Dear Martin Van Camp-Duarte,
Your concern for some real issues in India is to be highly appreciated.
Being abroad, you can see freely what is going on in our/your country.
I would like only to give some remarks.
Regards.
<<You wrote: <<For quite some time now I am rather upset reading some
thoughtless messages about religion and how good christianity is and how
poor and barbaric and inferior all other religions (specially the hindu
religion and definitely islam) are. I do know that these words are not used
literaly in any of the posts sent to Goanet. But just to read between the
lines of what 'some' people write gives me a rather uncomfortable feeling.
*Religions are ways to the Absolute. Each Religion has its own tenets. Being
in one Religion, we can see and give our value-judment on another without
hurting the feelings of the 'believers'. Since there are many religions and
'quasi-religions', they are not equal. There are differences, even in the
concept of God, salvation, sin and Grace, eschatology. We can always speak
of these differences. Each one can think that his Religion is better than
the other. That may be the reason why s/he is and continues to be in that
same Religion from childhood. This is normal procedure for us in every
sector of human existence. We should give to all a 'vital space' in this
secular country. We should appreciate Freedom of Religion. You should not
feel yourself 'uncomfortable'...
<<In Goa many people just seem to ignore, for instance, the Inquisition. It
is necessary to know the 'facts' in order to move on. Talking about the
Inquisition doesn't mean that you are blaming Christian religion. On the
contrary, you are blaming something that is completely gone out of hand and
has nothing to do with Religion but only with power and politics.
*This should be done in the correct way. You are right. Power plays its role
in every field.
<<Ever heard about the 'liberation theology' in Latin America? It is also
known as Christian socialism and it focuses on Christ, not only the
redeemer, but also the 'liberator' of the oppressed.
*Salvation means liberation from sin and from its individual and societal
(economic, social, political, 'religious') consequences. It is
contextualized Theology.
<<This movement which was very active and was growing pretty fast in Latin
America was, of course, harshly warned by Pope John Paul II and his
successor Pope Benedict XVI.
*The Church accepts it as a movement motivated by Faith, not as an
economico-political ideology.
<<Poor people, the lowest of the lowest were uplifted by many ordinary local
priests while the bishops and the cardinals were drinking their wine and
talking politics and smoking their Havana's with those in power. In my
opinion, these brave priests are the true Christians.
**Priests and bishops have been murdered by powerful people because they
stood for the poor and oppressed...
<<I guess that people in these uncertain times (worldwide) deserve strong,
confident, honest leadership with a true mission and vision. Unfortunately,
nowhere to be found so far. I appreciated a post on this list (don't know
who wrote it anymore) talking about the importance of Dr. Martin Luther
King.
**You should read more about India. There are people "with a true misison
and vision' in India, who are being persecuted and killed in our own
country.
<<It surprises me that nobody on this list ever mentioned the 60th death
anniversary of Gandhi. It seems he and his thoughts have slowly vanished
over the Ganges and into the sea...
*Again, you missed the articles published on the Goanet on Mahatma Gandhi.
Fr.Ivo
