Catholic Ashrams: Sannyasins or Swindlers? by Sita Ram Goel

The emergence of Catholic ashrams in several parts of the country is not an isolated development. These institutions are links in a chain which is known as the “Ashram Movement”, and which different denominations of Christianity are promoting in concert. The Protestants and the Syrian Orthodox have evolved similar establishments. Taken together, these institutions are known as Christian ashrams. Several books and many articles have already been devoted to the subject by noted Christian writers. The Ashram Movement, in turn, is part of another and larger plan which is known as Indigenisation or Inculturation and which has several other planks. The plan has already produced a mass of literature and is being continuously reviewed in colloquies, conferences, seminars, and spiritual workshops on the local, provincial, regional, national, and international levels. High-powered committees and councils and special cells have been set up for supervising its elaboration and implementation. What strikes one most as one wades through the literature of Indigenisation is the sense of failure from which Christianity is suffering in this country. Or, what seems more likely, this literature is being produced with the express purpose of creating that impression. The gains made so far by an imperialist enterprise are being concealed under a sob-story. Whatever the truth, we find that the mission strategists are trying hard to understand and explain why Christianity has not made the strides it should.

Table of Contents:-

Preface

Section I: The Ashram Movement in the Christian Mission

New Labels for Old Merchandise

Indigenisation: A Predatory Enterprise

The Patron Saint of Indigenisation

Mission's Volte-Face Vis-A-Vis Hindu Culture

The Ashram Movement in the Mission

The Trinity From Tannirpalli

An Imperialist Hangover

Section II: Mission Straegy Exposed by Hinduism Today

Catholic Ashrams

The J.R. Ewing Syndrome

Interview with Father Bruno Barnhardt

Returning to the Hindu Fold

Appendix 1: Malaysia Hindus Protest Christian "Sadhu"

Appendix 2: Missionary's Dirty Tricks

Section III: The Dialogues

The First Dialogue

The Second Dialogue

The Third Dialogue

Section IV: The Missionary Mind

Bede Griffiths Drops the Mask

Appendix 1: Different Paths Meeting in God

Appendix 2: "Liberal" Christianity

Appendix 3: The Great Command and a Cosmic Auditing

Section V: Appendices the Organisational Weapon

Christian Ashrams in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka

A Glimpse of Mission Finance

Thy Kingdom Is the Third World

Christianity Mainly for Export

Proselytisation as It Is Practised

Bibliography

References