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“The fusion of different forms of belief or practice; the claim that all religions are one and share the same core teachings,” The Seduction of Our Children, Neil T. Anderson and Steve Russo, 1991, page 238.

“To strive, by uniting religions, to make mankind better and happier is one thing. To pray with ardent heart for the union of all men in love of the same God is another. And the first is perhaps the most subtle Luciferian temptation aimed at bringing the second to nothing,” J. A. Cuttatt, The Encounter of Religions, page 81 as quoted by Fr. Paranilam in Christian Openness… page 59.

“Syncretistic Christianity (may contain) indigenous religious components open to the demonic,” Wrestling with Dark Angels, ed. Peter Wagner, Douglas Pennoyer, 1990, page 107.

“Syncretism can be defined as the incorporation of various elements, often mismatched and sometimes contradictory, in order to arrive at a whole that satisfies the largest number. Syncretism in contemporary Catholicism is usually the result of an uncritical acceptance of elements from other religions, and can be motivated by a variety of concerns – insecurity, the need for acceptance, a fear of being perceived as different, or sometimes a desire to present oneself as progressive or even revolutionary,” Errol C. Fernandes in Emmanuel, January-February 2003.

“The average Hindu is an eclectic or syncretist, believing in the essential unity of all religions holding that truth can be found in some measure in all religions… Reformed Hinduism (Brahmo and Arya Samaj, Theosophy, Ramakrishna Mission) is largely syncretistic – all paths lead to the same goal as all rivers join the ocean,” How to present Christ to a Hindu, R. C. Das, pages 8, 17.

“Many Christians, while studying the goodness in other religions, have strayed from faithfulness to the Gospel. Paul quoted from two non-Christian poets (Acts 17:28)… but nowhere are we told that he accepted the religious system of their philosophies… A few generations after Paul there were Christian apologists who followed Paul’s example but made errors in the process. First, when they tried to accommodate themselves to their audience, they downplayed some of the ‘offensive’ features of Christianity. Second, they accepted some of the features of the non-Christian religions that were incompatible with Christianity. They set out to contextualize the Gospel but ended up diluting it. They became syncretists, something that happens too often today.

We must disagree with the syncretist who says ‘Let us learn from each other and live harmoniously with each other. After all we are headed in the same direction even though some of our practices may differ.’ The Biblical Christian says ‘We are NOT headed in the same direction. Some of our practices may be similar. We may learn from each other, but there is a sense in which we cannot live harmoniously with each other.’ We seek to bring all who are outside of a relationship with Christ into such a relationship, and that necessitates the forsaking of their former religions.

The syncretist says that we are one in the center though we may differ on peripheral details. The Biblical Christian says that though we may have peripheral similarities we are different in the center.

Christ’s claim to uniqueness does not set well with those who are seeking a new type of ‘harmonious’ relationship with other religions which would necessitate the dropping of a call to conversion to Christ,” Jesus and the World Religions, Is Christianity just Another Religion? Ajith Fernando, 1987, pages 84, 86, 91, 94, 113

“At an interreligious ceremony in Rome in October 1999, Pope [John Paul II] invited all people of goodwill to counter a crisis of civilization… by a new civilization of love founded on the universal values of peace. Jesus is the one who… sacrifices Himself for the salvation of others… Is not Jesus thus a model and a permanent message for humanity?” Cardinal Arinze, President, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, The Examiner, 13 May 2000. At no time did the Pope or anyone else make a call for the syncretism or unity among religions that the ashrams aim to bring about.

“Another gospel is also preached when one speaks of spiritual liberation through psychology by the use of oriental meditation techniques [yoga etc.], enneagrams, New Age and other such things… Through them there is a danger that we find ourselves thinking like the Colossians, who sought salvation through their astral speculations, and syncretistically mix Christ with other spirits and powers. As the Apostle Paul writes ‘See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human traditions, according to the elemental powers of the universe and not according to Christ.’(Col. 2:8,9) These seem like words written for our times. Today there is a new invasion of Christianity from retreats and spiritual exercises and courses all inspired by this man-made gospel… In this man-centered gospel, salvation comes from within man himself, and Jesus becomes reduced to just one more ingredient in this religious cocktail,” Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the Papal Household at a retreat for 70 bishops & 1500 priests in Mexico, [forwarded to this writer July 4, 2003].

There was an elderly Hindu gentleman in the cottage next to mine. It was his nth visit, he told me, and he was here now for around two to three weeks already. His passion is yoga, and he was reading very late into the night by the light of a low-watt bulb, books by the ‘Yogoda Satsanga Society of India Self-Realization Fellowship’, Ranchi. I had attended the Swami’s Mass the previous evening, arriving during the homily, and I was impressed by the reverence with which he celebrated the Eucharist, reflecting that certain other priests could well benefit by emulating him.

“When Shri Ganga Kusht Lachar Ashram was christened Assisi Nagar Rehabilitation Centre in 1980, the construction of a temple in one corner of ARC was okayed by Hartmann Ashram, Izatnagar, Bareilly, the brains behind ARC. I went a step further and put up a Common Prayer Hall at ARC in 1984 in which were displayed plastic-glass coloured pictures of Jesus Christ, Shiva, Muslim mosques, Buddha, Guru Nanak, Mahavir and a picture of the symbols of these six religions. Then came a situation where ARC had to take loans with exorbitant interest in order to keep ARC’s welfare programme for its leprosy patient inmates and their children going when funds were lacking. In four years the debt grew to an enormous amount of Rs. 30 lakhs. I toiled to make good ARC’s debt through two ventures but with no success. Then I racked my brains in prayer to find the reason behind the debt and the failure of my two ventures to make good ARC’s debt.

The Index gives a fair idea of the contents of the writings of the leaders of the Ashram Movement, their extended connections, their beliefs, preferences and activities. Below are some more helpful references to important issues.

There are also other links, with the founders of Saccidananda Ashram, with Bede Griffiths, etc., as we will see.

NAME: Joseph H. Pereira, fondly called Fr. Joe (a.k.a. the Singing Priest)

OCCUPATION: Roman Catholic Priest, Founder Director Managing Trustee of Kripa Foundation,

Certified Yoga Instructor

INSPIRATIONS: The Yin, Mother Teresa; The Yang, B.K.S Iyengar [see pages 44, 96]

KEY TO STAYING FIT: Yogacharya

TOP STRESS BUSTER: Meditation, twice daily

SECRET OF PERSON POWER: Conditioning of the left brain which is responsible for logical, rational and scientific thought [see pages 41, 89, 92]

“Joe Pereira doesn’t fit into the public’s perception of a Catholic priest. He lives his life on his own terms within his own well defined boundaries, with yoga at one end and singing on the other. At the core is a mission. To team spirituality and physical development. To this end for the last 2 decades he has applied yoga and meditation to the rehabilitation of alcohol and drug addicts.

“The combination of Eastern discipline and Western science to treat addiction has piqued interest from North America, Europe and the UK who send their students for placement to Kripa Centres in India… Besides yoga and meditation, he maintains a busy schedule of teaching, counselling, travel and administration. In addition to his priestly duties he conducts yoga workshops, stress management courses, youth programmes, and presents papers both in India and abroad. This dedication has not gone unnoticed. He is a member of the high level committee constituted by the Ministry of Finance (Dept. of Revenue, Narcotics Control Bureau) and has been honoured by a Priyadarshini national award for work in Anti-Drug Abuse (1990), a national award from the Anti Narcotics Council of India (1993-1994), a Sahayag Foundation award (1995). A refreshingly candid conversation follows.

“What went into the making of Fr. Joe, the priest?