AS I See It

THE CONTOURS OF PRACTICAL ATHEISM

Valson Thampu The most haunting word from the Cross on Calvary, for me, is ‘Father, forgive; for they know not what they do’. What was it that they did? They tried to save their religion. A goal, no doubt, laudable on the face of it. But in the process, they killed what they were trying […]

FROM THE MAHATMA TO RAHUL: YATRA THEN AND NOW

Valson Thampu Rahul’s ‘Bharat jodo yatra’ encapsulates a timely concern; the urgent need to reinforce the tottering foundations of India as unity-in-diversity. But it is doubtful if he has conceptualized, or prepared for his mission adequately. The need to connect directly to ‘We, the people’ arises because of the ground reality of alienation and disunity. […]

LOVE, SEX AND SPIRITUALITY

Valson Thampu ShivamurthyMuruga, the Lingayat Seer in Karnataka stands accused of sexually exploiting two girls under his charge. We do not know the truth of the matter as yet. All we know is that the Seer is under investigation. We also know that the alleged event has assumed extreme significance in the state and, further, […]

WHY THE C0NGRESS APPEARS TO BE IMPLODING

Valson Thampu Gulam Nabi Azad has been quitting the Congress at least since 15 February 2021, when he finished his term as member of the Rajya Sabha. When it moved Prime Minister Modi to copious tears, the notice was, in effect, served on Azad’s exit from the Congress. Only that the party did not read […]

TWO MODELS OF FREEDOM

ValsonThampu There needs be no necessary correlation between the fanfare of freedom and the friendliness to freedom a people maintain. Put differently, the fact that the attainment of freedom is celebrated with aplomb doesn’t mean either that we understand freedom or value it. Rather, the more freedom proves elusive, the greater the need to celebrate […]

POLITICS OF TEMPLE AND THE TEMPLE OF POLITICS

Valson Thampu There is a good reason why the injunction against taking the name of God in vain figures in the Ten Commandments. Nothing is as commonly, as disastrously, misused as the name of God. God continues to suffer violence at the hands of men. It is rather well-known that the status of gods –shall […]

WHY THE CHURCH SHOULD BE POLITICAL

Valson Thampu Jesus was not a politician. That doesn’t mean that he was allergic to politics. It is impossible for ‘two or three to gather together’ – which is Jesus’s idea of the church – and not be political, one way or another, even if that happens ‘in his name’. Much depends on what we […]

DOES RELIGION NEED TO BE HUMOURLESS?

Valson Thampu Charles Dickens generated a world of humour, immense popularity and an ample personal fortune by looking at the world of adults through the eyes of children. The essence of humour is the ability, or the inner freedom, to look at individuals and events from an alternative perspective. A problem could seem serious; but […]

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Pope: Red Cross’ humanitarian work shows that fraternity is possible

New Vatican document lists ‘grave violations’ of human dignity