www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Mother Teresa's spiritual desert

Yes there are, usually at the state and local levels of government. Usually, it's because of Hindu fundamentalism and nationalism. (Usually, this was tolerated if not encouraged by the Hindu-nationalist party, the BJP, or one of its minions.)

Hindu fundamentalism and nationalism is popular (but controversial) in India because of immense insecurity at the core of the Indian/Hindu psyche. That insecurity, in turn, is from centuries of (often violent) domination by Persian Muslims and European Christians. The sad response, once India became independent, was often Hindu fundamentalism and nationalism; and that can (and has) expressed itself as violent, fanatical intolerance. That includes anti-conversion laws: which originally created against Islam but which were increasing applied against Christianity.

For just one of many online articles on the subjct, see http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/op/2002/12/17/stories/2002121700110200.htm or search via Google for "anti conversion india."

-- John

Mexican,

I think Tim, Bob and Brian responded very well to your post.

God bless.

-- John

"I don't know where you get the idea that the Spanish Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries shared the views of their secular confreres, but I think that is mostly modern urban legend. Perhaps there were some with a less than Christian attitute (I'm not aware of any), but the overwhelming majority of them were self-sacrificing believers in the Gospel, who frequently defended the Indians against the ravages of those seeking wealth and power. Perhaps not the same simplicity of life of Mother Teresa, but still pretty simple."

You are correct and I apologize for my incorrect statement. I did not word it properly. I'm sure the missionaries (at least for the most part) went with the best intention and did everything they could to stop the conquistadors who were bent on profit at any cost. In fact, I was advised that there was even some backlash against those orders back in Spain and Portugal because the missionaries tried to help the natives, not hurt them. It's a dangerous generalization to say that 100% of any group is entirely bad or good, so there might have been a few missionaries who did not mind seeing someone get hurt "for the good of their own souls," but I'm sure that most did all they could to lead by Christ's example. I apologize for my clumsy statement earlier and thank you for your correction. I try to make sure my facts are straight.

Tim

ps--thanks, Harmon 3110, I appreciate it

Friends,

As a follow-up on this discussion, and in case you missed it, there is a very interesting article from Chiesa by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa on Blessed Teresa and her "darkness" in relation to the descriptions by other mystics of the phenomenon of "mystical darkness":

Chiesa on Blessed Teresa of Calcutta [chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it]

Father Benedict Groeschel had this book as his topic this evening on his EWTN Live program. He says that he met Mother just a short time before her death and it appeared to him that this had passed--as if she had been given the word that her own pilgrimage was to be soon over.

In Christ,

BOB