Other Religion Visitation Evaluation

On Sunday, September 23, 2007, I and two other students visited “Kalachandji’s”, the ISKON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple here in Dallas at 5430 Gurley Ave. I and two other classmates had an opportunity to observe and converse with the priest of the temple, Nityananda Chandra Das, and a devotee as well named Duane. As a whole I found this experience both challenging theologically and incredibly insightful for aid in future ministry and evangelism. I also found that most, if not all of my presuppositions about what I believed Hare Krishna and Hinduism to look like, and even be, were wrong.

Observance of a Feeding of the Deities

As I walked through the double doors of the temple sanctuary, what I heard and what I saw immediately conflicted. That is to say, while the sounds of the chanting and percussive instruments reminded me of Eastern Indian melodies and rhythms, the clothing and the wide variety of cultures represented were quite a shock to behold. Not only was the room filled with men and women from various national backgrounds, but the group was also multi-generational. Parents had their children with them, mothers danced while holding their newborn babies, fathers hoisted their son or daughter on their shoulders and danced. Individuals had their Motorola Razor phone strapped to their sides; others wore the traditional Sari but then a popular over-sized athletic t-shirt on top. Men were in front and women in the back. The aroma of the room was heavy with incense and the burning of the sacrifices to the various deities, although I was not able to see the sacrifice plainly from where I was standing.

One would think that given the above description, three Dallas Seminary students would not appear out of place, but this was not at all the case. There was nothing that I could recall in my life and up-bringing that would have prepared me to observe and interact within a known cultural framework. I was completely lost, and yet I found that part of me wanted to jump and participate in the dances and the chants, but I abstained for fear of acceptance and that I might profane the Lord’s name. Whether it was right or not to abstain, I’m not so sure. I can see how to participate may have served as a cultural bridge of witness, but perhaps I might have also found myself unintentionally causing another Christian brother, or for that matter, a Krishna devotee to fall into doubt about what the Christian walk is and how it should be taken.

One thing that I did recognize and sense in the worship service was that, as the music and the dancing became more and more frantic and louder in volume, I also began to experience a paranormal “pushing in” on me from the sides. I’m almost convinced that it was an oppressive spirit of which I was sensing; I have had several experiences like this where I have felt satanic oppression before, but I could have also been feeling the heavy vibrations of the percussive instruments and dancing. I’m still trying figure what it was that I sensed; the other students felt nothing.

Last we had the opportunity to sit and discuss with the temple priest and a devotee the basic belief framework of Hare Krishna, the Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, and their bases for their worldview and for existence. The priest spoke to us in Hindi at times and he also referenced other religious texts such as the Bible, Q’uran, and Near Eastern religious texts. We also had an opportunity to discuss ethics with them, and came to see that in the religion of Hare Krishna, it is very difficult to witness to them since they are so inclusive of the sayings and even the beliefs and doctrine of other faiths.

I came away from this experience weary for the Christian church here in Dallas. Having been in the metroplex for a little over two months, I have become increasingly aware of the pain and suffering that is present here. Moreover, I do not hear about, nor have I seen, the church reaching out to the men and women who are “living on the margins.” To speak candidly, when I read the article in NewsWeek entitled The New Capital of Evangelicalism I wanted to throw up! I see such an emphasis in this city on wealth, status, and fame. And at the same time, I drive to Seminary each morning and my heart breaks for the condition of the neighboring areas around the institution.

In my time at the ISKON temple, I came across a flyer and statistics that caused me to think and evaluate my own witness and the greater Dallas Christian witness. It was simply an organization called ISKON Food for Life who travels downtown and around the city twice a week and feeds the homeless and cares for the needy through spiritual encouragement and teaching. Now, while the spiritual aspect of this outreach should be and probably is alarming to Christians, we should also be concerned that an organization, such as this, is doing what Christ has called the church to do. And in Dallas, it doesn’t seem like many churches are doing this. I believe that there is much that we can learn from this culture and faith. There is a value of family, of your weaker brother or sister, and a preservation of beauty, of life and regard for humanity that evangelicalism has forgotten in many ways.