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Syncretism and Pi
January 29, 2005
Syncretism has been in the news lately. First we had the Lutheran minister accused of syncretism at the 9/11 event held in Yankee Stadium, than we have George Bush accused of syncretism when he speaks of the Muslim god and our God as the same god, a god of peace. This was brought home as I finished reading Life of Pi, by Yann Martel. The young Pi becomes a good Hindu, Christian and Muslim; all at the same time.
He goes to Friday prayers and knows the Holy Qur'an. He is regularly
seen at the Hindu temple coming for darshan and performing puja. And of
course he goes to Mass on Sunday and meets regularly with the priest to
discuss the gospel. When Pi is out with his family one Sunday he is met
by the priest, the imam, and the pandit. A fight for his soul insues as
each holy man makes claims for his religion.
In the end the pandit says
Pi's piety is admirable. ""In troubled times it's good to see a boy so keen on God. We all agree on that." The imam and the priest nodded.
"But he can't be a Hindu, a Christian and a Muslim. It's impossible. He
must choose.'"
When Pi was asked about the choice he must make, Pi said, "'Bupu Gandhi said, 'All religions are true.' I just want to love God.'"
The Father's reply echoes what I so often hear today, "I suppose that's what we're all trying to do--love God."
Syncretism in a time of trouble and turbelence is insidious. It's beguiling call is harmful - yet alluring. The desire for peace is understandable.
Paul says in Romans "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Chris." Peace can only be found with God, through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Comments
From Wikipedia:
Syncretism is the attempt to reconcile disparate, even opposing, beliefs and to meld practices of various schools of thought. It is especially associated with the attempt to merge and analogize several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, and thus assert an underlying unity.
An example would be Unitarian Universalist - a modern syncretic religion.
I don't know if I would use syncretism to charaterize the umbrella of "Christian denominationlism". Do you agree?
Posted by: Chris at February 22, 2005 10:03 AM
It may be that I do not fully understand the word syncretism, even in it's definition. The point I was trying to make was that in each denomination there would be folks that believe their 'form of religion' was simply one way among others to come to God. Which as I understand it, is the conclusion that Pi reached.
Posted by: Audrey at February 22, 2005 5:24 PM
Your right, Pi figured all roads led to God. Even opposing roads "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man come to the Father but by me." as well as ancestor worship and reincarnation. Truly disparate beliefs. Good point.
Posted by: Christine Dattilo at February 22, 2005 8:05 PM
Thanks, Chris - right away in this brief back-and-forth I can see the value of "discussion." Gave me a little thrill, actually. Look forward to next one.
Audrey
Posted by: audrey at February 25, 2005 9:42 AM
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