16. Does Christianity use force to convert the people today?

      When one talks about force, it is commonly assumed to be the use of the sword, that is a weapon. The use of force to convert people in the past was the standard practice wherever in the world Christianity went. India was no exception. This was possible because Christianity went along with the programme of colonising non-Christian lands, and hence had state support. Thus the force was provided by the secular arm of the country, namely the colonial administration.
    With this support no longer available, it is rare that force is used. However, one does find cases of use of force now and then. In the Dangs district, the nephew of the one of the former tribal raja was twice beaten for not falling in line with the desire of the Christian missionaries.


(See also Q. 17)        

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