Indian version of Bible draws fire over Hindu references
by Dibin Samuel
Posted: Monday, August 11, 2008, 15:50 (BST)
A new Indian version of the Bible recently published by the Catholic Church has run into controversy over its inclusion of verses from the Bhagavad Gita, a form of Hindu chant, and references to the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
An illustration in the new version depicts Jesus, Mary and Joseph as poor Indian villagers. Mary wears a simple sari and has a bindi on her forehead alongside Joseph in a turban and loincloth.
According to the 30 Indian biblical scholars who worked for more than 15 years on the new edition, the Bible draws on "the rich cultural and religious heritage of India".
Although approved by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India and published by the Society of St Paul, the Bible met the disapproval of Protestants and other Christian groups, who believe it diverts from biblical truth.
Pastor Vijay Thomas who heads a Bible college in Chennai, told Christian Today, "By making it appear 'Indian' with references to Hindu scriptures and great poets, people will not come to the truth. This is a complete turn back from the real Bible."
Oswald Gracias, the Catholic Archbishop of Bombay, defended the Bible edition, saying, "I am sure this Bible, made in India and for Indians, will bring the word of God closer to millions of our people, not only Christians."
Accompanied by extensive commentary notes to assist readers in interpreting the verses, the edition also references Indian ancient literary works such as Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Jesus' words about storing "treasure in heaven" in the Gospel of Matthew, for example, are compared to the Bhagavadgita's teaching that "work alone is your proper business, never the fruits it may produce".
The teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore, Asia's first Nobel laureate, are also referred to in the commentary.
The general editor of the New Community Bible, the Rev Dr Augustine Kanachikuzhy, admitted that references to Hindu scriptures had drawn complaints.
"This was expected," he said. "It will take some time for the [new Bible] to gain acceptance."
Kanachikuzy still believes the Bible to be a huge hit. "It has proved to be extremely popular among the Christian community with over 15,000 copies sold out within barely 10 days. Now it has gone for a reprint," he added.
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Added: Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 2:36 (BST)
What may be inferred from what has been done is that it will take some time for the DECEPTION of it to be accepted. The Holy Bible is not an ecumenical book. God Almighty is not an ecumenical being. He has stated his positions clearly in the Bible. I honestly feel sorry for those who deceive and lead people in deception as though they have the authority "to act in His stead." Hosea said, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Lack of knowledge includes-but is not limited to-that which replaces what God said with what man says. By eliminating what God has said and replacing it with what man says, you have removed the truth which God would have you know with what man would have you know. The true church is not affected by any of this. The true church can be summed up in what Christ said when he said, "I know my sheep. My sheep know me."
ROMAN Catholicism is a cult. They are not Christian. They worship other gods, they practice necromancy, they misrepresent Christ, they misrepresent Mary, and they have a head other than Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God-just to name a few. The "deified church" has replaced Jesus Christ as the propiation for sins which, of course, is blasphemy. That's why Ratzinger echoes the sentiment as it relates to ROMAN Catholicism when he says, "out of whose pale, there is no salvation." A Biblical Christian is not deceived by that statement and by the authority of Scripture KNOWS he's lying. Isn't that what the Bible is for-to give us discernment when faced with lying, deception, and anything else that opposes God's Word and His Will?
Jeremiah indicates that there will be those who say, "thus says the Lord, when the Lord did not speak it." [emphasis mine] The only way to know what the Lord says is to KNOW what the Bible says-not a "bible" that has been changed to suit a deceptive ecumenical platform. Pagan ROME's footprint is all over this like everything else they do in opposition to God and His Word. They mutate their encounters based upon the circumstances in which they station their interests. In doing so, they exact various overtures to secular and religious weights to achieve her goal of "gathering." They do all of this from a platform of rites, rituals, secrecy and mysteries. Mysteries are nothing more than ROME's own fabricated doctrines. By being the ones who fabricate them, only they can interpret them.
As the Vatican dwellers go about "gathering" secular and religious weights under ROME's brusque authority you can be assured of this; each time an institution or individual places their communion under the ROMAN Catholic cult, ROME always emerges as the authority in the relationship.
C.A. Fulghum, Pinehurst, NC, USA
Added: Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 7:20 (BST)
Where is Catholicism heading?
Clearly downhill. Anyone can see it. Xianity is losing adherents in the west. India has about 1.20 billion non xians. They must be converted by hook or by crook. Hence this abomination of a book.
Joseph in Indian dress?
Then who was Joseph? An Indian. A Hindu or a Buddhist, there being no Jews in India 2000 years ago.
Where was Jesus born? Of course India. His parents are in Hindu dress.
Then where was Jesus killed? India.
Who killed Jesus? Hindus, of course.
Desperation of the church is showing, but Hindus are chuckling!! Xianity can be explained only through Hinduism. QED.
RC Sharma, Delhi, India
Added: Sunday, August 17, 2008, 16:32 (BST)
The general editor of the New Community Bible, the Rev Dr Augustine Kanachikuzhy, admitted that references to Hindu scriptures had drawn complaints.
"This was expected," he said. "It will take some time for the [new Bible] to gain acceptance."
Kanachikuzy still believes the Bible to be a huge hit. "It has proved to be extremely popular among the Christian community with over 15,000 copies sold out within barely 10 days. Now it has gone for a reprint," he added.
Comment: Selling 15000 copies within 10 days is not an indication of acceptance of this absurdity excepting it might have given a commercial satisfaction to the people concerned. I, as an average christian who beleives Truth and not lies think that satan, roaring like a lion is entering into our minds.
chandrasekaran, chennai india
