By Kalavai Venkat
In general, Hindus do not know how to debate when it comes to religion. Every time we level a substantive criticism against Jesus or Muhammad, one of the following two reactions ensues, which both are analogous:
- Christians or Muslims would vigorously attempt to falsely deny the charge. If they are not able to do so, then they would assail the critic with ad hominem. They would then attempt to divert the focus to Hinduism. They would invoke a random story from Hinduism to argue that there is something in Hinduism which is as bad as or even worse than the charges the critic has leveled against Jesus or Muhammad.
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A group of Hindus, whom I call first responders or busybody memes, would excitedly invoke the same themes which the Christians and Muslims did. However, they would do so on the premise that they’re only ‘self-introspecting’. By adopting such a manavour, they are effectively helping to deflect focus away from the criticism of Jesus or Muhammad.
Interestingly, it is only the Hindus who self-introspect. However, they won’t ever examine Christianity or Islam. Christians and Muslims, never self-introspect. They would only examine Hinduism for real or imaginary weaknesses.
The result of such debates and discussions is predictable. Instead of Jesus or Muhammad being the topic of discussion, Hinduism becomes the focus of discussion.
I was once debating a team of Christian missionaries. I had laid waste to Jesus, the Bible, and Christianity. They had no response and one of them was literally reduced to tears. During Question & Answer, a missionary and a first responder Hindu alleged that Krishna had been instrumental for many a death and hence should be held guilty of the same crimes I accuse Jesus of.
I knew this old trick and had developed an arsenal of weapons against it since my early teens. I promptly replied as follows:
“Let us pretend that Krishna was as genocidal as Jesus. He was not but let us just pretend. In that case, nobody should argue that just because there is a skeleton in the Hindu closet let us not attack Jesus. Let us reject and repudiate Krishna. By the same yardstick, reject and repudiate Jesus too.”
Deal? Guess what?
Hinduism has nothing to lose. We have countless variants of Krishna besides other divinities. We could continue to worship them. Christianity is dead the moment you reject and repudiate Jesus.
“Now, don’t deflect attention from Jesus. Let us shine the spotlight on that original Middle Eastern terrorist. That is the topic of this debate. If you want to attack Krishna, organize a debate and invite me. I will come defend Krishna. Now, see whether you could defend Jesus.”
I debate the way the early prime Tyson boxed: relentless in attack and no defense.
Christians and Muslims are trained to deflect attention from any criticism of their prophets. Hindus have not yet overcome the deep inferiority complex they acquired under colonial subjugation.
It is only out of cowardice that they become first responders and attempt a balancing act.
I am not a good writer or speaker. However, if I do well in debates it is because I don’t get distracted. I don’t walk into the traps set by the opponent. Just like Tyson wanted to hurt his opponents, I go in with the single-minded goal of knocking the opponent out in round one. That more than makes up for my inadequacies in writing or debating. Many of you Hindus are vastly superior writers and speakers than I am. If only you added that one Brahmastra I carry in my arsenal, you would have done a yeomen service to Hindu dharma.