‘Tragic ignorance underlying maligning of Born Again Christianity’ – a response

This is in reply to the article “Tragic Ignorance underlining the maligning of Born Again Christianity” in The Island of 07/04/2023.

On what grounds does the author, Prof. A. N. I Ekanayake, condemn Christians of so called “mainstream Christian denominations (his classification, not ours) as NOT born again spiritually? Every single time a Christian goes to church and kneels before Jesus or Mother Mary and renews his/her spirituality are they not being “Born Again”? Are they not aware that Jesus has proclaimed “… one needs to be born again to see the Kingdom of God…”? Is it the author’s contention that unless one does it his way it is of no use? Is it his contention that if you do not do it in the manner of Born Again Christians, it is useless? Is it the author’s contention that the so-called “mainstream Christians” confessing the sins they accumulated in the course of their daily activities and repenting and reasserting/regenerating their spirituality are nothing but “… comforting themselves with formal religion and empty rituals …” (his words, not ours)? Is it his contention that the innumerable erudite, pious and inspirational members of the Christian and Catholic clergy who help those wishing to confess and repent and become “spiritually regenerate “are doing it any other way than “… through the decisive intervention of God in transforming the human heart…” (his words, not ours) and are ignorant of the Christian Gospel? I think he owes an explanation to the Christian and Catholic clergy. It is outrageous that he has taken it upon himself to lecture to “… bishops, priests and even Popes and Cardinals…” (his words, not ours) on “…what it means to be a Christian…” (his words, not ours). If the author was looking for an answer as to why “Born Again Christianity” is considered as “… some weird fundamentalist cult that needs to be resisted …” (his words, not mine) he will find it in his own rantings.

The author claims that non-Christians who oppose the “Born Again” Christians are opposing Christianity itself. Before the advent of the “Born Again” types, Christians living in harmony among Buddhists and Hindus were “Born Again and again and again” renewing/regenerating/re-awakening their faith with no controversy at all. No Buddhist or Hindu ever had ANY problem with the Christian concept of spiritual regeneration that was metaphorically termed being born again. If you take the spiritual regeneration logic to its conclusion just about anybody of any faith can become “Born Again” once he realizes his follies and discovers that his faith has deeper meaning than what he/she assumed before. Buddhists and Hindus NEVER opposed Christianity and they never will.

Let’s now focus on the author’s comparison of Buddhist re-birth and Christian spiritual re-awakening metaphorically termed as being born again. He not only tries to compare the two but goes on to accuse Buddhists of being “… unfair and inconsistent …” (his words, not mine) by accepting re-birth as a concept while disparaging “Born again Christianity”. Rebirth is to be physically re-born, after death, according to the merits or de-merits one has accrued in his life. This has got nothing to do with being spiritually “born again”! The two concepts are as different as chalk and cheese!

Ludicrous is his assertion that the Buddhist and Hindu aversion to “Born Again Christianity” is the “… reaction of those whose own conception of new birth according to their belief system amounts to a depressing intangible mystical notion of re-incarnation rooted in abstract philosophy that’s hard to understand and little to look forward to…”! (author’s words not ours) Rebirth is nothing to look forward to. It happens according to one’s merits and demerits whether one likes it or not. Spiritual regeneration is purely a matter of choice. One can choose to either be spiritually “born again” or carry on the way he wants to.

This intellectual dishonesty exposes in no uncertain terms his next assertion about “… the conversion anxiety which drives the continuing hostility towards evangelists who peacefully preach the doctrine of Born Again Christianity in the community…” (his words not ours). What peaceful preaching can liars and systematic fraudsters carryout? The Born Again Christians poor economically backward and emotionally stressed out people with financial rewards among other material benefits.

The latter part of the article is a long harangue on Christian Theology. Suffice it to say that everything the author has quoted from the scriptures and from well-known theologists have already been and is being taken care of by the Christian and Catholic clergy. There is absolutely no need for a separate cult to impose itself on the community to rephrase and misinterpret them and make an entirely false claim that they are the torch bearers of Christianity.

R. P. Weerakkody and Methsiri De Silva

Kalutara North