PLEASE permit me to respond to comments made by a writer in the Guyana Chronicle entitled xChristian missionaries are at work.x

I was recently in Guyana to do seva (service to others) in addition to visiting relatives and friends. Driving along the East Coast I was astonished by the sight of new, huge, multi-million dollar Christian churches about 6 miles from Georgetown, no doubt, built by the missionaries. Once again, it would be interesting to learn which organisation is providing funding to build such a multi-million dollar church while there are thousands of destitute and unemployed people.

Further, the writer claims that xxit is the function of the church to always be on the side of the poor, the powerless and the impoverished people in our society.x One would logically think that the monies spent to build the new East Coast church could be of great value in assisting the poor, powerless, and impoverished in Guyana, and based on my recent trip, I have seen many, many, poor, powerless, and impoverished people!

I wish to thank the writer for his letter. However, there are many inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the writerxs comments. Most Hindu scholars, including myself, will defend the fact that Hinduism, being a way of life, offers one way to reach the Supreme. Other religions offer different paths.

I wish to point out the following factual information in response to the writerxs comments:

1. Overseas and local funding provided to Hindus are not used for proselytisation. They are used to assist the destitute and for charitable purposes in Guyana. My Muslim brothers, no doubt, can say the same thing.

2. No Hindu religious leader, to my knowledge, is involved in Hindu conversion. It fact, proselytisation is anti-Hinduism and runs contrary to the central and sacred teachings of the Hindu scriptures. After all, proselytisation is a moral sin.

3. Religious tolerance, that President Jagdeo spoke about, means having the moral decency to accept and respect other peoplexs religion.

4. It is a historical fact that the Christians have used a multitude means to engage in religious conversion. India has now reacted by banning religious conversions.

5. The writer spoke about xMokshax. I do not know if he fully understands the Hindu interpretation of moksha. I will respectfully refer him to the Bhagavad Gita where the essence of Moksha is lucidly discussed by Lord Krishna.

6. The writerxs definition of redemption, justification, regeneration, conversion, reconciliation, atonement, and salvation are his own definition of these terms to suit the agenda of evangelists and missionaries including his own personal agenda. I would refer him to a common dictionary for the general definition of the aforementioned terms.

The writer stated, xI wish to submit that Godxs salvation is a free gift and was never and will never be its intention to induce, seduce, coerce or force anyone to be a Christian.x This statement runs contrary to the work of evangelists and missionaries who are actively engaged in crusades in Guyana with the intent to proselytise.

According to the writer, xChristian Missionaries are working and are here to stay.x This is a very bold statement!

The writerxs arguments, regretfully, are invalid and lack substance. On a daily

basis, I am trying to be a better Hindu, by actions not words, in trying to make the world a better place for the younger generation. In a similar manner, I trust that the writer is trying to be a better Christian, by actions not words, and to make the world a better place for the younger generation.

Since I do not wish to engage in a xping-pongx response with the writer, this letter will reflect the only additional comments which I will provide on this subject.
DR SHIV MAHARAJ