Mangalore: Dr Michael Lobo's Book on Christianity Released Amid Healthy Debate

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (NM)

Mangalore, Oct 28: The book 'Is Christianity a Flawless Religion' by Dr Michael Lobo, guest lecturer, post graduate department of mathematics, St Aloysius College, was released at the College auditorium here on Sunday October 28, in a ceremony that witnessed interesting debates on the subject of Christianity.

The book was released by Fr Ronnie Prabhu, director of the public relations office, Karntaka Region Catholic Bishop's Council.

Giselle Mehta, author and former bureaucrat was the guest of honour. Addressing the gathering, she said that religion was 'a disciplinary took for social and political control'.

"The book is a quality output from Dr Michael Lobo and as equal as earlier works which were encyclopediac and volumnious. But this is a slimmer volume with much significance. It touches upon various contradictions of Christitanity bringing forth scientific speculations," she said.

Drawing comparisons with the media that interpret a news in different ways, she said that religious interpretations differ from people to people according to their understanding of Christianity.

Andrew Lobo, advocate in the high court of Karnataka, said that this book was neither irreligious nor irrelevant, but a catalyst for reasoning and dialogue. "The books plays the role of devil's advocate," he said, adding that in these modern days of knowledge, such doubts as raised by the book are inevitable.

Fr Ronnie Prabhu in his address said, "We must question our faith but the questioning should be as an insider and not as outsider - where insider means to understand, while as outsider is to prove someone as wrong."

He further added, "Faith is not just intellect but has to emanate from the heart. When you reason with your heart you will always find explanations to all the questions.

"Living your faith is like a relationship - there are quarrels and questions, but these are only passing flaws," he said.

On his opinion of the book, he said, "I agree with everything what Michael denies of Christianity but I disagree with what he implies," he added.

He said that in a church, there are people from all walks of life, both intellectuals and those with lesser and simpler understanding of life. Hence, it is a priest's duty to give his sermon in a way that is understood by all. The intellectuals will question, he said, adding that the book has given scope for a healthy debate on religion.

Introducing the book, Dr Michael Lobo said that it is a critical analysis of Christianity and is controversial in nature. It raises questions like 'we pray, but often our prayers go unanswered; 'it is said that God knows what is best for us, but then why do we pray?'

"The book is open to scientific reasoning," Dr Lobo added. He also proposed the vote of thanks.

Doris Menezes, retired headmistress of St Victor's High School, Puttur, in her opinion of the book urged to bring back Christ and humanity into Christianity. She also commended Dr Michael Lobo for openly expressing doubts that so far no one had dared to speak of.

Fr Swebert D'Silva, principal of St Aloysius College welcomed the gathering.