Ravi Zacharias' Latest in "Great Conversations"- Jesus and Krishna

Instead of reading the latest in Ravi's 'Great Conversations' series ("New Birth or Rebirth: Jesus Talks with Krishna"), I bought an audiobook (downloaded from ChristianAudio.com) and listened to the 2-hour long audio content read by Simon Vance masterfully. The premise is that of an Indian expat talking to his American Friend, Richard, in the city of Mathura, regarded as the historical Krishna's birthplace. Richard asks questions to his Indian friend, Subramaniam, a Tamil Brahmin by birth and rearing, and a recent convert to Christ. Subramaniam narrates a mystical experience he had as he struggled to understand what Jesus would say to Krishna in the context of Indian sensibilities and understanding of modern life.

I thought the narrative of this imaginary conversation just about scratched the surface of what would be a raging debate if prolonged further, but it was very clear in understanding where the superficial similarities between Christianity and Hinduism ended and where the fundamental differences started. Ravi narrates this with much more sensitivty than I have seen other Christian authors do, although some of the contentious aspects of the Hindu epics and philosophy are broached here as well. I'm sure Hindu readers would feel that this was "Krishna in the dock" as opposed to "Jesus in the dock" (dock referring to the courtroom cage in which a witness takes her stand and is cross-examined). Certainly Ravi comes from a Christian vantage-point, and as so many Hindu intellectuals have undertaken to place Jesus in the dock, I felt this was a ncessary position for Ravi to take. Some of the Hindu scholars such as Swami Prabhupada have attacked Christian thought and offered defenses for Hindu practices and tradition. These defenses are directly quoted and dissected in this book and in that context some of their questions on Christianity are answered.

To a large extend I felt that Ravi was trying his best to focus on core ideas in Hinduism and not quibble over peripherals. The character Subramaniam asks the prickly questions, Jesus asks him frequently to be patient, Krishna asnwers these questions and his answers prompt Jesus to pose deeper questions behind Subramaniam's seemingly abrasive ones. Issues which are highly sensitive to Hindus, such as the caste system, reincarnation, cow-slaughter are raised, and whether or not the answers satisfy each inquirer, the beginning of possible answers to these issues are placed at the table. It is for the reader or listener to understand where these will lead.

Ravi quotes Jesus from the Bible very often. He also portrays Jesus as very often asking Krishna questions in response to his own questions. After one such altercation, Krishna asks him why he poses these counter-questions, to which Jesus answers that the purpose is only to let him open up within his own assumptions and not to sidestep the question itself.

Definitely a good read for a Christian to understand how to relate to Hinduism and more importantly, to Hindus. The sight of evangelists criticizing Hinduism as demonic lies and fulminating against Hindu leaders are sadly all too common. This would be neither acceptable to Hindus nor an attitude that Jesus would approve of. There is something in the gentle but firm responses of Jesus in this imaginary conversation that we can all learn from.

Beyond Opinion- A Masterful Review of Reasonable Faith

I've been reading 'Beyond Opinion' which is the latest book from RZIM, containing articles from authors that I have heard about from their website or from their daily devotional, 'A Slice of Infinity'. This book is very substantive on apologetic postulates than the other RZIM books I have read, and is perhaps one of the most comprehensive volumes on the subject I have ever read. There is theology, science, logic, practical application in life and witnessing as well as a wealth of personal experiences which are openly shared. Newer RZIM associates like Alison Thomas and I'Ching Thomas write about their life experiences and it becomes possible to understand their thinking so much more as one gets to know of them through their writings. It's as if a glimpse of their inner life has been shared with us, and we feel comfort in finding kindred souls and conduits of the Holy Spirit.

I have three more chapters to go, but what I have read so far has taken my breath away. The book tackles the toughest questions in detail, such as the problem of reconciling faith and works (fruit) in Christians, the paradigm of the Trinity in explaining our understanding of life, holiness, personality, knowledge, the universe and Christian witness (LT Jeyachandran is to be thanked for this magnificent article), the incredible hostility to Christianity on university campuses and the need to reach out to our youth even before college with solid reasons as to why we believe what we believe (Alison Thomas writes this amazing article), conversational apologetics (Michael Ramsden) and contributions from John Lennox and Alistair McGrath on the challenges posed by contemporary scientific circles and how Christianity squares with science in rebutting these claims. In addition there are three articles by Ravi, two of them introducing and concluding the book. All in all, this is a superb effort and I'm the richer for reading it, not simply in terms of acquiring knowledge but in knowing and delighting in the mind of God!

Christian Charity in Jane Austen's Works

Christian morals have come from so many writers in such varied forms, that each reader has his or her opinion about what an acceptable form should be. CS Lewis writes his Narnia novels in an unmistakably allegorical form; JRR Tolkien's Rings are much more subtle and relies so much on the myths of his culture's Germanic and Norse roots to make points that square with the Christian ethos. Johanna Spyri portrays the effect of Christianity and a child's innocence on hardened hearts in Heidi, notably through that life-transforming, astonishing little parable of the prodigal son. Patricia St. John's very similar work, Treasures of the Snow sees itself as a children's novella that ties together concepts like God's sovereignty, beneficence, power to transform lives, heal relationships and sickness.

Among these great writers also stands tall Jane Austen, as this article by Dr. Jerram Barrs titled 'Jane Austen- Great Christian Novelist' explains. His explanation covers these five points:

1. Austen was no romantic- I find this very true. Unlike the Bronte sisters who have criticized Austen for her gentle treatment of her characters' personalities (compared to the molten passions of their own novels' characters), Austen treated relationships with wisdom and a lightness that settles nicely on them so the reader participates with the author in giving them a circumference that he or she can relate to. Austen never gives us a climactic fairytale ending or a Hardy-esque bitter end (which I believe is another form of romanticism- for such ends are ironical only because expectations are set wrongly). Her endings satisfy because they are right, not because they are what the protagonists have desired all along. Indeed in Sense and Sensibility, as Dr. Barrs explains, the effects of unbridled passion are demonstrated to be unsatisfying.

2. Austen literary ability was outstanding- Dr. Barr doesn't elaborate on this, but of course this is borne out by her time-tested works. Who would have expected them to remain at number 5 on a modern best-seller list of novels in the mid-1990s?

3. Austen sketches characters intimately- Once again, absolutely right. The humour, the wisdom, the unanswered questions, the courtesy- all of these give such depth to them, one is struck by the fact that the author doesn't get carried away by any one of these characteristics.

4. Austen's vision of moral and spiritual uprightness was profound- Countless instances prove this. In Emma, Mr. Knightley admonishes Emma Woodhouse with righteous indignation when she has thoughtlessly criticized Miss Bates. Miss Bates deserved Emma's compassion because she was poor. Emma's remorse that follows and the course of events after this set a moral tone to the novel that reaches out to us without seeming pontificatory. Mr. Knightley's ability to tolerate Frank Churchill's apparent courting of Emma is also lauded, as being typical of the parfait knight (as the play on name correctly indicates). Similarly in Sense and Sensibility, Elinor Dashwood similarly goes through a courteous and gracious if confused time of playing the understanding friend to Edward Ferrars who she hears is set to marry someone else. This is considered the 'sensibility' part of the title, and similarly lauded.

5. Austen wrote with a humour that also typifies many of her characters' personalities. This sets her apart from so many female authors of her time and subsequent ages. A modern novel like the God of Small Things for instance has the kind of humour about it that is ironical, vaguely forboding or sarcastic. In contrast, Austen's works have genuine humour that is beneficent and hearty without being annoying or foolish.

Among the other Christian writers, I believe Austen holds a special place in her treatment of everyday relationships, social equations, courtesy and self-control that flow from the considered Christian life.

The Dream of the Big Tomato

He was a winsome lad of some thirty summers.

There. The first line has been posted and the blog is ready to be cranked up. This is my first post in this blog. I've attempted blogging before and each attempt has been quietly laid to rest after a while because its coverage was somehow limited to some facets of my personality or experiences that I've felt needed to be highlighted. Never again! This shall be a catch-all for the myriad of my experiences and the many hues of the colourful personality I am. Meaning book reviews, family bliss (or blitz), work, management, technology, the world of consulting and outsourcing and not least faith and worldview.

As I said, he (yours truly) was a lad of some thirty summers when he read the book 'Me, Myself and Bob' by Phil Vischer, the redoubtable polymath who breathed life into Bob, Larry, Junior and countless other talking vegetables in 1992. Yep, I'm talking about 'VeggieTales'.

For those who know VeggieTales and have been curious enough to do a Google search on it, Vischer's name should not be new. His innovations in Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) as an animator and use of this new form of animation in the early nineties to create talking vegetable characters telling Bible stories, singing songs and teaching life lessons to kids of all ages made his company 'Big Idea' a household name. The book chronicles his life, mostly focused on his years with Big Idea, its meteoric rise (growing 3300 percent in 4 years!) and its fall circa 2002-03, right down to the post-fall period giving us a glimpse into "what we have learned today".

This book warms the heart like very few, especially the accounts of personal hurt when employees leave the company or were laid off under extremely daunting circumstances and when Big Idea is sued to the point of being rendered penniless by lawsuits and subsequently sold. The lessons come later in the book after the narrative has progressed past the heartwrenching details of the lawsuit, layoffs, personal tolls in the form of stress-related illness and strained relationships with dearly loved employees. Most amazingly, Vischer recounts each incident that led to the fall of the company summarily in 2-3 pages and asking himself and the readers who could possibly be blamed for it all. He puts forward suggestions that the reader knows he will only withdraw shortly. Sure enough, the finger points to himself. This was a truly humble and humbling account and those who would see only pitfalls here (as I read a former employee's review- I doubt he/she had actually read through the entire book) should beware lest they be guilty of what Vischer isn't in this narrative- unforgiveness. If anyone had a reason to be bitter and look for someone else to blame, surely it was he. After all, highly experienced executives couldn't see the disaster about to befall Big Idea, much less this kid from Iowa who just had a big dream. No, he graciously excuses his employees and even empathizes with those fans and employees whose bitterness and anger he says portray their dream betrayed, just as his was.

Vischer sums up his lessons towards the end and these too are insights that entrepreneurs would do well to listen to. Not just entrepreneurs, but kids. Kids with dreams. These are not the words of a management guru who is paid to research, but those of a man who has been there and learned them in the fire. Amazingly again, this book ends with an about turn on dreams toward the waiting arms of God where one is content to just wait on Him and realize He is enough. When CS Lewis makes statements like 'Pain is God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world', we all attach meanings to it from our experiences. Hearing others' stories makes see that much more of truth. Suffice it to say that this book has an ending that makes sense. This is not like an Arundhati Roy or Sartre in the vein of 'I laughed so hard till I cried'. There is meaning and hope in the end. But that's your to find out. 'Nuff said, no more of this and no more giving the contents away. Get the book on Amazon, order it in your local library or see Phil's website for more information:

www.philvischer.com

Those of us from Chicagoland, Phil lives right here, in or near Wheaton, I think.