I see discussed here about SFX, the Inquisition (in Goa) and he conversion process in Goa. I have read several books about the conversion of Goa to Christianity. The whole issue is far more complex than meets the eye. I would like to share a work-in-process I have written on the subject:
Goan history is difficult. The stories are not well-known and sometimes there are competing alternatives to choose from. Plus there is little understanding of the historical background pertaining to ruling parties in the Indian subcontinent. I have at least 40 books of Goan history and anthropology from which I am slowly getting a better understanding of what went on in the 450 years of Portuguese rule. One of the books entitled “Globalising Goa (1660-1820) – Change and exchange in a former capital of the empire” by Ernestine Carreira, brought out by Frederick’s Goa1556, changed my understanding of colonialism. It was at the same time one of the most boring books and most valuable books I have read on Goan history. Boring because it was pedantic, but valuable because there was so much that helped one understand the times. Let me give a variety of points of interest. Eventually, I will tie them all to form a logical narrative: • After reading Globalizing Goa I do not characterize the Portuguese rule in Goan as colonialism the way we understand it today. Britain created that paradigm around 1850. The Portuguese venture could be compared to the Moguls, Marathas, and others who were competing in the area in the 1500s to 1800s. • We may think that Goans were converted from Hinduism to Christianity. The problem was that Hinduism wasn’t defined as such at the time (early 1500s). The Hindu ethos was not a single religion – it was multitude of unnamed religions that shared a style and some gods among the hundreds. The British defined Hinduism and named it. (By coincidence, I found a paper just now saying much the same thing by Fr. Victor Ferrao, a dean at Rachol Roman Catholic seminary.) • Understanding the conversion process to Christianity is complex. I have several books on it. There was bribery, trickery, economic incentives, and the selflessness of people like St. Francis Xavier. But the process of “conversion” didn’t just start with Christianity. It would be carried out by each of the incoming ruling forces (Marathas, Kadambas, Mauryas…) that conquered a region. Each conquering force would pressure (force?) the locals to change to the select Gods of the ruler. So people were used to changing deities or manners of worship when a new conqueror came to town. Until Christianity came along they didn’t consider this process as “conversion”. I would suggest that if Christianity were not such a well-defined religion both in terms of literature and organization, it would have been absorbed into the Indian pantheon. (I was reading about religion in state of Karela. There 20% of the population is Christian. And 20% of the Hindus declare Jesus as their “master”. Keralite Christianity came from St Thomas. It kind-off exemplifies my point.) • Back to St. F X. (He gets a bum rap for bringing in the Inquisition. He may have called for it - which he did because the Portuguese were a very bad example to converts. But he was in Goa for only 2 years and the Inquisition came in many, many years later.) One needs to read the letters of St FX. (I have 2 volumes of them.) They give almost an eyewitness report’s view of how conversions took place. Unfortunately St. FX became a prolific letter writer after he left Goa for other parts of India. However, it shows his methods well. It shows, for example, that some Indian princes were sympathetic to St. FX’s teachings and in their realms this encouraged their subjects to become Christians. In Goa he was well-known for teaching catechism to children in the form of hymns. He would walk the streets and ring a bell – and children would come running to him to learn. The children in turn taught their parents. • (Incidentally I heard a Hindu comedian on CBC Radio’s “Big City Small World” in Toronto. He stated that Hinduism and Judaism were the only religions that didn’t try to convert people to their religions. As a Hindu he said “I am always skeptical when someone wanted to become a Hindu. We have hundreds of gods. How can they understand them – even we can’t understand them.” It kind of explains my point above.) • In 2003 when my wife and I was passing through Mumbai on my way to Goa, I read in the papers of this Indian Holy Man who had embraced evangelical Christianity. He insisted that he was still a Hindu. He claimed that Hinduism was an ethos rather than a specific religion. • These narratives don’t explain the impact of the people of Divar (one of the islands of Tiswadi) whose Hindus were highly respected in the whole of Goa. When they chose to become Christians that influenced a lot of people. • In one of the books in my collection on the Christianization of Goa I read one description of how a bunch of villagers were amenable to becoming Christians, but were reticent about how their fellow villagers would treat them. They quietly urged the priest to “force” them to become Christians and that way they would not look bad in their neighbours’ eyes. • In Moira, the late Teotonio De Souza’s research showed that the Moidekars expressed a willingness to become Christians if they could have their own church building. • Here’s a story I was told by a Jewish American (Prof Robert Newman) anthropologist lecturing at La Trobe University in Melbourne – and published in a collection of his papers. It is a piece of Hindu mythology from Mapusa. There were 7 sisters – goddesses who were from Mapusa. They had 1 brother who was very ill and so they prayed (to the higher god) that if the brother recovered one of them would become a Christian. He did, and the eldest goddess became “Our Lady of Miracles”. (St. Jerome’s Church is also known as Our Lady of Miracles Church.) Now, the Hindu feasts followed a lunar calendar whereas the Christian one follows a solar calendar. If the Hindu feast day for Mapusa falls before the Christian one, the Hindus delay the feast because they say “she is the eldest sister and should be respected”. In turn, the Christians only start the feast after the Hindus come in procession to present the gifts in the church. More to come in due course. Regards John Nazareth -----Original Message----- From: Goanet [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Gilbert Lawrence Sent: December 6, 2019 12:08 PM To: Estb. 1994! Goa's Premiere Mailing List <[email protected]> Subject: [Goanet] SFX and Inquisition The diatribe on SFX in one of the post on Goanet appears to come from Jonathan Wright's book "God's Soldiers." (Double Day). The book, which is an anti-Jesuit account, has a few historical facts, much conjecture and even greater measure of fictional commentary. The book reads like a docu-drama. The Sunday Telegraph describes the book in its review (on the book cover) as "witty book ..... makes for a roller-coaster read." Despite the anti-Jesuit and anti-colonial slant, the book does not credit SFX with bringing the Inquisition to Goa, (which was alleged in a couple of the posts). The inquisition was introduced to Goa nearly a decade after SFX's death. SFX references to inquisition in his correspondence with the Portuguese king (chiding him for the corruption and brutality of the colonial government) are no different than suggestions made on Goanet by some that today's Goa needs the inquisition to control the current widespread political and other corruption. Interesting how history repeats itself. So over the next two decades, the introduction of the inquisition to Goa (or the RSS version of it) may now be attributed to BC. Why not? We are doing that to SFX. I would request that those writing about SFX and / or the Inquisition could / should review the archives of Goanet, where these topics have been discussed extensively in factual detail. Please do not destroy one's credibility and standing on Goanet, with off-the-cuff remarks and hubris. Regards, GL
