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What
can convince us of the possibility of peace among religious
people is not a rational argument but an example, and that is
what Dr. Xavier has given us. In this lovely book he tells the
fascinating story of a region in southwest India where devout
adherents of four of the world’s great religions have lived
side-by-side for more than a millennium in harmony and mutual
respect. This is a hopeful message urgently needed in our
conflicted world.—Fisher Humphreys, Th.D., Prof. Of
Theology, Samford University, Birmingham; author of eight books
including Thinking About God.
The spiritual harmony in this southernmost part of India
meaningfully implies the dictum of Mahatma Gandhi viz.'Sarva
Dharma Sama Bhavana' which means equal respect for all
religions.The academic endeavour of Dr.Xavier which has come in
the shape"The Holy Region" truly bear witness to the
life style of a people so unique and so talented who lives in
Kerala which is in other words 'God's own country'.---Dr.Cyriac
Thomas,Vice-Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi
University,Kottayam,Kerala
This fascinating, easy to read, and highly informative book
conveys a message to followers of all religions: it is possible
to follow one’s religion and yet live in harmony with other
people . The term "Holy Region" coined by Dr. Xavier
is quite appropriate in view of religious harmony in this
region, and it contrasts remarkably with the inter-faith
conflicts of the Holy Land. -–A. A. Khatri, Ph.D.,
Emeritus Associate Prof. Of Sociology, University of Alabama in
Birmingham.
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In
The Holy Region is an inspiring history of peaceful
religious coexistence and collaboration. The author’s profound
historical and cultural knowledge, as well as his anecdotal and
conversational style, make for easy and enjoyable reading. I
highly recommend this book to everybody interested in world
peace and fostering understanding between different
religions.-—Godehard Oepen, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical
Professor of Psychiatry, University of Alabama in Birmingham;
Research Affiliate, Harvard Medical School.
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Dr.
Xavier brings out the true nature of religion as cooperative
interreligious relationships, aimed at the well-being of all
humankind, with historical data of the practices of Jews,
Christians and Muslims in the cultural context provided by
Hinduism in Kerala. Anyone interested in interreligious harmony
would find this book a treasure of inspiration and information.
—A. K. B. Pillai, Ph.D., Associate, University
Seminars, Columbia University, N.Y.; author, Transcendental
Self:a Comparative Study of Thoreau and Psycho-Philosophy of
Hinduism and Buddhism;Chairman of New York Institute of
Integral Human Development,Inc.,Riverdale, N.Y. |
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About the Book
The Holy Region: A Wonder of World Religions in Harmony brings
to our attention a rare but fascinating story of harmonious and
cooperative living of four religious communities in the
southwestern state of Kerala in South India. This region, about
thirty kilometers in radius, contains the important places of
Kodungallur, Kalady, Kochi and Aluva. The author who hails from
Kerala, celebrates in this work the peaceful coexistence of
Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Holy Region
exhibits a cordial and multi-religious atmosphere. Different
religious communities have lived there amicably with mutual
respect for a long time, resisting sectarian extremism.
The author
compares and contrasts this region with that of the Holy Land,
Israel and Palestine, highlighting the differences in the
histories of these two regions.
The
author refers to Ammachy’s participation in the World Peace
Summit. This book would have been a powerful message to the
delegates if it had been available at that time. I was myself a
delegate to the Peace Summit, and know that we all would have
benefited from the knowledge and practice of religious harmony
described in the Holy Region. This timely and important
work deserves wide attention.
K. L. Seshagiri Rao
Professor Emeritus,
Religious Studies, University of Virginia;
Chief Editor,
Encyclopedia of Hinduism.
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Contents
1. Worlds Apart—Holy Land and Holy Region
2. Hinduism’s Great Example
3. Judaism’s Longest Happy Experience
4. Christianity’s Unique Branch
5. Islam’s Peaceful and Interesting Spread
6. Enthusiasm, Not Fanaticism |
About the Author
N.
S. Xavier, M.D. has been practicing psychiatry in the United
States for about twenty-five years. He is the author of the
scholarly acclaimed book The Two Faces of Religion dealing
with the healthy and the unhealthy sides of religion. That book
was translated into Malayalam by Fr. J. Chirayil with a foreword
by former Supreme Court Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer. Dr.
Xavier’s broad knowledge of psychiatry and religion as well as
history, literature, and philosophy, his pragmatism as a
clinician, and sense of humor make his writings particularly
interesting and appealing. He grew up in Kerala (in Kottayam
district).He has appeared on numerous Radio and Television
programmes.
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Published
in India by:
Aladdin Books
Anns Bldg;Amulia Street
Kochi-682018,India
E-mail:aladdins@vsnl.net |
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