Cady Barrett
7 October 2008
Religious Conflicts

Continuing with the conflict occurring in India between the Christians and the Hindus, new motives have surfaced. In the area of Kandhamal, there is 56% Christians. This just occurred in the 1800’s because of Christian missionaries who converted them. This conversion and integration into society caused a socio-cultural setting for disaster on a large scale. India has freedom of religion, as said in Article 25 of their constitution. It states each citizen has the right to one’s own religion and cannot convert one another. It’s a type of freedom of conscience. One should have the right to adopt a religion by their accord, but one cannot be forced or tricked. Kandhamal is nothing close to being a peaceful public area. Christians are desperately converting to save their lives and Hindus are reconverting. All of this conversions occurring with arson, murder, and rape as the prime uses of coercion. In this region two thirds of the population are below the poverty line and might never see the UN Millennium Development Goals. It doesn’t help that social incapability is making the change of conscience or religious conflicts worse.
Watching this issue grow has been an interesting one. So many different opinions are offered on the reasons why and the direction of the conflict. Personally I don’t see a resolution in the near future. It’s a scary thought that Christians are actually converting so as to not be killed.

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