Junior converts to christianity

Gazing through the stained glass window of the Saratoga Federated Cathedral, junior Kirin Kumar recounted the day he left his native Hinduism and converted to Christianity.

“[The Christian community] just consists of really friendly people, good friends and something that really just spoke to me,” said Kumar. “I found something to believe in that wasn’t only interesting, but it really meant something to me.”

Kumar made the conversion after witnessing “many good and happy people all united by Christianity” while building houses in Mexico last summer with the members of Saratoga Federated Church.

Most young adults who develop strong ties to the religion they inherited at birth don’t tend to stray away from that religion. In Kumar’s case, however, he was raised a moderate Hindu but broke away to a religion to which he felt a stronger connection.

“My family has always been Hindu, but we never really partook in anything so it just became a title,” said Kumar.

Kumar’s family was surprisingly supportive of his conversion.

“At first [my parents] were skeptical, and they told me not to get too carried away,” said Kumar. “But now I think they are proud seeing how serious I am about it.”

Kumar said he is not a Christian in name as he was with Hinduism. Rather, to make his decision final he “accepted and announced [his] belief in Jesus Christ.”

Kumar’s heavy involvement in his newfound faith is exemplified by the multitude of activities and events he participates in at his church.
“I go to church every Sunday,” said Kumar. “I read the Bible on my own for fun, I have done community services like going to Mexico to build houses with my church and I take part in a bunch of the high school activities.”

Kumar has no regrets about his shift in religious beliefs.

“I would do this all over again because of all I have gained: friends, faith and happiness,” said Kumar. “I think I’m happier now, not because I look to my religion as a crutch, but because I believe that in times of turmoil, I always have something to fall back on and look to for support.”