Nothing fraudulent

Sir, - Thanks to Mr. Rama Gopalan for his August 29 letter which provoked two wonderful responses elucidating conversion. The dictionary meaning of the word `propagate' is to multiply or to increase apart from spreading. The Supreme Court's pronouncement of 1977 on propagation of religion has been lambasted by eminent non-Christian jurists who recommended its review by a larger bench. In fact, Dr. Ambedkar wanted to use the word `convert' in the context of religious freedom in the Constitution.

Baptism is the symbolic rite by which one publicly acknowledges personal commitment to the Christian message.

A Christian is not born but is made. Those born in a Christian family do not automatically become Christian. They have to be born again after coming of age, repenting past sinful ways. So one has to be converted in the heart before becoming a Christian, no matter whether he is a Christian by birth or belief.

In other words, repentance has to precede baptism and hence it is a misnomer to say forcible or fraudulent conversion.

Mr. Ram Gopalan will do well to give up his concept about the mission of Christian missionaries and let us all strive to understand the tenets of each other's religion for the sake of enduring peace and goodwill among different communities.

I.D. Jawahar Raj,

Tirunelveli, T.N.

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