Are you a convert to Hinduism if you pray in temples and perform rituals, go to mosques to offer Namaz and celebrate the Eucharist with the same devotion? Can such a person continue to be a priest of the Church of England if he continues with his ?plural religious identity?? These are the questions thrown up by a controversy raging all over Europe, including England, and North America. The man at the center of controversy is Rev. Davit Hart, Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Winchester, who is living in Kerala for the past one year. Rev Hart is a devoted follower of ISCON and has changed his middle name from Allen to Ananda Krishan Das. He revealed his ?conversion? in his recently published work Trading Faith: Global Religion in an age of Rapid Change. In his thought-provoking book, Rev. Hart underlines the need on a new model for understanding religious practices and faiths and is unruffled by the bitter controversy sparked by his revelations. He explained his action in a live telephone interview to BBC? Radio 4 on Sunday. Defending his becoming a Hindu, the British priest says it has not brought about any change in his spiritual status nor has it shaken his Christian beliefs even by one per cent. The priest who is also the International Secretary of the London-based World Congress of Faiths, says, ?There is no contradiction in being identified as a religious pluralist. Asking me to express my preference for any particular faith is like asking me to choose between an ice cream and a chocolate. Both have their own distinct tastes?.
The West is so agitated over the development that as many as 20 online discussion groups sprang up in United States after the BBC interview debating the pros and cons of the ?conversion?. Numerous websites and media?both electronic and print?all over the West have conducted opinion polls and triggered discussions over the propriety of allowing Rev. Hart to continue with his ?pluralist religious identity? while remaining a priest of the Church of England. And what is the priest accused of? Chanting Gayatri Mantra, celebrating Vinayak Chaturthi, and performing Ganesh puja with the same devotion with which he celebrates the Eucharist. What a ?crime? he is supposed to have committed by giving equal respect to several religious faiths. All this is happening in ?secular? Europe and the United States of America that are never tired of boasting about their ?secularism? and lecturing India on ?religious tolerance?.
The Church all over the third world, particularly in India, is in the dock for converting millions and millions of innocent Hindus and members of other faiths by allurements, deception and fraud. And lo, it is tormented by a single voluntary ?conversion? of one devoted Christian who says he has merely acquired a ?multi religious identity? without losing faith in Christianity. Ms Paulin Scott, the team Vicar of the St. James? Persh Church in Cambridge?to which Rev. Harts belongs?has gone on record to say she would oppose the priest celebrating the Eucharist in Ely diocese. Interestingly, it was under the Bishop of Ely that Rev. Hart renewed his order or priesthood barely two months ago. The Bishop'soffice is indulging in double speak. On the one hand, it says it has no knowledge about priest'sconversion and on the other it announced that Rev. Hart'scontinuation as a priest was under review. Dr. Bridget Nicholos, Bishop'sLay Chaplain is acutely embarrassed by the conversion and says it was very hard for them to keep an eye on all non-resident clergy who had permission to officiate that is granted on ?good faith?. So, the priest has acted in bad faith so far as the Church is concerned.
This interesting debate in the West about the ?pluralist religious identity? has exposed Westerners? failure to appreciate and understand the profound Hindu philosophy of Ekam sadvipraha bahudha vadanti (Truth is one, wise men tell it in different ways). In religious terms, it says God is one and wise men approach him from different paths and that all noble paths lead to the same ultimate goal?salvation. This is the essence of Hinduism. It is not a religion in the narrow sense of the term. Dr. S Radhakrishanan says, it is a commonwealth of religions that believes in equal respect to all religious faiths. Chief Justice of India P B Gajendragadkar in his path breaking judgment observed ?It is difficult, if not impossible, to define Hindu religion. It does not satisfy the narrow traditional features of any religion or creed because the Hindus do not have one, God, one prophet, one dogma, one philosophical concept or one set of rites?. He, therefore, says that it may be broadly be described as a way of life and nothing more as it reflects the composite character of Hindus. It is based of universal receptivity. If the western mind can'tapprehend what our ancient rishis, modern thinkers and the Supreme Court says, let them listen to one of their own?world renowned historian Toynbee?said about Hinduism. He says, ?When we pass from the plane of social practice to the plane of intellectual outlook, Hinduism too comes out well by comparison with the religions and ideologies of the South-West Asian groups. In contrast to these, Hinduism has the same outlook as the pre-Christian and pre-Muslim religions and philosophies of the western half of the world. Like them, Hinduism takes it for granted that there is more than one valid approach to truth and to salvation and that these different approaches are not only compatible with each other, but are complementary?.
Coming back to Rev. Hart, the priest may or may not have formally converted to Hinduism. But he has certainly internalised Hindutva. He has understood the basic theme of Hindutva that all religious paths lead to salvation and everyone has the right to choose his path or follow as many paths he or she likes. Millions and millions of Hindus?like this writer?have ?multi religious identity?. Rev. Hard is right. By becoming Hindu, he has only broadened his spiritual horizon. The Church need not be unduly scared. It has nothing to lose but its bigotry and, of course, a sublime soul that has discovered the eternal truth.
