[ Luther Chips ] Lutherans Have a Lot to Learn from Hindus

The article is a personal reflection on the author’s experience at a Hindu temple during the Iowa Interfaith Conference. The author expresses a desire for Lutheranism, their own religious practice, to incorporate elements observed in Hinduism.

Key points include:

• The author admires the welcoming nature of the Hindu temple and wishes for such warmth in Lutheranism.
• They appreciate the intergenerational worship, the vibrant clothing, and the lively expressions of devotion seen in Hindu practices.
• The author values the sense of community in Hinduism, where side conversations are as important as the main sermon, and communal sharing of meals is common.
• They express a desire for Lutheranism to not just look like, but also feel like Hinduism, emphasizing the importance of shared experiences in a religious community.
• The author criticizes certain aspects of Lutheran practices, such as the distance between worshippers in pews, the lack of communal participation in rituals, and the failure to appreciate the beauty in other religions.
• The text concludes with a call for Lutherans to learn from Hinduism, embrace interconnectedness, and open their hearts to different religious experiences.