Conversion On Campus: Are Hindu Youth Prepared?
A Dharma Dialogues Podcast with Esther Dhanraj
What happens when a Hindu child leaves home for college and encounters religious proselytization and persistent coercion for the first time?
Join Hindu Parents Network for an important Dharma Dialogues conversation with Esther Dhanraj on understanding religious outreach and conversion on university campuses—and what Hindu families can do to prepare their children better.
What This Podcast Will Explore
- Why university can be a particularly vulnerable period for religious and identity shifts
- How campus religious and missionary groups engage with Hindu students
- Why cultural exposure to Hindu Dharma may not be enough
- The arguments Hindu youth may encounter around sin, salvation, karma, murti-puja, moksha, and multiple Devas and Devis
- What are the possible preventive and corrective steps for parents
Why This Conversation Matters
For many Hindu youth, college may be the first time their Dharma is seriously questioned.
That’s why what is needed is a lot more than cultural familiarity. The youth need an informed understanding of Hindu Dharma, awareness of other religious worldviews, and the confidence to examine religious claims thoughtfully and independently.
About the Guest
Esther Dhanraj brings a unique personal and theological perspective to this conversation. Raised in a Hindu family, she converted to Christianity and spent more than two decades within the Christian faith. She later pursued graduate-level studies in Christian theology and apologetics in the United States before critically re-examining her beliefs and returning to her Hindu roots.
Who Should Attend
This conversation is especially relevant for:
- Hindu parents of teenagers and college-age children
- Hindu youth preparing for or currently attending university
- Hindu educators, Bal Vihar teachers, and youth program leaders
- Community leaders concerned about Hindu identity in the diaspora
Join Us
Preparing our children for college shouldn’t stop with academics.
We must also prepare them for the questions, ideas, and worldviews they will encounter once they get there.
Roots are important—as is an understanding of why those roots matter.