Date:25/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/25/stories/2008122555120803.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Glorious rebel

The article “Remembering a glorious rebel” (Dec. 24) on Jesus Christ was timely. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer’s knowledge of the scriptures and language are amazing. The comparison between the times of Pilate, Barabbas and Judas with the existing scenario made interesting reading. Will the younger generation lend an ear to the words of the gentleman who at 93 wants to see light at the end of the tunnel? He is right in saying that religion has made us ritualistic and superstitious and the places of worship have become commercial establishments.

S.P. Kumar,

Chennai

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What a fabulous piece! Justice Iyer’s statements such as “innocence suffers state punishment and robbery rides state power” are not exaggerated. Braving attacks from fundamentalists of different hues, the learned legal luminary has argued that the goal of any serious spiritual journey could only be an egalitarian society.

S.V. Venugopalan,

Chennai

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The article has rightly portrayed Jesus Christ as a genuine social reformer. Jesus indeed condemned social and economic gradation.

J. Rajiah,

Tirunelveli

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What a masterful interpretation of the life and times of Jesus Christ! Justice Iyer’s rendition must carry meaning and relevance not only to Christians and the true followers of Sanathana Dharma, but to every right-thinking individual including the so-called atheists.

R. Swarnalatha,

New Delhi

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The article has drawn suitable parallels between different eras. Another important facet of Jesus’ teachings was forgiveness. In the turbulent times such as this, it gains prominence. We ought to forgive others as well as ourselves for a better tomorrow.

Siddharth Shankaran,

Bangalore

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Justice Iyer deserves to be congratulated on his spirited portrayal of Jesus Christ’s abiding relevance to the present-day reality marked by the politicisation of religion, intolerance, and rank commercialisation. In non-religious parlance, Jesus Christ was the greatest management guru, espousing all the values indispensable for harnessing human resource.

S. Balu,

Madurai

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I fully agree with Justice Iyer that the kingdom of god held up by Jesus was the forerunner to socialism, social justice and democratic secularism. Long before communism and socialism were expounded, Pope Leo expounded the theory of social justice in his Encyclical called Rerum Novarum. Jesus was not just an agent of social transformation. His glorious rebellion aimed at the integral development of a person, including spirituality.

Mathew Thankachen,

Kollam