krishnas

[Anonymous]

Oh gosh, these are Hare Krishnas. I'm sorry you had to deal with that shit.

Speaking as a Hindu, no we do not proselytize. Hare Krishnas are a particularly odd child of the Hindu religious complex. They are an off-shoot that has an evangelical, "Krishna is our Jesus" attitude that even annoys other Hindus.

I am Hindu and I love Krishna, but I don't love only Krishna. I have 8 deity statues on my shrine and they all get equal love and attention. As far as I'm aware, Krishna has never objected to my all-tolerant polytheism, nor have I ever felt the urge to share my faith with other people.

Once again, on behalf of Hindus I'm really sorry you had to deal with Hare Krishna evangelizing. Please know that the rest of us think they are weird and we do not encourage proselytizing behavior whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh gosh, these are Hare Krishnas. I'm sorry you had to deal with that shit.

Speaking as a Hindu, no we do not proselytize. Hare Krishnas are a particularly odd child of the Hindu religious complex. They are an off-shoot that has an evangelical, "Krishna is our Jesus" attitude that even annoys other Hindus.

I am Hindu and I love Krishna, but I don't love only Krishna. I have 8 deity statues on my shrine and they all get equal love and attention. As far as I'm aware, Krishna has never objected to my all-tolerant polytheism, nor have I ever felt the urge to share my faith with other people.

Once again, on behalf of Hindus I'm really sorry you had to deal with Hare Krishna evangelizing. Please know that the rest of us think they are weird and we do not encourage proselytizing behavior whatsoever.

Geez, what a gushing apology. People need to stop being so fragile. They wanted to tell you about their religion, you didn't want to hear it so you left, problem solved. I don't understand why people act like proselytizing is so inherently awful. I'm not particularly religious and don't do it myself but I'm not offended when others do it because I'm an adult and can no, thank you, have a nice day.

[Anonymous]

Geez, what a gushing apology. People need to stop being so fragile. They wanted to tell you about their religion, you didn't want to hear it so you left, problem solved. I don't understand why people act like proselytizing is so inherently awful. I'm not particularly religious and don't do it myself but I'm not offended when others do it because I'm an adult and can no, thank you, have a nice day.

Proselytizing is still offensive. As Hindus we don't like it when Christians do it (and I've had Christians try to invite themselves into my house to read scripture at me), so we should make sure fringe cults that worship our Gods - and the Hare Krishnas are a fringe cult - don't engage in the same behavior in the name of one of our Gods.

[Anonymous]

I don't think there is any reason at all to get judgy or unkind. Someone approached you to share something that improved their life. You said you were not interested. The end. Try to view their act as one of kindness. Wish them well, and go about your day. No matter what words you use to refer to your higher power, kindness and compassion are almost always the appropriate response.

[Anonymous]

Most of us understand that there's different strokes for different folks but it's still not polite to try and convince strangers to try your diet/exercise/meditation/cleaning/religious practices. It's not harmful but I would never do it or defend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of us understand that there's different strokes for different folks but it's still not polite to try and convince strangers to try your diet/exercise/meditation/cleaning/religious practices. It's not harmful but I would never do it or defend it.

It is appropriate for human beings to talk to other human beings, not only about the weather but also about things that are really important to them. It is okay to try to persuade another person. That's all it is. Welcome to planet earth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think there is any reason at all to get judgy or unkind. Someone approached you to share something that improved their life. You said you were not interested. The end. Try to view their act as one of kindness. Wish them well, and go about your day. No matter what words you use to refer to your higher power, kindness and compassion are almost always the appropriate response.

+1. Other than saying "Hindus don't like it," that PP doesn't explain what's so awful. I personally think it's kinda sweet when Hare Krishnas or Mormons or whoever have approached me. They truly believe and want to share. They don't chase me down the street screaming or anything. Not that anyone has ever convinced me, but I'm happy to talk to a "stranger." I'm not one of those people wearing ear buds everywhere I go trying to block out the world. Try being friendly, people!

[Anonymous]

Hare Krishna cult usually attracts western people because their culture and religion does have the aspect of religious conversion. In western religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam), people are open to converting from one religion to another.

Most Indian Hindus look down on any proselytizing attempts because to them such attempts demonstrates a lack of faith in the omnipresence and omnipotence of God. Hindus are born not made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of us understand that there's different strokes for different folks but it's still not polite to try and convince strangers to try your diet/exercise/meditation/cleaning/religious practices. It's not harmful but I would never do it or defend it.

It is appropriate for human beings to talk to other human beings, not only about the weather but also about things that are really important to them. It is okay to try to persuade another person. That's all it is. Welcome to planet earth.

There are times and places where it's appropriate but that doesn't mean it is appropriate whenever you feel like it. Welcome to living in society in way that respects other people's time, space and beliefs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hare Krishna cult usually attracts western people because their culture and religion does have the aspect of religious conversion. In western religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam), people are open to converting from one religion to another.

Most Indian Hindus look down on any proselytizing attempts because to them such attempts demonstrates a lack of faith in the omnipresence and omnipotence of God. Hindus are born not made.

Your response sounds very much like you believe Hinduism to be somehow better than the Hare Krishna faith. That's no different from the Southern Baptist feeling superior to the Catholic. Or the Christian feeling that he is better than the atheist.

We are all on our own sacred path. One is not better than another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hare Krishna cult usually attracts western people because their culture and religion does have the aspect of religious conversion. In western religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam), people are open to converting from one religion to another.

Most Indian Hindus look down on any proselytizing attempts because to them such attempts demonstrates a lack of faith in the omnipresence and omnipotence of God. Hindus are born not made.

Your response sounds very much like you believe Hinduism to be somehow better than the Hare Krishna faith. That's no different from the Southern Baptist feeling superior to the Catholic. Or the Christian feeling that he is better than the atheist.

We are all on our own sacred path. One is not better than another.

Well tbh the Hare Krishnas actually are the Southern Baptists of Hinduism. They are Hinduism's version of televangelists and dogmatists. Hinduism is a religion where all paths and all Gods and Goddesses are worshipped within a specific framework (dharma, karma, and samadhi), where no one path is promoted as "superior" to others. Hare Krishnas have been trying to break that culture for half a decade now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hare Krishna cult usually attracts western people because their culture and religion does have the aspect of religious conversion. In western religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam), people are open to converting from one religion to another.

Most Indian Hindus look down on any proselytizing attempts because to them such attempts demonstrates a lack of faith in the omnipresence and omnipotence of God. Hindus are born not made.

Jews don't proselytize either. There is not an "openness to conversion" of other people to (or frankly from) Judaism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think there is any reason at all to get judgy or unkind. Someone approached you to share something that improved their life. You said you were not interested. The end. Try to view their act as one of kindness. Wish them well, and go about your day. No matter what words you use to refer to your higher power, kindness and compassion are almost always the appropriate response.

So someone who sincerely believes they had something to share with you politely approached you, told you what they wanted to share, and went away when you said you weren't interested? How offensive! I respect those who believe in something and try to share t with others far more than those who sit back and say, "My religion says non-believers are going to burn and suffer endless torment in Hell for eternity, but I don't want to offend anyone and it might be embarrassing and awkward so I'm not going to say anything."

I'm an atheist, but I have more respect for the Jehovas Witnesses who regularly come by, and the street preachers, and those who proselytize than I do for those who lack the conviction to take their belief to its logical conclusion.