Recently, I drove down a street with a Hindu Temple, a Mormon Church and a Methodist Church on the same block. The world has become a melting pot, and religious pluralism is a reality that can no longer be avoided.
So how do Christians learn to speak of their fellow man? Speaking up from another hemisphere, Vinoth Ramachandra provides an essential voice for this discussion.
Ramachandra is a Sri Lankan writer, trained in Nuclear engineering, but focused on ministry in the universities of southeast Asia.. His ministry focuses on helping “Christian students and graduates think and respond as Christians to some of the social, cultural and political challenges they face in their national contexts throughout the world.”
His book Faiths in Conflict? is based on the thesis that religion is at the heart of culture, and is responsible for both violence and moral order. It is a collection of lectures that unearth misconceptions about Islam, Hinduism, Secularism, and the way of Jesus.
Islam and New Religious Wars?
The first lecture tries to dismantle the popular “Clash of Civilizations” argument. He shows how Islamist organizations represent the fringe of the religion. He also reviews the history of Islam, showing how much Muslim culture owes to Christian and Jewish refugees over the centuries. Both the east and west are responsible for perpetuating damaging stereotypes.
Hinduism and the Search for Identity
The strongest section of the book is also the most relevant to 21st century America. Ramachandra undermines the popular perception of Hinduism is an egalitarian, peace-loving tradition. He demonstrates it’s historic commitment to classism, codified into religion, often through violence. He also demonstrates how the best parts of India have been shaped by Protestant Christianity, even leading to an interesting Hindu reform movement.
The Jesus Enigma
Here, Ramachandra sets out to describe how Jesus teachings and lifestyle are unique in world history. His refusal to accept purity laws and class divisions set him apart from other world religions. He sees the conundrum of the success of the Apostles in spreading the message, despite it’s strange components and tendency toward martyrdom separates Jesus from other historical figures.
Secularism and Civility
Secularism is neither neutral or benign. The modern concept of “religion” arose as a tool of the burgeoning nation states of the 16th century. It is rooted in attempts of nation states define themselves in the Protestant wars. Ironically, this means secularism is rooted in and opposed to Judeo-Christian thinking. His solution is to remind Christians that they are called to love all, not just those like them.
Ramachandra’s has a unique ability to cut through modern myths and popular conceptions and respectfully present the core values of different religions. This is surely due in part to his identity as Sri Lankan, however, in an increasingly pluralistic world, this is an essential skill for Christians need to develop.
I live in Austin, Texas, where I live and work with mostly secular young adults. Austin has a history of welcoming Hippy and New Age philosophy. Ramachandra’s approach to understanding other faiths, and expressing the uniqueness of Jesus is more than just a resource, it’s a model for intelligently discussing faith in the modern world.
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