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14 Methods Of Inculturation: How The Church Is Using Hindu Culture And Symbols To Convert People

By
The Commune
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Between 2011 and 2025, numerous instances have been documented of Christian missionaries employing inculturation—the strategic adaptation of Hindu cultural and religious elements—as a means to make Christianity appear more familiar and acceptable to Hindus, thereby facilitating conversions.

Inculturation in this context refers to the deliberate use of Hindu symbols, rituals, and traditions—such as applying tilak, performing vehicle pujas, or sprinkling holy water—to mask proselytizing efforts as culturally rooted practices.

On 9 June 2025, a video that went viral on social media showcased how such mimicry is often used to ease resistance among Hindu communities.

This report presents 14 documented methods of inculturation used by Church groups and missionary networks in India over the past decade, raising important questions about cultural appropriation, religious integrity, and covert conversion strategies.

#1: Mimicking Hindu Rituals – Vehicle Puja, Tilak, and Water Sprinkling

On 9 June 2025, a viral social media video exposed how Christian missionaries strategically imitate Hindu rituals—such as vehicle puja, applying tilak, or sprinkling water—to make Christianity appear culturally familiar to Hindu communities. By rebranding these practices with Christian meanings, missionaries blur religious lines and create the illusion of shared traditions. This calculated form of inculturation misleads local populations, easing resistance to conversion and encouraging acceptance of Christian teachings under the guise of cultural continuity. Such tactics are part of a broader effort to facilitate religious conversions by erasing clear distinctions between the two faiths.

#2 Church-Led Shobha Yatra Akin To Hindu Traditions

A video that was viral on social media in December 2023 showed that Christian missionary groups have begun organizing Shobha Yatras that closely imitate Hindu religious processions. These events feature traditional music, chants, saffron cloth, malas, incense, and adapted versions of Hindu prayers—such as a “Gayatri Mantra” for Jesus and “Jesus Suprabhatham.” This method of inculturation is designed to create a sense of cultural familiarity, making the transition to Christianity feel spiritually seamless for potential converts. By mirroring Hindu customs in outward form, missionaries aim to reduce resistance and make Christian practices appear as a natural extension of local religious life.

# 3 Selling Idols Of Jesus To Mimic Hindu Worship

In another inculturation tactic, Christian missionary groups have begun imitating Hindu idol worship by promoting and selling idols of Jesus that resemble Hindu deities. While publicly criticizing Hindus for engaging in “Vigraharadhana” (idol worship), these groups simultaneously adopt the same practice by offering Jesus idols designed to appeal to traditional Hindu sensibilities. This contradictory approach seeks to blur religious boundaries and make Christianity appear culturally aligned with Hindu traditions. The strategy aims to attract Hindu devotees by presenting Jesus in familiar visual forms, thereby easing the path for conversion through symbolic assimilation and emotional resonance.

#4 Imitation Of Hindu Temple Architecture for Conversions

A growing trend in missionary-led conversions involves imitating Hindu temple architecture by adding Christian symbols—especially the cross—to existing or newly built temple-like structures. This method seeks to blur the visual and cultural distinctions between Hinduism and Christianity, making the latter appear more familiar and acceptable to local populations. By adopting the external appearance of Hindu temples, including gopurams, mandapams, and other structural elements, missionaries subtly introduce Christianity under a Hindu guise. This deceptive architectural inculturation deeply disturbs many locals, with some even expressing emotional distress and alienation due to the cultural erosion and aggressive conversion tactics involved.

Image Source: Samskriti Magazine

#5 Copying Hindu Deity Statues to Aid Conversion

A striking example of inculturation was observed in Pandalat, West Bengal, where a statue of Mother Mary was displayed in a form closely resembling traditional Hindu goddess idols. Christian missionaries increasingly adopt the visual iconography of Hindu deities—replicating attire, posture, ornaments, and artistic styles—to depict Christian figures like Mary or Jesus. This tactic is aimed at making Christianity more relatable to Hindus, especially in rural and culturally rooted areas. By visually blending religious identities, such methods obscure distinctions and create a deceptive familiarity that facilitates religious conversions, raising serious concerns about cultural appropriation and spiritual manipulation.

#6 Churches Renamed with Hindu Temple Terminology

In a strategic move to blend in with local religious traditions, several churches—especially in South India—are being referred to using Hindu temple terminology such as Devalayam or Mandiram instead of the word “Church.” This renaming tactic is part of the broader inculturation strategy employed by missionary groups to reduce cultural resistance and increase acceptance among Hindu communities. By adopting terms deeply associated with Hindu worship spaces, the aim is to blur religious distinctions and create a sense of familiarity. This linguistic camouflage facilitates smoother conversions while masking the distinct theological differences between the two faiths.

#7 Cross with Rudraksha – Symbolic Camouflage for Conversion
In an effort to appeal to Hindu communities, certain missionary groups have adopted the practice of blending Christian symbols with core Hindu icons. One notable example is the wearing of Rudraksha beads—sacred in Hinduism—along with a Christian cross. Some missionaries even dress as saffron-clad yogis while wearing these mixed symbols. This method of inculturation aims to create a visual and cultural familiarity that disarms resistance and fosters acceptance. By appropriating revered Hindu symbols, these tactics are designed to subtly blur religious lines and facilitate conversions under the guise of cultural continuity rather than theological divergence.

#8 Bible Panchangam – Mimicking Hindu Calendar for Conversion

In a strategic move to appeal to Hindu sensibilities, the Church of South India has introduced a “Bible Panchangam,” modeled after the traditional Hindu panchang (calendar). The Hindu panchang holds deep religious and cultural significance, guiding rituals, festivals, and daily observances. By presenting a Christian version that mimics this format, missionaries attempt to blur the distinction between faiths and make Christianity appear culturally compatible. This form of inculturation is aimed at easing the path to conversion by exploiting familiar Hindu traditions, thereby attracting individuals who might otherwise resist direct religious proselytization.

#9 Church Dwajasthambam – Mimicking Temple Flag Masts to Attract Hindus

Several churches in Tamil Nadu, including one in Chennai, have begun erecting Dwajasthambams—flag masts traditionally found in Hindu temples—at their entrances. These symbolic pillars, which represent the connection between earth and heaven in Hindu cosmology, are now adapted by churches to blend into the local religious landscape. This practice is part of a broader “inculturation” strategy by Christian missionaries to integrate Hindu elements into church worship—mirroring temple rituals, festivals, symbols, and architecture—to make Christianity appear culturally familiar, especially to potential Hindu converts. Critics argue it’s a calculated method to lure Hindus under the guise of spiritual similarity.

#10 Adapting Classical Dance Forms – Kathakali Used for Jesus’s Story

In a striking example of inculturation, Christian missionaries have adapted Kathakali—Kerala’s classical dance form traditionally used to narrate Hindu epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana—to depict the story of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. At the Chavara Cultural Centre in Kozhikode, the play Divya Karunya Charitham, scripted by Radha Madhavan and based on a poem by Fr. Jose Chencheriyil, was staged under the direction of Kalamandalam Sajan. This performance is part of a larger trend where core elements of Bharatiya culture, including sacred dance forms, are repurposed by missionaries to make Christian narratives resonate more with Hindu audiences.

 

Image Source: Shevlin’s Blog

#11 Replicating Mahabharata Imagery – Jesus Depicted Like Arjuna

In an evident attempt at cultural assimilation, Christian missionaries have begun using iconic imagery from Hindu epics to make their messages more relatable to Hindu communities. A notable example is found at St. Alphonso Church in Dwarka, where Jesus is portrayed riding a chariot strikingly similar to that of Arjuna from the Mahabharata. This visual strategy mirrors the familiar narrative style of Hindu mythology, blurring religious distinctions and making Christian symbols appear culturally native.

Image Source: St Alphonsa Church Dwaraka

Such symbolic replications are part of a broader inculturation effort aimed at easing religious conversions by leveraging the emotional power of Hindu traditions.

#12 Transforming Vishnu Sahasranama into Jesus Sahasranama

Christian missionaries have attempted to culturally reframe Hindu devotional traditions by creating a “Jesus Sahasranama,” modeled directly after the Vishnu Sahasranama. This Christianized version attributes a thousand epithets to Jesus, claiming its roots in ancient Syriac prayers and structural inspiration from Vedic hymns. The book promoting this practice asserts that each divine name holds a metaphysical essence (“esse”) and that chanting these names leads to spiritual fulfillment and mystic experience. This adaptation is positioned as a new dimension of Christology, aligning with inculturation strategies that blend Christian theology with Hindu forms to attract and convert Hindu devotees.

For a list of 108 names of Jesus, visit here.

#13 Imitation of Hindu Deity Icons at Altars

Christian missionaries have increasingly adopted Hindu iconographic elements in their places of worship to ease the conversion process. A notable example is the “Altar Jesus Temple,” which features depictions that blend the imagery of Hindu gods with figures of Jesus and Mary. This deliberate visual syncretism includes commonly seen symbols like the sacred “Om” placed near Jesus’ image, creating an impression of spiritual continuity. By imitating Hindu idols and merging them with Christian icons, missionaries aim to make Christianity appear more culturally familiar to Hindus, thereby facilitating conversions through emotional and visual assimilation.

Image Source: Altar Jesus Tempel

#14 Christian Diyas Mimicking Hindu Worship Objects

Christian groups have begun replicating traditional Hindu worship items such as diyas, integrating Christian symbols like crosses, candles, or images of Mary into their design. These “Christian diyas” are often nearly identical in appearance to Hindu lamps but are subtly altered to reflect Christian iconography. Sold on platforms like Amazon and other online portals, they mirror the aesthetic and devotional tone of Hindu practices. This method of inculturation seeks to blur religious distinctions and make Christianity appear more familiar and acceptable to Hindu communities, thereby aiding in the conversion process through cultural appropriation.

Image Source: Amazon

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