Conversion ‘Code’


The ‘Da Vinci Code’ movie has been banned. Thanks to the AP High Court, for giving a go ahead for releasing the movie.

The movie is surprisingly banned in countries where the Christianity is a minority subject. The movie is banned in Pakistan, a Muslim Nation, Sri Lanka, a Buddhist Nation, then in some States in India, a Secular Nation. On the contrary, not all the Christian countries, including Vatican City initiated a ban on the movie.

Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu in India were the quick to react to the protests. They banned the movie without blinking an eyelid. The reason is far more evident – conversions. Tamilnadu banned all mass conversions and even made legislation under the Chief Ministership of J Jayalalithaa. Recently the DMK Government contemplating on withdrawing the legislation. In Andhra Pradesh, the conversions are on the high in rural areas, where the literacy and economic status is the lowest.

Cardinal Ivan Dias of Mumbai, appointed Prefect of Vatican’s Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples on May 20, said ‘that any conversion is invalid in the Church if it is induced by force, fraud or allurement’. However, the approach is different. The missionaries pump their money into institutions and programs like education, community health or welfare activities and caring diseases inflicted persons. This process is used as a platform to woo the most vulnerable people in the society. The real motive is conversions and not service.

The ‘Da Vinci Code’ ban is targeted, that certain aspects may cause hindrance to the progress of conversions and not merely for any religious sentiments, as projected by some Christian groups. The faith is trust and belief, and cannot be erased by mere adverse propaganda.

Code or no Code, faith is faith.