Seventh-day Adventists Reconverting to Hinduism in India

Adventists Seek Inquiry After Indians Reconvert to Hinduism

Adventist Review | August 31, 2014

Adventist leaders have appealed to Indian authorities to investigate the possible forced reconversion of Seventh-day Adventists to Hinduism in a northern Indian village.

Forced conversion is illegal in India, and a reconversion ceremony last week in Asroi, located about 110 miles (175 kilometers) south of India’s capital, New Delhi, raised fears in the wider Christian community that hard-line Hindus were compelling people to switch faiths in a part of the world that can be especially challenging for missionaries.

“We have made a petition to the local civic authority and to even higher levels for an inquiry,” said T.P. Kurian, communication director for the church’s Southern Asia Division.

He added: “May I urge you to keep this matter in prayer.”

The last members of the Asroi church switched to Hinduism at an Aug. 26 ceremony, church leaders said Sunday. The church, which opened with 33 members in 2005, had about six regular attendees left when the reconversion ceremony took place.

“It is obvious from sources that there are some Hindu fundamental groups behind this havoc who have forced these believers to go back to their previous faith,” said Mohan Bhatti, communication director for the Northern India Union, citing a report from a four-member Adventist delegation that visited the village last week.

Source: http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/adventist-leaders-seek-inquiry-after-indian-villagers-reconvert-to-hinduism