04/08/2024
J P NOBLE CHELLADURAI
My Road To Atheism From Christianity by Dharumi asks some bold questions which
have not been asked in Tamil Christian world. The book starts with two thought
provoking questions by the author and a brief but pertinent introduction.
In the first chapter, the author narrates his beginnings as
a believer and how he starts losing his faith gradually. He questions
everything. How didn't an all knowing God anticipate the disobedience of Adam?
The second part in the first chapter questions the place of prayer? The third
part 'Hell and Heaven', the author recollects the sermons regarding Hell in his
Catholic Church. In the fourth part of the first chapter, the author brings the
parables by Jesus into trial. He finds Prodigal son, Wine yard Parable etc very
unjust in nature. The fifth part of the
first chapter discusses the various debates regarding Jesus as God. The next
part tells us how Christian Church now confronts evolutionism. The seventh part
studies briefly God's search for Adam in Eden.
Next part asks why God is against knowledge. The last part discusses Jesus' alleged journey to India.
The second chapter opens the door to the world the Tamil Christians never imagined there
was. The apocryphal Gospels of Thomas, Judas, Philip, Mary etc are quoted.
Gnosticism is discussed The third chapter, some parts from the following books
are quoted :
1.Mother Teresa -
Come by my light- The private writings of the saint of Calcutta by Brian
Kolodiejchuk.
2. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
3. Why I am not a Christian by Russell
4. God is not Great by Christopher Hitchens
5. The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels.
This chapter requires careful study because the author has
painstakingly collected lot of information relevant to his argument.
The last chapter studies the relationship between faith and
the brain. It is a small chapter but a very important one
The following are my views.
Hello sir.
I finished reading your book. It is a treasure house. You
have collected various valuable details. It is more like a reference book than
the one the title intends to be. I mean it as its positive point.
I have taken the above one from page no 21
'We are simply taught that religions other than yours are
false or wrong. In reality it is very hard to come out of this entrenched
concept and almost impossible to have a proper religious tolerance and
acceptance ' I agree with you sir.
In Pentecostal churches, the congregation is in a trance
every Sunday. The pastor brainwashes himself so that he may brainwash his
flock. Your Science and Faith discusses the above experience.
I feel among Christians Roman Catholics are comparatively
liberal. Would you have rebelled like this, had you been a Protestant? I don't
think so.
In the book, I came across some errors (spelling). I hope it
will be rectified in future editions.
What intrigues me is you completely hide yourself from the
reader. Except that you are a retired Professor of The American College,
Madurai and that you were a Catholic, you are a complete stranger to the
reader.
Your quotation on Nietzsche
pleased me.
4 comments:
// The book starts with two thought provoking questions…// They are check points!
// I feel among Christians Roman Catholics are comparatively liberal. Would you have rebelled like this, had you been a Protestant? I don't think so.//
Logicllay speaking, கிறித்துவ நம்பிக்கையாளர்களை விட பல மடங்கு தீவிரமாகத் தங்கள் மதத்தை நம்பும் இஸ்லாமியர்களிடமிருந்தே மிக அதிகமான ex-muslims வெளிப்படையாக எழுதுகிறார்களே; எனக்குத் தெரிந்து பல கிறித்துவர்கள் நம்பிக்கையில்லாவிட்டாலும் அதை அதிகமாக வெளிக்காண்பிப்பதில்லை என்றே தெரிகிறது. ஆனால் (பொதுவாக) பைபிள் அதிகம் வாசிக்காத கத்தோலிக்கர்கள் நம்பிக்கையில் ஆழமாக இருப்பத்தைப் பார்க்கிறேன். சுயதேடல் இருப்பவர்கள் – எந்த மதத்தினராயினும் – மதம் / மனம் மாறுவார்கள் என்றே நினைக்கின்றேன். நீங்கள் சொல்வது உண்மையாயின் மத மறுப்பாளர்கள் கத்தோலிக்க மதத்தில் அதிகமா? தெரியவில்லை.
// What intrigues me is you completely hide yourself from the reader. // once when I started writing on religions in my blog, I was warned not to reveal my real identity. But I didn’t do it. I made myself open. நூலில் எதையும் மறைக்க விரும்பி மறைக்கவில்லையே. படித்த பள்ளி. சென்ற கோவில், பணிபுரிந்த கல்லூரி ... எல்லாமே இருக்கிறதே!
Prof. Dr.JOHNSON SUNDERARAJAN,
Recd.your book Sam. I like your language and style of writing.
Undestandably you have tried hard to justice your position as many others have been doing all through the time.
Winning an argument and losing a friend may not augur well for us as friends.
If athism or religion is cent percent foolproof and flawless the entire humanity would have by now opted for either of the above two. May be Time or one's real experience will provide the answer to this knotty question.
Let us be good fellow beings meaning and doing good to others as Jesus christ did as an exemplar.
Best wishes.
Yes, let us be good humans. மனிதம் வளரட்டும். No reference needed for this.
Not like Jesus vs Cannanite woman (Mat:15.21-28). Not a good exemplar, I suppose.
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