Through the lenses of religion

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Being a part of a world dominating religion, in a country where it is in minority is an eerily odd experience. It makes you a part of a major world community while alienating you in your own home land. Being a Christian in the Land of Sindhu (‘Hindu’stan as we now call it) is a life experience that makes us look at the very idea of life from a varied angle than the majority.

Practicing Christianity in the metropolitan city of Delhi has its advantages like none other.

1.       We get the subtexts in any international work of art or entertainment: Ever wonder who Adam is? Or why the apple keeps popping up in every conversation about a mistake? While you may be sitting and wondering, a person born Christian does not have to think twice or Google things when such sub texts occur in popular literature or our favourite sitcoms, we are taught about it, since day 1.

2.      We know our religion: This little fact is something any practicing Christian can be extremely proud of. Despite its origins in the Judeo-Christian practise of passing down tenants from the Lord by the parents to the offsprings, any practicing Christian can talk authoritatively about issues from the Bible having learnt about it since childhood.

3.      We know all kinds of stories: For anyone who reads the Bible regularly, storytelling becomes an art of ease; mix and match any character or context and you have a world class play.

4.      We have opinions: Sure, everyone has opinions about various matters of life. But backing one’s life experiences as examples in every debate, we have history in the form of the Old Testament to validate our claims or refute your propositions.

5.      We have a permanent source of inspiration: The countless works of art, literature, poetry, music, drama, movies that have been made out of the contents of the Bible is mind boggling. No wonder it continues to be the most popular book of all times. The countless number of games you can play with it, the amount of trivia; Trust me! You will never ever get bored.

6.      We have role models and morals: Sounds a bit cocky but, the Bible is a source of endless role models to choose from and lead our life paths, the greatest of them being Jesus Christ. Amazingly enough, the Book of Proverbs is a worthy enough dossier of good morals for a human to last for a lifetime.

7.      We question: I take pride in being named Thomas, after the man who questioned the authenticity of Christ’s resurrection. For our religion to promote questioning any and every aspect of life before truly accepting it makes each life experience worth living and cherishing. So when we end up believing in something, no amount of coercion can truly budge us, because we have experienced our personal truths to be able to defend it.

Given all these rosy words about Christianity, it will be unethical to leave the tips tilting towards the greatness that the religion is. It is only fair for me to note the pitfalls that I have observed and experienced practicing this religion actively for about 18 years now.

1.      We are stubborn: It takes centuries to build an empire and it takes a lot more than that to change the foundation rock of the empire. Christianity as a religion is sometimes too dogmatic to change with the tides of time. Although this characteristic limits itself to the blind followers and fanatic leaders of any religion. As a Thomas at heart, questioning and affirming continues to be the way to go personally for me when it comes to dicey issues of the present.

2.      We sometimes can be ridiculously narcissistic: For any non Christian that reads the list of advantages, I am sure the very first thing that came into your head is how full of ourselves Christians can be. Although this is partially true, we also understand and attempt to inculcate in ourselves the fruit of humbleness which translates our narcissism to a more self aware nature of existence.

So who is a Christian in India? Anyone who is ready to look at the world around him with eyes of question yet with a hope for conviction, having learnt one's lessons from the countless ancestors of one's past, hoping and praying for a future of eternal happiness and undying grace.

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