Indegenization, Indianization or Hinduization: Dubious “Inculturation” activities of Christians without any ethics, morality and integrity
Bishop Derek Fernandes, wearing saffron robes and with a vermilion tilak[1]: Photographs on social media of Belagavi diocese Bishop Derek Fernandes, wearing saffron robes and with a vermilion tilak, have stirred a controversy for the Roman Catholic Church in the country[2]. The pictures of Fernandes accompanied by unidentified men – all in the same attire and with some sporting rudraksha malas – appear to show the bishop performing the sacrament of the Eucharist in a church with pictures of Hindu swamis[3]. The pictures, posted on Twitter by journalist-activist Savio Rodrigues, set off a firestorm of charges against the prelate[4]. Some accused Fernandes, whom Pope Francis appointed as the sixth bishop of Belgaum on May 1, of trying to mislead Hindus and described it as a ploy to convert them. Several Christians on Twitter warned the bishop against such activities and some charged him with blasphemy. Bishop Fernandes, currently in Rome, was unavailable for comment. In Karnataka, D. S. Amalopavadass (1932-1990) has already done such experiments inviting criticism from the Church itself. However, the CBCLC, Bangalore has been promoting such activities. Now, he is appreciated as “Indian prophet” and so on[5].
Inculturation – not-known people may talk, and write anything: How the Hindus have been gullible, the Christians manipulative and the media biased, opportunistic to created sensation can be seen in these postings and the stuff created as news. Ever since, Vatican Council – II was created, the Catholic Christians have bee carrying on these dubious, fraudulent and fancy-dress theology in the name of “inculturation” to have “inter-religious dialogue” with gullible and idiotic Hindus, who do not know what these Christian guys have bee doing. In Chennai, the case of Arulappa vs Ganesh Iyer has been well known, where, the Archbishop Arulappa gave lakhs to Ganesh Iyer to manufacture forged manuscripts, copper plates etc . In the same way, highly arrogant, racist and fundamental Christians of Kerala have been engaged in similar activities. They too do not bother about any ethics, morality and other such values to follow in their activities. Though converted Christians, they behave as if they descended from heaven or born with the mythical Jesus Christ.
Activist receives threats for tweeting bishop’s pics: Philip Kutty Joseph, vicar general of the Belgaum diocese, said the photographs were taken on August 29 on a visit by Bishop Fernandes to a church in Deshnur, 28km from Belagavi[6]. “The church was earlier called Virakta mutt,” he said. “Jesuit priests first went there more than 40 years ago and adopted Indian practices such as donning saffron robes. In fact, the tabernacle is in the form of a Shiva linga.” Fr Nelson Pinto, a priest of the diocese who responded when TOI attempted to contact Bishop Fernandes at his residence by phone, explained that when the first Jesuit priests went to Deshnur, in a predominantly Lingayat region, they adopted the local culture[7]. “The Jesuit priests became vegetarians and embraced other local practices,” Pinto said. “They did not do it to convert the people who lived there.” Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa & Daman and Patriarch of the East Indies Filipe Neri Ferrão said he was unaware of the incident involving Bishop Fernandes, but said it appeared to be part of a practice that the Catholic Church calls inculturation. “The photographs appear to be of a ceremony that includes inculturation, which the Catholic Church advises in liturgy, attire and so on[8]. It’s the assimilation of local culture,” he said. Even as the Church played down the controversy, however, journalist and activist Rodrigues received threats for tweeting pictures of Bishop Fernandes[9].
The present news have been planted for publicity: So the threatening and all clearly exposes that they have been doing this just for publicity. The photos have been planted, though such activities have been going on. In fact, many more photos are available in internet and it is a wonder how these alert Hindu guys or enthusiastic Christian guys do not know about it. The non-Catholic might oppose and criticize, but, they coolly enjoy as to how the gullible Hindus are being cheated since 1958. Books like “Catholic Ashrams” have already come out running into several editions[10]. So in such Ashrams, the Christians would appear and roam as Swamis only. Ironically, the pastors, bihops and other clergy are called as “Iyer” in Tamilnadu. Therefore, these neo-Brahmins of Christianity have been experimenting with such “tamashas.”
Inculturation – lying Christians[11]: In May 2003, when Indian bishops met Pope John Paul II before concluding their ‘ad limina’ visit to Rome, the Holy Father said[12], “India, blessed with so many different cultures, is a land in which the people yearn for God; this makes the Indian liturgy very distinct.” Though the Roman Catholic Church did not take this incident seriously, the activist cum journalist Rodrigues, who posted the pictures on Twitter has received several threat messages. One of the message says, “Savio Rodrigues, Judas in the name of Catholic. Reward of Rs 50,000, if anyone makes his face black and garlands him with shoes.” Some other Catholics have felt offended by this post of Savio Rodrigues. One such person said, in reply to the tweet of Rodrigues, “Hey Savio or whoever you may be. Please do not speak against our Catholic religion. You have no right to talk against our religion.”
To add a bit more on the belief system of both cultures, here are similarities between Catholicism and Hinduism:
- Hindus worship many gods and Catholics worship many saints, both with the burning of candles and incense before statues. Both use images, icons, music, and ritual prayers as means to create an atmosphere of worship. While Hindus chant ritual “mantras,” Catholics chant rosary prayers.
- Both have a priesthood that acts as an intermediary between the people and God.
- Both believe in the effectiveness of “holy water” in various cleansing rites.
- Both believe everyone needs “perfecting” before going to the ultimate reward. Catholics see time in purgatory as necessary to perfection of character, while Hindus believe that reincarnation will give the necessary steps towards perfection.
- Both believe in the effectiveness of repeated offerings and sacrifices. Catholics believe the mass will effectively offer Christ again and again as a sacrifice for sins, while Hindus will present their gods with sacrifices and offerings of flowers.
- Both religions have a strong belief that spiritual exercises will lift the worshiper out of the usual round of daily living, and will promote a mystic and superior understanding of existence. St. Ignatius is not really very different in his outlook on “spiritual exercises” than the Hindu mystic in his concentration on escaping this physical world and entering nirvana.
- Both religions worship a mother goddess. Hindus worship the Goddess Durga as the Supreme Mother, while Catholics venerate Mother Mary .
- Of course it can be pointed out that Hinduism is polytheistic (worshiping many gods) while Catholicism is monotheistic (worshiping only one God). In practice, Catholicism encourages worshipers to see Mary and the saints as interceders between God and humanity.
Thiruppali book, in Tamil was banned by Vatican[13]: This is cited as an example. A civil court here has banned the use of a 1993 Tamil translation of Catholic prayer book ‘Missal’ (‘Thiruppali book’) until prior approval is obtained from the Vatican. Noting that some words had been wrongly translated and some others removed in the Tamil version, the court recently declared the translation as incorrect and against the canonical law. The Tamil translation of liturgical prayers and texts was first published in 1970 with prior approval from the Vatican. The book was updated in 1975 and underwent some more changes in 1993. Against the last alteration, three suits were filed[14]. Claiming that the changes had been made without approval from Rome and that the authorities had disobeyed the law, the petitioners said it was a case where “additions and omissions from the prescribed text were made”. Further, the four tenets of liturgy – sacrifice, eternal life, sin and doctrine — were dealt in a superficial manner, they said. In their reply, the archbishops of Chennai and Puducherry said the petitioners did not have a locus standi as under the tenets of the religion, they did not have a right to question the translations. The prayers “involved spiritual and religious aspects of the church” and “the court did not have jurisdiction to go into the veracity of church’s authority.” If there was a doubt, “superiors and doctors of church” could be approached, they said. In his order, IV assistant judge T Chandrasekar said it was a mere translation of liturgical book and the priests had failed to prove that the translation had been carried out with approval of the Vatican. If the court was barred from dealing with the matter, “everybody would release translations to suit their convenience,” the judge said. It also prohibited the translated version of book from being used in churches till prior review and approval was obtained from the Vatican.
Hinduization – how praised and condemned: Swami Kulandaiswami condemned Hinduization like anything, as pointed out by K. V. Ramakrishna Rao. However, Amarlopavadass, Bede Griffiths and others were praised and condemned by the Christians, in spite of the Catholic and non-Catholic affiliations. Under Vatican Council – II, they claim that it has been their right to do so. Thus, their duplicity is exposed in cheating the Hindus, misinterpreting Hindu scriptures etc., at one side and appropriating the Hindu culture, heritage etc., at other side is also noted. With all these, they also cry that the tribal are Hinduised and so on!
© Vedaprakash
14-09-2019
vatican council II
[1] Times Of India, Furore over Belagavi bishop’s saffron robe, TNN | Updated: Sep 13, 2019, 9:41 IST.
[2] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/furore-over-belagavi-bishops-saffron-robe/articleshow/71106070.cms
[3] MyNation, Belagavi bishop dons saffron robes, all hell breaks loose, By Team Belagavi, First Published 13, Sep 2019, 11:52 AM IST
[4] https://www.mynation.com/india-news/belagavi-bishop-dons-saffron-robes-all-hell-breaks-loose-pxrb1n
[5] Paul B. Steffen SVD, An Indian Christian Prophet:Duraiswami Simon Amalorpavadass (1932-1990), NURT SVD 1 (2018) s. pp. 209-225 pbwsteffen54@gmail.com, Gregoriana University, Rome.
Father Duraiswami Simon Amalorpavadass (1932-1990) is one of the most significant Indian priests and theologians of the twentieth century. In 1967, he founded the National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC) in Bangalore, and then headed it until 1980. He developed an authentic Indian and Christian spirituality, liturgy and theology of evangelization and inculturation.
[6] Daijiworld Media Network, Unusual saffron cloak of Belgaum Bishop creates controversy, Belagavi, Fri, Sep 13 2019 02:10:54 PM.
[7] https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=624208
[8] NewsTimeNow, Belagavi Bishop Stirs Row by Dressing as a Swamy, By Raj Shankar -September 13, 2019
[9] http://newstimenow.com/belagavi-bishop-stirs-row-by-dressing-as-a-swamy/
[10] Sita Ram Goel, Catholic Ashram, Voice of India, New Delhi, 1994.
[11] Indian Catholics Matters, Catholics Raise Eyebrows as Bishop Dons Saffron Robes!, September 13, 2019 Team ICM News, By Verghese V Joseph.
[12] https://indiancatholicmatters.org/catholics-raise-eyebrows-as-bishop-dons-saffron-robes/
[13] Times of India, Tamil version of Catholic prayer book banned, Manish Raj | TNN | Updated: Nov 7, 2013, 2:00 IST.
[14] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-version-of-Catholic-prayer-book-banned/articleshow/25338212.cms
inculturation 