The Hindu : Engagements / Thiruvananthapuram : Faith in the era of globalisation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006

Engagements

Engagements - Thiruvananthapuram

Faith in the era of globalisation

Staff Reporter

ON INTER-FAITH RELATIONS: Pooyam Tirunal Gouri Parvathy Bai releasing the book `Trading Faith' by David Hart (seen on the left) in the city on Monday. - Photo: S. Mahinsha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: `Where exactly is the place known as "God's Own Country'?

Some people if asked that question would reply "The United States of America" and that is sometimes used by North Americans as a self-descriptor of their country of settlement. But there is an apparently much smaller country that in my view is much more deserving of the name. That is Kerala...'

Thus begins David Hart's fifth book `Trading Faith: Global Religion in an Age of Rapid Change.' An Anglican priest and an advocate of inter-faith relations who is currently teaching English with `Coast to Coast,' an immigration agency based in the city, Mr. Hart's book describes the State as a meeting place of religions where the followers of the three main faiths, Hindus, Christians and Muslims, live in harmony.

The book was released in the city on Monday by Pooyam Tirunal Gouri Parvathy Bai, a member of the royal family of erstwhile Travancore. In her inaugural address Ms. Parvathy Bai said she hoped that the book would bring culture and religion together.

Mr. Hart, who spoke on the occasion, was of the view that globalisation is leading to the blending of cultures. Gone are the days when you associate the West with material prosperity and the Sub Continent as the hub of spirituality and family values. Today they are blending. "It is a win-win situation," he said.

"However my only doubt is whether globalisation will benefit the poor," he said. Mr. Hart was all praise for the State's inclusive society. "The people here are polite and accepting. To study religion this is the place to be, the land of five religions," he said.

"During my stay here I have discovered some ideas in Hinduism, which I have not discovered in Christianity," said Mr. Hart, who converted to Hinduism and changed his middle name `Alan' to Ananda Krishna Das.

Mr. Hart, who is also the secretary of World Congress of Faiths, said his book takes a look at how different religions can be reconciled, and contribute to the peace of the world rather than its destruction. According to him the answer can be found in the similarity of the philosophical traditions at the heart of each, rather than in the particular dogmas and doctrines that divide.

In `Trading Faith,' Mr. Hart leapfrogs the usual inter-faith questions, the more mundane analysis by social commentators and politicians, and provides a new, coherent religious philosophy for the 21st century. The book's foreword is written by Marcus Braybrooke, president, World Congress of Faiths.

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