Conversations at the Center - Sunday, February 6, 2011

After viewing the film GANDHI on Saturday evening at the Assumptionist Center in Brighton, the community, residents and guests gathered after Mass on Sunday for a presentation and discussion on “Gandhi and Christianity.”

Alex McKinley, resident at the Center and a Master’s degree student at Harvard Divinity School, shared his understanding of Gandhi and his relationship with Christianity. His presentation was thought provoking and rich in challenging one’s conception of how the spiritual leader’s life and teaching marked his own world and ours.

Born in India and raised as a Hindu/Muslim, Gandhi was most open to the pluralistic traditions of his society and honored the values of all religions. Educated in England as a lawyer, he later went to South Africa in 1893 and saw the injustices and oppressions that Indians endured at the hands of their English landlords.

After returning to India, Gandhi was determined to bring about social change through non-violence. By 1915 his commitment deepened as he supported the Congress Party in revolt against the British Empire.

As a political leader and celebrity, Gandhi became a greater threat to the political establishment. Imprisoned many times, he wrote extensively and often fasted for long periods to combat frequent riots. He attracted huge crowds as his travels increased and met with many heads of state.

As a religious reformer and admirer of Jesus, Gandhi addressed the importance of prayer, self-discipline, sacrifice and incorporated religion into his non-violence movement, believing that public suffering melted the hearts of opponents.

His legacy and influence continued to influence the world after his assassination 1948, as it impacted the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, the Polish Solidarity Movement and the Peoples’ Power in the Philippines.

Following an engaging discussion by those present, the ‘conversations’ continued as everyone moved into the dining room…