Does a place of worship really matter?
By Srinivasan S
@seenu97dxb (58)
India
November 10, 2015 8:57pm CST
I was taken by pleasant surprise with an incident that happened when I had to accompany on a city tour with a very senior scientist from the United States who was on official visit to India along with his wife. Presuming they would be Catholics, I took them to such a church and they quietly prayed there. Then I was informed that they were Protestants and I took them to their church as well. What happened next was such a pleasant surprise to me.
The scientist's wife asked me, "Hey, where do you pray by the way?". I replied to her, "Ma'm, I pray anywhere as long as my mind could focus. By ancestral practices, we pray in a place called "Temple" which is the place of worship for Hindus". Upon hearing this, she asked me whether Christians are allowed inside our temple. When I checked with the authorities and said yes, the couple willingly visited our temple, followed exactly the same way others around were praying (removing footwear outside, washing hands and legs before entering the temple, stand with folded hands and pray, etc).
While I worked in Middle East Asia and in the absence of my own place of worship called temple, I used to visit the church every week and pray. I was so happy to see that my gesture gets reciprocated by people who were born and live thousands of miles away than me. (Of course, I was not allowed to visit or pray in some other place of worship belonging to a particular community. They used to ban those who did not belong to their group).
4 people like this
6 responses
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
11 Nov 15
A place in our scriptures talks about God not living in a building built by human hands. Also we are told to worship "in spirit and in truth". I believe you carry your spirit and truth with you. This is a very interesting thing to share. Thanks.
2 people like this
@seenu97dxb (58)
• India
11 Nov 15
I salute your modesty to have taken out some time and appreciate. As a child I was advised by my grandmother that I can pray anywhere as long as mind could concentrate and focus. But, we visit a particular place of worship because the environment is serene, people stay silent and the entire concept of tranquility allows us to wholeheartedly focus without distractions.
@dorianna (509)
• United States
11 Nov 15
An interesting question. I would venture the answer would lie in the individual and his/her personal beliefs. I do not adhere to traditional religions. I have read the entire Bible many times, however. My understanding is that one is in harmony with the father if he acts according to the belief in his heart. For example, the couple felt no betrayal of their faith or God to visit your temple. I concede then that for them there was no act of religious treason and it was acceptable to their God.
To the one who felt like it was a traitorous act, it might be unacceptable, not because God could not hear their prayer in any place but because they would be betraying their own conscience.
In other words, God resides in your heart, not a building. The Bible says all who come with a pure heart is acceptable to him..Never did he say it had to be only in a church or temple. If your heart prays in honesty, regardless of where you pray, your prayers are acceptable to a loving God.
@seenu97dxb (58)
• India
11 Nov 15
Perfect. The feeling of "I" goes away after reading your response. It seems we can never be content that we have learned everything. Something or other is available to get enlightened every day, especially in MyLot :-)
1 person likes this
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
11 Nov 15
I visit a church with my friends and pray exactly as they do, so the couple in question praying as is done within the premises of a Hindu temple I feel is natural and to be expected...When we visit , we have to follow the customs and traditions that is practiced in a place of worship ! I remember when Princess Diana visited a Mosque in the middle east , she was asked to leave her footwear and cover her head and wear a long dress as is the custom. Belief is everything for believers and we have to respect that
@CRanney (437)
• Wingham, Ontario
11 Nov 15
Although I feel it would be wonderful to visit a temple I just pray wherever I stand at the moment. I don't go to a church. I think the creator can hear everywhere. Sometimes our very thoughts are prayers :) Sounds like a wonderful couple you met.
1 person likes this
@RonElFran (1214)
• Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
11 Nov 15
Interesting question. My first take on it is that from a Christian perspective, yes, it does matter where one goes to worship or pray. To go into the temple of another religion is to implicitly validate that place of worship (and the religion it represents) as being acceptable.
But Christianity teaches the opposite. The Bible is quite unequivocal in its claim to present "the way" and "the truth." It claims, for example, that "there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." Doing anything that implies there is another way to God is therefore out of bounds for a Christian.
Thus, it seems to me, it would be a violation of the teachings of his own faith for a Christian to go to pray in the temple of a religion that teaches something different.
@seenu97dxb (58)
• India
11 Nov 15
Perhaps the US couple visited the temple out of curiosity to validate and get amazed of the Indian architecture. Howsoever, we are honored.
@mindthoughts (32)
• Mumbai, India
11 Nov 15
the real worship is from the heart! you dont need a place.
