Friday, September 08, 2006
Hindus allowed to worship Christ?
The Times reports here on the Church of England "priest" who has "converted to Hinduism".
Looking at if from an English viewpoint, and as the Church of England seems to have long ago abandoned many of its principles and beliefs this should really come into the realm of the non-story or perhaps a story along the lines of how strange to find an Anglican priest who believes in any form of Divinity.
However looking at it from a Hindu point of view, the story seems to show some worrying trends, as not only does this "Anglican priest" intend to continue as such, but he's not renouncing his Hinduism either. If I were a Hindu I think I'd be very concerned, how can he profess to be both a Hindu and simultaneously an Anglican priest. Is Hinduism facing the same forces that have neutralised the Church of England?
According to the article Mr Hart (who is the person concerned) "says in his book that Hinduism accepts the Divinity of Jesus and is an especially tolerant and open faith." Now that may be true, for I'm not greatly familiar with Hinduism, but it would seem an extraordinary position. I don't see that you can accept the Divinity of Christ without accepting the Ten Commandments which include "Thou shall have no other God but Me", it seems the most anyone (including Hindus) can legitimately say, is that they recognise that Christians accept the Divinity of Christ, which ultimately is about the same as I would say with regards other religious beliefs and it's news to me that I'd be "especially tolerant". This follows logically as if you truly accept the Divinity of Christ; you accept the truth of His teaching that includes monotheism with a particular God.
My view is that I don't think he believes in either religion and possibly insults both. After all no one can be saying a true prayer or offering true worship to Christ if they don't accept the Ten Commandments, and if you accept that: "Thou shall have no other God but Me" then if you offer prayers and worship to say Ganesha your just going through the motions, it isn't true prayer and worship and the same surely applies vice versa?
Looking at if from an English viewpoint, and as the Church of England seems to have long ago abandoned many of its principles and beliefs this should really come into the realm of the non-story or perhaps a story along the lines of how strange to find an Anglican priest who believes in any form of Divinity.
However looking at it from a Hindu point of view, the story seems to show some worrying trends, as not only does this "Anglican priest" intend to continue as such, but he's not renouncing his Hinduism either. If I were a Hindu I think I'd be very concerned, how can he profess to be both a Hindu and simultaneously an Anglican priest. Is Hinduism facing the same forces that have neutralised the Church of England?
According to the article Mr Hart (who is the person concerned) "says in his book that Hinduism accepts the Divinity of Jesus and is an especially tolerant and open faith." Now that may be true, for I'm not greatly familiar with Hinduism, but it would seem an extraordinary position. I don't see that you can accept the Divinity of Christ without accepting the Ten Commandments which include "Thou shall have no other God but Me", it seems the most anyone (including Hindus) can legitimately say, is that they recognise that Christians accept the Divinity of Christ, which ultimately is about the same as I would say with regards other religious beliefs and it's news to me that I'd be "especially tolerant". This follows logically as if you truly accept the Divinity of Christ; you accept the truth of His teaching that includes monotheism with a particular God.
My view is that I don't think he believes in either religion and possibly insults both. After all no one can be saying a true prayer or offering true worship to Christ if they don't accept the Ten Commandments, and if you accept that: "Thou shall have no other God but Me" then if you offer prayers and worship to say Ganesha your just going through the motions, it isn't true prayer and worship and the same surely applies vice versa?
Tags: Church of England, Hinduism, religion
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
