Topic started by Karuvayan (@ pcl-b116.lib.utexas.edu) on Tue Mar 18 19:07:19 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

http://fmwww.bc.edu/SJ/fxcstudies.html

Responses:

• From: Kumar (@ 203.63.57.202) on: Tue Mar 18 20:14:57
  
  There are a few, very rare moments where I have to agree with Karu, or approve his post, and this is one of them.
  
  That was an excellent article. Francis Clooney has made a parallel comparison wit St Ausgustine's 'Confession' with Tiruvaymoli.
  
  I especially liked his story of his experience in Thirupathy:
  >>For the devotee, this is the point, to have darshan, to see here the cosmic Lord who has taken physical form, and to be seen by him, an exchange of glances that is received as pure gift, God reaching the devotee, not the other way around.<<
  That's pretty moving!
  
  
• From: Karuvayan (@ cs2417546-174.austin.rr.com) on: Tue Mar 18 23:11:56
  
  Kumar, for a while, I am trying to shed my "fundamental" nature. Yet, I reserve the right to question those who are fanatical about imposing their view points on the lay populace (if you know what I mean)
  
  I loved the comparision of St.Augustine to Nammalwar. I think there are interesting parallels as well.
  
  
• From: Karuvayan (@ cs2417546-174.austin.rr.com) on: Tue Mar 18 23:20:53
  
  Kumar, here is a link that might be of interest to you:
  
  http://www.sandiego.edu/theo/hcs-l/
  
  There is a prominent lecturer on hinduism who delivers lectures in Pondicherry. His name was Joseph and he had converted to Vaishnavism, and his wife also wears a nAmam. His lectures are attended by even the DGP of Pondicherry.
  
  Then again, there is PadmaShri K J Yesudass and S P Balasubramaniam who sing Christian devotional songs.
  
  For a while, as I said, I have been trying to rationalise my fundamentalist mentality.
  
  
• From: Karuvayan (@ cs2417546-174.austin.rr.com) on: Tue Mar 18 23:38:53
  
  From the above website:
  
  "At the beginning of the Society's operation, we are aware that we do not begin in a vacuum. There is a long history to the interactions between Christians and Hindus, and centuries of good and fruitful encounters must be balanced against a series of unfortunate factors as well, including colonialism, orientalist misreadings, clumsy missionary efforts, tendencies to relativize the faith of others and reduce it to a version of one's own. "
  
  The highlighted ones are exactly what I am against and the rest of the Sangh is.
  
  
• From: Karuvayan (@ cs2417546-174.austin.rr.com) on: Tue Mar 18 23:42:05
  
  The whole argument of Hindutva is based on Colonialism, Orientalist Misreading and Missionary work. If it were not for those three, Christians in India today would be living like how the Parsis are living. The parsis even though smaller than the Christian minority are no trouble with the Hindu majority. Why is this? Simply, they do not belive in reducing the faith of others and promoting their own.
  
  
• From: Kumar (@ 203.63.57.202) on: Wed Mar 19 02:17:43
  
  I haven't read through your second link yet, Karu, but I needed to respond to something you mentioned; Colonialism.
  Years ago I was still wondering whether colonialsm did more harm than good. But it has caused a lot of damage everywhere. The most shameful thing about it is that many colonialists may have been the only Christians that non christians would have met. It's no wonder that many had misgivings about Christians- they behaved more like masters than friends.
  
  And the phrase 'clumsy missionary work' is very apt. I for one can tell you that some christians are very guilty of that. I feel that these people belittle other faiths because it's the 'easiest' way to evagelise. No one is bothered to learn, understand and appreciate other faiths, like Francis Cloony has done.
  
  More later.
  
  
• From: vaidyanathan (@ dialpool-210-214-209-123.maa.sify.net) on: Sun Apr 13 02:27:43 EDT 2003
  
  goa is evidence enough how intolerant catholics were.
  if one examines christian theology,we find that british were not strict christians at all.but india was much better under them than portugeese.
  
  
• From: mmc (@ netcache.spectranet.com) on: Sun Apr 13 03:37:09 EDT 2003
  
  vaidyanathan,
  
  its not that british were any better....it has nothing to do with the catholic barbarism vs the protestant noble christianness...
  
  if british had come earlier(at the time of portuguese), then they wouldve also behaved so...remember at that time due to islamic rule and fights, Hindus didnt have any energy to counter them....
  
  
• From: mmc (@ netcache.spectranet.com) on: Sun Apr 13 03:38:29 EDT 2003
  
  vaidyanathan,
  
  its not that british were any better....it has nothing to do with the catholic barbarism vs the protestant noble christianness...
  
  if british had come earlier(at the time of portuguese), then they wouldve also behaved so...remember at that time due to islamic rule and fights, Hindus didnt have any energy to counter them....
  
  portuguese lateron became slightly civilised....and in India, since british stayed for more time, they were able to understand the civilisation of this country as at the outset, any foreigner would be only misguided seeing the superficial representations which wouldve looked like uncivilised ways to them....
  
  
• From: AJ (@ 202.88.169.8) on: Sun Apr 13 06:47:28 EDT 2003
  
  Hello MMC and Joe,
  
  I am in TN for few weeks and I would like to visit
  Kanyakumari,Ramanthapuram districts and Kerala.If you don't mind could you suggest me some interesting or must see Temples and places.Tomorrow I am going to Madurai to see chitrai festival.
  
  Thank you.
  
  

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