Culture, Tradtion and Custom
Is maintaining the customs, traditions and culture of India important, or is it inevitable that 50 years from now it will be impossible to differentiate between an "American born Indian" and an "American" in the US. The thought being resistence is futile and we will all be assimilated.
Obviously, I disagree ... there is much from the homeland that we should never forget and let go, even with the growing number of Indian families who essentially have no roots back in India.
For example, we have friends who I know I can pick up the phone at any time of day or night and ask for help despite years having passed without a conversation. The unspoken nod or smile when you see another Indian in the street. The genuine love and concern for children and family, that as many soon-to-be couples will find out will transform itself into the endless questions by relatives on when they will pop out babies. Respect for elders. Happiness and joy on hearing news of another brother or sister from India has done well. The list goes on ...
The skeptical will say this is an India that is make-believe, and with the numerous examples of Indian people behaving badly it is difficult to argue. Others would also argue that this has nothing to do with being "Indian", but rather just a good human being.
Which I guess is all true ... but, it's still our culture and heritage. There are a set of values, behaviors and beliefs that define us, and while this has been handed to us by our parents, it is we in turn who are responsible to impart to the next generation.
While thinking about this came across the following quote on a friend's facebook profile:
So, how does this apply to our Church? Here also the skeptical will say that the Church is nothing more than a social event, that when one gets in trouble the last place to go is the Church as the people will gossip and talk bad. The Church will never change.
If this is true and we accept it, then our Church indeed is lost. :(
There should be no debate that the purpose of a Church is to do what Christ demands, and an Indian Orthodox Church should be a place of fellowship where everything comes together - being Christian and being Indian. Through our Orthodox faith we are taught how to worship God as the Apostles and early Church had defined.
The Church should generate and mold Christian role-models for the children. The Church should be a place of solace and refuge in the midst of a chaotic and confusing world.
For some of us, the Indian Orthodox Church was our background and circumstance, for better or for worse. So it is our responsibility to take and define what it will be for our future generations.
Things are complicated at the moment as the Church in India appears to be more and more engaged in politics and other things that clearly are not of Christian values. And for reasons that boggle the mind, the Church in America seems to continue to think of itself only as an extension or far suburb of the Church in India.
So where do we go from here?
As a father I appreciate those customs and traditions from Church that tie back to older Indian custom (often Hindu), but has been adapted for Christian belief. The minh in the wedding with a cross, having to practice how to properly tie that string made of 7 silk threads. The manthrakodi which is also important in an Orthodox wedding. Many customs with children, such as this one
where Thirumeni guided my son to spell Jesus and make the cross in a plate of rice during the summer before he went to pre-school.
All this strengthens the tie back to our heritage and culture, and will help shape and define future generations of Indians in America.
We are responsible for what the Indian Orthodox Church becomes as we are the Church. Our generation should not walk away from this responsibility, or attend and remain apathetic. It's essential that we continue to support the priests and seminarians that understand that Christ is always the focus, and make sure there is never a misunderstanding that these customs and traditions are superior to Christ's message. The focus of any true Church is always on Christ, and the customs and traditions are there only to relate Christ with our culture.
Obviously, I disagree ... there is much from the homeland that we should never forget and let go, even with the growing number of Indian families who essentially have no roots back in India.
For example, we have friends who I know I can pick up the phone at any time of day or night and ask for help despite years having passed without a conversation. The unspoken nod or smile when you see another Indian in the street. The genuine love and concern for children and family, that as many soon-to-be couples will find out will transform itself into the endless questions by relatives on when they will pop out babies. Respect for elders. Happiness and joy on hearing news of another brother or sister from India has done well. The list goes on ...
The skeptical will say this is an India that is make-believe, and with the numerous examples of Indian people behaving badly it is difficult to argue. Others would also argue that this has nothing to do with being "Indian", but rather just a good human being.
Which I guess is all true ... but, it's still our culture and heritage. There are a set of values, behaviors and beliefs that define us, and while this has been handed to us by our parents, it is we in turn who are responsible to impart to the next generation.
While thinking about this came across the following quote on a friend's facebook profile:
our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are...but we are responsible for who we become
So, how does this apply to our Church? Here also the skeptical will say that the Church is nothing more than a social event, that when one gets in trouble the last place to go is the Church as the people will gossip and talk bad. The Church will never change.
If this is true and we accept it, then our Church indeed is lost. :(
There should be no debate that the purpose of a Church is to do what Christ demands, and an Indian Orthodox Church should be a place of fellowship where everything comes together - being Christian and being Indian. Through our Orthodox faith we are taught how to worship God as the Apostles and early Church had defined.
The Church should generate and mold Christian role-models for the children. The Church should be a place of solace and refuge in the midst of a chaotic and confusing world.
For some of us, the Indian Orthodox Church was our background and circumstance, for better or for worse. So it is our responsibility to take and define what it will be for our future generations.
Things are complicated at the moment as the Church in India appears to be more and more engaged in politics and other things that clearly are not of Christian values. And for reasons that boggle the mind, the Church in America seems to continue to think of itself only as an extension or far suburb of the Church in India.
So where do we go from here?
As a father I appreciate those customs and traditions from Church that tie back to older Indian custom (often Hindu), but has been adapted for Christian belief. The minh in the wedding with a cross, having to practice how to properly tie that string made of 7 silk threads. The manthrakodi which is also important in an Orthodox wedding. Many customs with children, such as this one
where Thirumeni guided my son to spell Jesus and make the cross in a plate of rice during the summer before he went to pre-school. All this strengthens the tie back to our heritage and culture, and will help shape and define future generations of Indians in America.
We are responsible for what the Indian Orthodox Church becomes as we are the Church. Our generation should not walk away from this responsibility, or attend and remain apathetic. It's essential that we continue to support the priests and seminarians that understand that Christ is always the focus, and make sure there is never a misunderstanding that these customs and traditions are superior to Christ's message. The focus of any true Church is always on Christ, and the customs and traditions are there only to relate Christ with our culture.
Comments
Let me take a look!
Honestly, this is a great excuse for me to better understand the Sacrament ... I was married 11 years ago, and sadly don't remember much as it was conducted entirely in Malayalam (local Indian dialect) and no-one had bothered to explain.