Monday, November 28, 2005

newsweek: the business of god

nov 27th

inventing a christist sect is one of the most profitable businesses in the us.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_21/b3934001_mz001.htm

they have mbas from stanford, harvard, and wharton running these mega-marketing operations!

i have seen this in india, too. one fine day all the churches in kerala -- regardless of denomination and the fights they have with each other -- suddenly started writing stuff from their bible on all their compound walls. this is pure advertisement, and clearly was done with a coordinated marketing plan.

then one fine day, all churches started sporting bright red neon crosses atop them. i won't make any bad puns on 'red-light-districts' but you can see the connection between this and the brazilian church scandal.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Rajeev,

Are you extra0extra of the yahoo msg boards?:)

Anonymous said...


But then I leave it to defenders of caste to explain how the balkanized approach could possibly triumph over the consolidated Wal-mart approach of the monotheists. Anyone care to put up a credible defense of that business strategy?


San,

Yes casteism is a problem, there is no denying but hatred generated using caste as a tool (marketing stategy) is to be clearly seen. Now what make the case of castism so strong -- sections of society left high and dry without the basic requirements, such as clean water/food/clothing/housing, and then the tools to sustain oneself, literacy, education, sustainable income. So what we have is a multi-dimensional problem, which has its origins in the Raj but then perpetuated by our own politicians, all for power! In this machination, over time the political class has never resolved to reform the legislature, beauracracy, the judiciary -- the institutions which would bring the much needed succor to the needy; instead they have infiltrated and corrupted the institutions with generations of stooges who act to uphold the "ideologies" of the party. So it is party over nation!! The sad part is there are only two real parties to vote for/against as in the case of Kerala, either the congress or the communists -- these parties have captured the opinion manufacturing entities such as education and media (Maran's family owns all cable rights in TN) and have made politics an industry, where cadres control various walks of life, whether it is temple lands for individual use, temple funds for party and vote bank politics, etc. So from centralization from local empowerment to dismantling rural self-sustainable infrastructures, the Raj created an exodus from rural India into the cities. Who were those who abandonded rural India, the Brahmins fist (even though they are the smallest percentage), then the money making communities (the Vaishyas) -- by this time the Kshatriyas were already decimated and were fighting within themselves, trying hard to cling on to whatever they could of their glorious past, just as the Thevars (who were Pandya kings), the Naiackers, etc. What the Raj and the Christian imperialist started became a fantastic platform for our own "Indians", who saw through the opportunity to weild control. They create a "secular & socialistic" constitution, took over Hindu affairs, quickly infiltrated the institutions and corrupted them -- the rest is history as we witness today.

Casteism is a problem but the bigger problems are the basics, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and population, they are all tied together. We need reforms to address these issues, in other words the mechanisms to alter society have to be reviewed, updated and enforced. What is really important is a hollistic approach towards social transformation, from the fundamental presmise that we are all Indians first to evolve a consensus to bring all of India under one famework. Casteism is a problem that the religious leaders should vigorously address and alter, if India is really a secular state.

Anonymous said...

San,
I think hindus should read Bhagabatam and Ramayana daily for devotion.

Anonymous said...

No Doubt Rajeev.
these traders of souls have so much advertising money that they even sponsors terrorists (Naxals and things like NLFT in NE) so that they can harvest so many souls...

Anonymous said...

Rajeev,

We need to ponder on this...
An Indian(Branch) company is aiding a christist NGO.
Pfizer India (If Im not wrong) is roping with World vision (A known christist NGO) and it aims to provide aid to those affected by the Tsunami by providing economic aid to them.
Wonder how much aid will reach them without underlying messages of conversion.

Anonymous said...

S said,

San,
I think hindus should read Bhagabatam and Ramayana daily for devotion.


Nice piece of advice for san, S. Please do keep advising san, S as we Hindus don't want anybody to be left behind. san needs to be rescued from the samsara of technology and atheism.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous,

This 'conversion' of San has my wholehearted approval.Seriously,he is an ideal person as he has not yet been ensnared by any false prophet! Also scientific and rational thinking is a blessing not a hindrance.

"Talks With Ramana Maharishi" edited by Arthur Osborne or Maharshi's "Who Am I" should suffice.

Add to it the conversation between JadaBharathar and King Rahuganan in Bhagavatham.

The qualities necessary are compassion and good values, which I am sure he has.

Very often atheists metamorphose into most devout people.Better than those who chant and rant (for wish fulfillment)little realising who they are worshipping!