Faith and Devotion

In terms of the creator, India holds their creator ideology to a much high standard than Americans do. When visiting the villages, the looms that the workers were occupying held portraits of their sacred figures. In the same way, the houses that we visited had similar figures on the entry way of the walls to their property. It could be Jesus, Mary, Vishnu, Krishna, or any other significant deity in the lives of the individual, and they would display this fact of faith proudly where all could see. This was not restricted to villages or rural areas either. The rickshaws that we rode in to travel to the various locations had their own religious icons displayed. A few of the restaurants that we dined in even did that same. In some cases, it was not just a picture either, as the Women’s Self-Help Group that we visited insisted that we see the closet turned shrine that they had set up in the corner of their apartment. Faith is essential in the lives of many Indians, and while Hinduism is the vastly accepted religion, all manner of beliefs can be seen if one looks long or hard enough for them. These influences, this faith centeredness, seeps into the very fabric of Indian society. The fact that most of the population is vegetarian, and the sacredness of animals, is a clear example of this. Another is the fact that the loyalty to the religion is the very thing that holds some families together, and disowning the faith means a removal from the family. A third is the grand architecture constructed specifically for means of worship and honoring gods or deities. Even those who claim faith for the title, the pop culture believers, appear more devote than their American equivalents. Seeing this level of devotion, this way of life in faith, was eye opening. Why was I, are we, not more like Indians with our faith in America?

Another huge wakeup call for my life and my faith was shown to me through the openness and willingness of the Indian people to just share God and their beliefs. It was truly astonishing to have someone grab you and lead you to their prayer closet with sheer joy on their face. Never have I experienced such open theology and ideology and it was truly wonderful.