Fwd: Anglican Priest converted to Hinduism sparks debate in US/UK

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hinducivilization, viji <viji123 wrote:

 

British priest in Kerala in conversion debate Sangeeth Kurian

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/13/stories/2006091302071400.htm

Rev. David Hart finds no contradiction in being

identified as a "religious pluralist"

PHOTO: C. RATHEESH KUMAR

 

THE PUJA: David Hart offering puja to Ganesha in front of his house

in Thiruvananthapuram last month. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A

controversy has broken out in the U.K. and the U.S. with the media

reflecting a debate over an Anglican priest who converted to

Hinduism in Kerala where he has now stayed for nearly a year, and

where he regularly offers ritual prayers in a temple. Rev.

David Hart, 52, who has a fascination for Lord Ganesha, celebrated

Vinayaka Chathurthi in front of his house here last month.

Mainstream newspapers, church journals, popular websites and radio

stations in the U.K. and the U.S. are now debating the propriety of

allowing Rev. Hart to continue his "pluralist religious identity"

while remaining a priest of the Church of England. The Times,

of London, in a report headlined `Hinduism no barrier to job as

priest in Church of England' (September 8), published a photograph

of Rev. Hart offering prayers to Ganesha and quoted from a report in

the

Kerala editions of The Hindu on August 27. Church Times, of the

Church of England, launched a poll on whether Rev. Hart, "who

recites the Gayatri Mantram with the same devotion with which he

celebrates the Eucharist or offers namaz in Muslim prayer halls"

should be allowed to continue as a priest. The Times' report by

its religion correspondent Ruth Gledhill quoted Pauline Scott, the

team vicar of the St. James' Parish Church, Stretham, Cambridge,

where Rev. Hart offers communion while in England. The vicar said

she would now oppose Rev. Hart celebrating the Eucharist in Ely

diocese. It was under the Bishop of Ely that Rev. Hart renewed his

orders for priesthood nearly two months ago. The Times on September

8 said the Bishop's office had denied knowledge of Mr. Hart's

conversion. However, a letter written by the Communications Officer

of the diocese, published by The Times on September 11, said Rev.

Hart's permission to officiate was under review. The religion

correspondent of The Times triggered a debate in her weblog by

seeking comments on whether "this Hindu convert should remain as a

`C of E [Church of England] priest'?" Church Times, in an

article headlined `Ely diocese finds out that one of its priests is

a Hindu,' on September 8, quoted the Bishop's lay chaplain, Dr.

Bridget Nichols, as saying that the news of Rev. Hart's conversion

was "a complete revelation to us." She said: "The first time we

had heard that David Hart had converted to be a Hindu was

yesterday... We cannot keep an eye on all our non-resident clergy

who have permission to officiate... We take an application for

permission to officiate in good faith." Rev. Hart, an Associate

Professor in Theology and Religious Studies at the University of

Winchester, mentions his conversion in a book Trading Faith: Global

Religion in an Age of Rapid Change. Focussing on a new model for

understanding religious practice and faith, it was released here

earlier

this year. A follower of the International Society for Krishna

Consciousness (ISKCON), Rev. Hart has changed his middle name from

`Allen' to `Ananda Krishna Das.' He is unruffled by the debate.

On September 10, the BBC's Radio 4 did a live telephone interview

with Rev. Hart for its `The Sunday Programme.' Around 20 U.S.-based

online discussion groups have sprung up debating the

controversy. Defending his decision not to inform the Bishop of

Ely about his conversion while renewing his orders, Rev. Hart told

The Hindu : "Becoming a Hindu has not brought about any change in my

spiritual status. The act has not shaken my Christian beliefs by

even one per cent." Also the international secretary of the

World Congress of Faiths based in London, he does not find any

contradiction in being identified as a "religious pluralist." He

said: "Asking me to express my preference for any particular faith

is like asking me to choose between an ice-cream and a chocolate.

Both have their own distinct taste."

 

 

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