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a contextual missiology of the spirit - eTheses Repository ...

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argue that for <strong>the</strong> first time <strong>the</strong> UN and <strong>the</strong> international community acknowledge<br />

<strong>the</strong> existence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> suffering experienced by minorities in India. 34<br />

There are two major problems raised by <strong>the</strong> fact that Pentecostals are a minority in<br />

Rajasthan. Firstly, Pentecostals have no influential voice, as <strong>the</strong>y have no<br />

representation in <strong>the</strong> State Assembly or in lower levels <strong>of</strong> administration.<br />

Secondly, Pentecostals think that <strong>the</strong>y are treated as second class citizens in many<br />

instances. The majority religious groups seem to believe that <strong>the</strong> minority are<br />

subject to <strong>the</strong>ir control, and consequently, <strong>the</strong> latter face unwarranted persecution.<br />

Several cases have been recorded by Pentecostals <strong>of</strong> Police authorities not being<br />

willing to listen to <strong>the</strong>ir problems or register a case against a militant group who<br />

has inflicted atrocities against <strong>the</strong>m. Many local Pentecostal leaders have insisted<br />

that <strong>the</strong>ir followers are put under enormous pressure to accept <strong>the</strong> majority<br />

religion. 35 They believe that <strong>the</strong> majority is imposing its will on <strong>the</strong>m over <strong>the</strong><br />

issue <strong>of</strong> religious belief and practice, and that is why <strong>the</strong>ir rights and privileges are<br />

denied.<br />

There are manifold dynamics to <strong>the</strong> struggle <strong>of</strong> Pentecostals as a minority group in<br />

Rajasthan. However, this is not to argue that it is a problem faced by Pentecostals<br />

alone; ra<strong>the</strong>r it is probably <strong>the</strong> case for all Christians, irrespective <strong>of</strong><br />

denominational affiliation and location in India. The current study identifies<br />

34 Special Correspondent, ‘U.N. Apprised <strong>of</strong> “Discriminations” in India, The Hindu, 6 September<br />

2001, under ‘Regional,’ http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/09/06/stories/04062017.htm (accessed<br />

15 November 2006).<br />

35 Even during <strong>the</strong> recent religious violence in Orissa, it is reported that Christians were forcibly to<br />

be converted to Hinduism by Hindutva groups. For more details, see Parvathi Menon, ‘Conversion<br />

to Hinduism a Condition for Christians to Return Home in Khandhamal,’ The Hindu, 1 October<br />

2008, under ‘Front Page,’ http://www.<strong>the</strong>hindu.com/2008/10/01/stories/2008100161861400.htm<br />

(accessed 01 October 2008).<br />

180

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