Hindu Tradition in the new curriculum of Kerala Seminary

Thiruvananthapuram: A Syro–Malabar church in Kerala has decided to introduce Hindu tradition of Sanyas, learning Bhajans as part of the new curriculum for students studying theology in seminaries run by them.

“Priests have to work in Indian culture. So it is necessary that they learn about India’s strong spiritual foundations like Gurukula system, Sanyasa, varnashrama theory, etc.,’’ church spokesman Paul Thelekat told the Times of India. The curriculum — “Charter for priestly formation in the Syro–Malabar church’’— has been reformed and promulgated and is going to be applied in every seminary, he said.

Thelekat added that priests have always been taught about Indian traditions. “As part of theory, we were all taught basics of Indian philosophical systems,’’ he said.

“Undoubtedly, there are a lot of good ideas in the Indian way of life which Christianity must incorporate and use. Priests must imbibe the rich Indian traditions and be open to new ideas,’’ says Thelekat.

But then why all this fuss about yoga in the UK? “Absolute nonsense. Even we were taught yoga during our training,’’ says the priest.

Syro–Malabar church is the regarded as the oldest Church in the country, founded by St. Thomas, one of the first twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, who came to India for spreading the teaching of Christ in the sub–continent 2000 years ago.

Earlier, emminent missiologist Dr. Ralf Winter, founder of William Carey International University and the U.S. Center for World Mission, has called upon Christians to respect and incorporate India's rich tradition into Christianity, he further states that Christians must not project themselves as if they are going against the tradition of India.