| In early 1982, Father Joseph Parekatil of the Catholic | | | | published a paper "Christian witness to Hindus [6]" |
| Church of Parasahi, Madhya Pradesh, destroyed the | | | | (1980). In the report, under the title "Methodology |
| sacred murthi of the Goddess Visweshwari | | | | Issues" lists some of the methods to be implemented |
| Siddheswari enshrined on the nearby Nawain Tekdi hill | | | | to convert Hindus. Some of them are- |
| and erected a small wooden cross. Later, the father | | | | (1) We should enunciate theology in Indian categories |
| erected a 31 - foot high concrete cross illegally on | | | | so that the Hindu can understand the gospel. |
| the hill on February 18th, 1983. Enraged villagers | | | | (2) We must develop a truly Christian world view |
| destroyed the cross a month later on March 17th. On | | | | consistent with the Indian context. |
| February 20th, 1985, with the intent once again of | | | | (3) While presenting the gospel, we must be aware |
| trying to gain possession of the hill, Father Parekatil | | | | of the fact that the Hindu understands the doctrine |
| put on the orange robes of a Hindu sannyasin, built a | | | | of God, man, sin, and salvation in a way entirely |
| hut on the hill, sat on a tiger skin and began | | | | different from the biblical doctrine. |
| performing worship in the Hindu style. As a result, | | | | (4) Communicate the gospel through indigenous |
| thousands of simple Hindus came to the hill on | | | | methods such as bhajans, drama, dialogue, discourse, |
| Fridays, unaware of the deception they were | | | | Indian music, festival processions, etc. |
| witnessing. On May 18th, a complaint was registered, | | | | Sita Ram Goel, in his book "Catholic Ashrams [7]", lists |
| but to no avail. Again there was agitation in the area, | | | | 108 such Christian ashram in India, 4 in Nepal and 8 in |
| and this time, on October 1st, 1985, the villagers tore | | | | Sri Lanka. His list includes Asha Niketan, Bangalore, |
| down the priest"s hut and tossed away the remaining | | | | Karnataka, Bethany Ashram (1938), Channapatna, |
| pieces of the concrete cross. Father Parekatil only | | | | Karnataka, Christa Sevakee Ashram (1950), Karkala, |
| gave up when he was arrested a week later for | | | | Karnataka, Christian Institute for the study of Religion |
| breaking the peace and released on bail with | | | | and Society, Bangalore, Karnataka, Yesu Karuna |
| instructions to behave [1]. | | | | Prarthanalaya, Kote, Mysore District, Karnataka. The |
| This tactics used by Father Parekatil of adopting | | | | present Catholic ashrams have inherited a history of |
| Hindu symbols, to further his missioanry goal is called | | | | intrigue and subterfuge. Here is a description from the |
| as "Inculturation" or "Indigenization". Christianity has | | | | "Madhya Pradesh Report(1956) [8]": "Robert De Nobili |
| always been following a policy of "Inculturation." This | | | | (A Catholic Jesuit priest) appeared in Madura in 1607 |
| means that it adopted Pagan elements in Christianized | | | | clad in the saffron robes of a Sadhu with sandal |
| form in order to ease the transition from Paganism | | | | paste on his forehead and the sacred thread on his |
| to Christianity. Pagan gods became Christian saints. | | | | body. He gave out that he was a Brahmin from |
| Pagan Festivals became Christian festivals.In this | | | | Rome. He showed documentary evidence to prove |
| process of inculturation, the Christian Church adapted | | | | that he belonged to a clan that had migrated from |
| old forms to its new message, but made sure that | | | | ancient India. He declared that he was bringing a |
| through the Pagan veneer the Christian doctrine was | | | | message which had been taught in India by Indian |
| impressed upon the converts [2]. "Indigenization," | | | | ascetics of yore and that he was only restoring to |
| says Kaj Baago, "is evangelization. It is the planting of | | | | Hindus one of their lost sacred books, namely the 5th |
| the gospel inside another culture, another philosophy, | | | | Veda, called Yeshurveda (Jesus Veda). It passed for |
| another religion [3]". In Indian case, "Inculturation" or | | | | a genuine work until the Protestant Missionaries |
| "Indigenization" means "the incorporation of Jesus in | | | | exposed the fraud about the year 1840. This Brahmin |
| Indian spiritual tradition". Fr. Bede says "In India we | | | | Sannyasi of the "Roman Gotra", Father De Nobili, |
| need a Christian Vedanta and a Christian Yoga that is | | | | worked for 40 years and died at the ripe age of 89 |
| a system of theology which makes use not only of | | | | in 1656. It is said that he had converted about a lakh |
| the terms and concepts but of the whole structure | | | | of persons but they all melted away after his death". |
| of thought of the Vedanta [4]." | | | | This is the situation the Hindu finds himself in. Christian |
| Shantivanam Ashram on the banks of the sacred | | | | missionaries have adopted Hindu ways of life, Hindu |
| Cauvery River at a forested place near Trichy in | | | | religious symbols, architecture, worship forms and |
| South India appears Hindu. It has a Hindu shrine; | | | | declared themselves as Swamis. A Catholic priest |
| saffron-robed "swami" seated cross - legged on a | | | | who calls himself "swami" instantly attains the status |
| straw mat; devotees practising yogic meditations, | | | | and authority of a holy man in Hindu society, which |
| even chanting Hindu scriptures. But these impressions | | | | he can use to make converts. By using Sanskrit |
| gradually prove false. First, the eye detects that the | | | | terminology in his sermons he implies a close |
| courtyard shrine is for Saint Paul and that "puja" is | | | | relationship of Hindu theology to Catholic theology, a |
| actually, a daily Mass, complete with incense, arati | | | | relationship which does not really exist. Such |
| lamps, flower offerings and prasadam. Finally, one | | | | missionaries speak authoritatively on Hindu scriptures |
| meets the "swami", learning he is Father Bede | | | | and argue that their [Christian] teachings are |
| "Dayananda" Griffiths, a Christian "sannyasin". This is a | | | | consonant with everything Hindu, but add a finishing |
| Christian ashram, one of more than 50 in India, which | | | | touch, "fullness" to the traditional faith. |
| are variously described as "experiments in | | | | References & Notes: |
| cross-cultural communication," "contemplative | | | | 1 Hinduism Today, Indian Ocean Edition, December, |
| hermitages that revolve around both Christian and | | | | 1988. |
| Hindu ideals.Fr. J. Monchanin [5], one of the founding | | | | 2 Salvation: Hindu influence on Christianity by Dr. |
| members himself defines his mission in these terms: "I | | | | Koenraad Elst. |
| have come to India for no other purpose than to | | | | 3 Kaj Baago, Pioneers of Indigenous Christianity, |
| awaken in a few souls the desire (the passion) to | | | | Madras, 1969, p. 85 |
| raise up a Christian India. It will take centuries, | | | | 4 Bede Griffiths, op. cit., p. 24. |
| sacrificed lives and we shall perhaps die before seeing | | | | 5 "Liberal" Christianity, Ram Swarup |
| any realizations. A Christian India, completely Indian | | | | 6 "Christian Witness to Hindus", 1980, Lausanne |
| and completely Christian will be something so | | | | Committee for World Evangelization |
| wonderful the sacrifice of our lives is not too much | | | | 7 Catholic Ashrams- Sanyassins or Swindlers, By Sita |
| to ask." His words clearly show the motive behind | | | | Ram Goel |
| these ashrams. | | | | 8 Niyogi Comission Report on Christian Missionary |
| Lausanne Movement (for world evangelization) | | | | activities. |