Chip off the old block

[Guest guest]

We interact strongly with the interfaith movements in the UK and continue to

meet resistance from the Christian hierarchy when we suggest pluralism. The

struggle became quite visible at a recent gathering in the House of Commons.

A body calling itself United Religions Initiative, a spin-off from the early

United Nations held a meeting where they were expecting the elders from

various faith groups to meet up with the youngsters of other faith groups to

have a shared discussion on religious issues. The head of the main

interfaith body in the UK, Brian Pearce was one of the elders and he was

invited to talk with my daughter on various issues. Coming to know that she

is my daughter, and knowing my love of promoting pluralism.....he asked my

daughter, " If you were to go and join some Ashram where the Swami was very

convincing and he convinced you to reject Vivekananda, would your father

blow up?......Without hesitation my daughter said, " He will certainly be

surprised if I rejected Vivekananda but he would not blow up, he would allow

me to find my own way. " After further grilling and not making any progress

in convincing my daughter that pluralism is a bad idea, Brian Pearce

appeared unsettled. My daughter did not realise what had transpired and

asked me if she had given poor answers as Mr Pearce did not look happy. I

had to tell her that she had given perfect answers. Mr Pearce and the

Christian hierarchy has been putting off the agenda of incorporating

pluralism within their faith and what they were trying to put across was

that promoting pluralism is also an 'exclusivist agenda' just like their

own. Hence he had asked what would happen if you reject Vivekananda? If you

would have replied that my father would blow up, we would have lost the

argument, but you did not.

 

We continue to meet serious resistance when we try and take off the

'exclusivist' hat Christianity likes to wear. We have told many interfaith

meetings, better start singing the glories of pluralism now or you will sing

them after the world has become more bloodied. The choice is yours.

 

Vivekananda Centre London