Selected Works of Interfaith Study and Dialogue

Here, we highlight works from 2 perspectives. The first is perspectives on South Asian Philosophy from a Christian point-of-view. The second (link to this section here or scroll down) is perspectives on Christianity from a South Asian point-of-view.

Perspectives on South Asian Philosophy from a Christian Perspective

Pope Paul VI, “Declaration on the Relations of the Church to non-Christian Religions,” October 28, 1965

For Roman Catholics, the Vatican II document "Nostra Aetate", is the foundational document on the relation of the Catholic Church with non-Christian religions. It opened up channels of dialogue which continue to this day.

Brown, Candy Gunther. (2018) “Christian Yoga: Something New Under the Sun/Son?” Church History, 87:3, 659-683.  

This article examines Christian yoga and public-school yoga as windows onto the fraught relationship between Christianity and culture. The author asserts that naïveté about how practices can change beliefs may undercut Christian doctrines, facilitate mandatory yoga and mindfulness meditation in which public-school children and teachers are required to participate, and impede evangelistic goals by implicating Christians in cultural appropriation and cultural imperialism.This article was given as Brown’s presidential speech to the American Society of Church History, January 6, 2018. You can watch the speech on YouTube here.

Clooney, Francis X. Comparative Theology: Deep Learning Across Religious Borders. Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.

Francis Clooney is a Jesuit priest and Professor of Comparative Theology at Harvard. As a Jesuit studying the sacred writings of Hinduism, Clooney has essentially founded the practice of comparative theology, a subfield within Religious Studies: comparative theology is about studying one religion while remaining rooted--yet changed--in one’s own faith tradition. This book is about how to practice comparative theology and contains a beautiful example of Clooney’s own experience and study of reading hymns to Laksmi and Devi alongside Catholic hymns to Mary, connecting to Muslim perspectives on Christ and Sojourner Truth’s understanding of Christ as well. 

Drego, Pearl, Pathways to Liberation: An Essay on Yoga-Christian Dialogue. New Delhi: The Grail, 1974.

A lovely book by a Christian Indian woman, exploring asana, psychology, philosophy, and Scripture. A dialogue between Christianity and Yoga. Out of print, but if you can track down a copy, it is a gem.

Fiskes, Edward B. (1971) “Priests and Nuns Discover Yoga Enhances Grasp of Faith.” New York Times, 2 July 1971, p35.

A newspaper report detailing the second annual “Yoga Ecumenical Retreat” at Annhurst College. A group of nuns, priests, a rabbi, and a professor of Eastern spirituality from Fordham University gathered together to practice yoga and discuss the teachings of Swami Satchidananda. 

Grennan Gary, Heather. “Spiritual Exercises: Can other religious practices strengthen your Catholic core?” 16 April 2013.  

This piece begins with the topic of yoga as practiced by a Catholic to introduce many other experiences of Catholics utilizing interfaith practices. She frequently quotes Thomas Ryan and people who were inspired by him as well as nodding to Christian meditation pioneers such as Thomas Merton and Thomas Keating.

Griffiths, Bede, Return to the Center. Springfield, Illinois: Templegate Publishers, 1977.

Working from the conviction that “our destiny is to be one with God in a unity which transcends all distinctions” Bede Griffiths here explores over a dozen great themes in theology and interreligious dialogue, beginning with his own experience as a Christian sannyasi in India. Other chapters include Krishna and Christ, the Buddha and Christ, myth and reality, and the one spirit in all religions. A final chapter is devoted to yoga as the way of union. The latter is a positive  overview of basic dimensions of yoga, including reflection on how a Christian may understand union with God.

Griffiths, Bede, River of Compassion. A Christian Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. Springfield, Illinois: Templegate Publishers, 1987.

The author’s stated purpose in writing this book is to show how the Gita “can be a practical spiritual guide to a Christian and to anyone who is in search of a guide on the spiritual path.” This is not an academic treatise on the Gita but it is informed by Fr. Bede’s own study not only of the text but also of the history of its interpretation. He does not believe that the Gita has been influenced by Christianity (an untenable though persistent view long since disproven), but he does offer some fresh readings in light of the Gospel. In turn, aspects of the Gospel are opened to new meaning when read with the Gita’s message in mind. This book can be commended to Christians who are open to insights from a spiritual classic from outside the Christian tradition.

Johnston, William, “Arise My Love...” Mysticism for a New Era. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 2000

While not dealing exclusively with Yoga, this book reflects positively and constructively on the interface between especially the magisterial teaching of the Roman Catholic Church and the mystical insights of Christianity and other world religions.

Malkovsky, Bradley. God’s Other Children: Personal Encounters with Faith, Love, and Holiness in Sacred India. HarperOne, 2013. 

Bradley Malkovsky is a professor of comparative theology at Notre Dame University. This book is a Catholic man’s memoir of traveling to India, expanding his horizons past Catholicism, and how he met his future Indian wife. Contains great chapters reflecting on the practice of yoga, vipassana meditation, and Bede Griffiths. 

Perspectives on Christianity from a South Asian Perspective

Many of the books in the preceding sections represent more or less positive appreciations of the spiritual and philosophical traditions of India. This shorter list works from the other direction.

Bharati, Swami Jananeshvara. “Yoga and Christianity: Loving with All Your Parts.” SwamiJ.com. 

A clear little discussion discussing Jesus’ mandate to “Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30) as a bridge between yoga and Christianity.

This website, written by a westerner (turned swami) who has devoted his life to study and seva is an extraordinarily thorough resource for classic yoga.

Goswami, Shyam Sundar Jesus Christ and Yoga. Asian Educational Services, 1986. 

This book is an attempt to study the teachings and activities of Jesus Christ for our spiritual development. The goal of Yoga is attained by the complete spiritualization of the mind through the control processes: The purification of the mind and body by yama (abstention) and niyama (observance). The control of the body by asana (posture). The control of breath by pranayama. The control of the senses by pratyahara. And control of the mind by dyana, deep concentration, which leads to samadhi, super concentration. These practices are applied in a study of Jesus Christ. 

Ralte, Rodinmawia. The Unveiled Christ of the Indian Gurus. A Study on the Contemporary Gurus’ Interpretations of Jesus Christ, New Delhi: Christian World Imprints, 2017.

The author, an Indian Baptist minister, focuses on four modern Indian gurus: Yogananda Parmhans, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Osho Rajneesh, and Sri Sri Ravishankar. The author outlines the person, work, teaching, and significance of Jesus as understood by each guru. In addition, the book is a study of contemporary guruism in India, Hindu reform movements, and Neo-Vedantism.

Ravindra, Ravi. Christ the Yogi. A Hindu Reflection on the Gospel of John. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 1990, 1998.

The author is an Indian now living in Toronto and holds degrees in technology, physics, philosophy, and a doctorate in physics. He interprets the gospel of John as the “Christian Veda” par excellence. Ravindra draws out the coherence between the spirit of this gospel and the traditions of India, especially of the Bhagavad Gita.

Prabananda, Swami  & Isherwood, Christopher, How to Know God, the Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali, Vedanta Press, 1953  

A version of the classic text, the Yoga Sutras, that discusses some of the intersections of yoga philosophy and Christian theology.  It respectfully references the western thought views and Christianity in many of its commentaries especially in the sections on chanting God’s name and the concept of sin and more.

Prabhavananda, Swami The Sermon on the Mount According to Vedanta, Vedanta Press & Bookshop, 1964.  

Insightful offerings on Jesus’ main teachings.  

Rama, Bouldin, O’Brien, Arpita, Rothluebber, Arya, Meditation in Christianity, The Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy of USA,1983

A collection of essays written by six eastern and western spiritual teachers (both female and male) about the important place of meditation to more fully know the inner life and come closer to the essence of God.  Topics include the process of meditation, Hesychasm and the origins of Christian meditative discipline, Jesus, The Bible and meditation, and Christian meditation in light of yoga.

Siddheswarananda, Swami, Le Yoga et Saint Jean de la Croix. Pensée indienne et mystique carmélitaine. Paris: Éditions Albin Michel SA, 1996.

A reprint of lectures given by Swami Siddheswarananda between 1949 and 1953. The author founded a vedantic centre in Graz, France following World War II in the spirit of Ramakrishna. Based on the author’s experience, this treatise speaks of the “life which slowly unfolds at the deepest part of ourselves and which is indefinable since it is being forever renewed.”