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

various dynamics related to the issue of minority status. First, there are religious
dynamics. There is a popular notion that Christianity is a western religion, and so
Indians are being converted to a foreign religion. Pentecostals in particular are
accused of converting others. It is argued, in particular, that they are converting
Hindus, and so Hinduism is decreasing. On the other hand, tribal Pentecostals feel
that they are the original inhabitants of the land alongside other tribal people, and
they have their own tribal religions. Thus, they have the freedom to choose their
religion. Tribal Pentecostals raise various issues, such as the ‘introduction of the
anti-conversion law’, the ‘accusation that they are followers of a foreign religion’,
and the ‘denial of their tribal as well as constitutional rights’, to argue that the will
of the majority is being imposed on them.
Second, there are cultural dynamics. There is a misconception that Christianity
was brought to India by foreigners who wanted to bring changes to indigenous
cultures as well. Similarly, there is a misunderstanding that Pentecostalism was
brought to Rajasthan by south Indians, as discussed in chapter three. Initially,
south Indian Pentecostals were called Hallelujah vala (People who shout
Hallelujah) and dubki vala (immersion people) 36 by other Christians. Therefore,
Pentecostalism was misunderstood as a south Indian religion, at least in the initial
period of the movement, and this impression still exists.
Third, the minority issue has political dynamics. Another wrong notion in
Rajasthan is that Christians are opposed to the political party BJP and that they
36 In Hindi language, immersion baptism is called dubki baptisma. Since Pentecostals practise
immersion baptism of adults, they were called dubki vala, and Pentecostalism was called dubki
mission by other Christians during the early period of Pentecostal history in Rajasthan.
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