{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 157,
  "chapterName": "1921. Gandhi on Western Christianity",
  "pageFrom": 323,
  "pageTo": 323,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 323,
      "ocrText": "SOURCE MATERIALS\n323\nXVII. That in view of a state of flux in the principles and cons-\ntitution of the Indian National Congress, it is the opinion\nof this Conference that Indian Christians should reserve\njudgement as to the advisability of either joining or\nrefraining from joining the Indian National Congress.\n157. GANDHI ON WESTERN CHRISTIANITY (1921 A.D.)\nCited from Young India, September 22, 1921, in A. T. Hingorani,\nThe Message of Jesus Christ, pp. 33-34.\nI consider Western Christianity in its practical working a nega-\ntion of Christ's Christianity. I cannot conceive Jesus, if he was\nliving in the flesh in our midst, approving of modern Christian\norganizations, public worship or modern ministry. If Indian\nChristians will simply cling to the Sermon on the Mount, which was\ndelivered not merely to the peaceful disciples but a groaning world,\nthey would not go wrong, and they would find that no religion is\nfalse; and that if all live according to their lights and in the fear of\nGod, they would not need to worry about organizations, forms of\nworship and ministry. The Pharisees had all that, but Jesus would\nhave none of it, for they were using their office as a cloak for hypo-\ncrisy and worse. Co-operation with forces of Good and non-\nco-operation with forces of Evil are the two things we need for a\ngood and pure life, whether it is called Hindu, Muslim or Christian.\n158. THE CHRISTUKULA ASHRAM (1921 A.D.)\nOne of the best known of the Christian ashrams established follow-\ning the First World War is the Christukula Ashram of Tirupattur in\nNorth Arcot District. It was started by Dr. S. Jesudason and Dr. Ernest\nF. Paton in 1921. Writing some years later, Dr. Jesudason explains\nthe rationale, origins and ideals of the ashram. Dr. Savarirayan\nJesudason, Ashrams, Ancient and Modern. Their Aims and Ideals,\npp. 36-51.\nIn writing about this Ashram, we have felt it necessary to refer\nto personal experiences in order to make things clear, in the confi-\ndence that those for whom the pages are meant will understand\nthe spirit in which they are written.\nDuring the years immediately preceding the last dreadful war,\nmany professing Christians seemed to recognize their kith and\nkin only in those of their own particular colour or race or nationality,\nor even in those only of their own particular little sect or denomi-",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}