Growing up Atheist in the Southern United States, I've been dragged into more than my fair share of religious discussions – all dealing with Christianity.
Okay, in some cases I dove in head-first. I think we all like a good rousing debate over something that ultimately comes down to a matter of opinion. Like talking sports. And just like sports, some people take their religion way too seriously. They've lost the message in their adoration for the messenger. This makes it impossible to have a decent discussion with them.
So over the years I've developed The Gandhi Test as a way of identifying good Christians from bad ones. Thanks to the internet I can share this revelation with the world. Not only will taking this test show you if you're a good Christian or a bad one, it will help Atheists understand that – in its good form – Christianity can be fine.
Ready to take the test? Here we go:
First, a little background:
Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi was a revolutionary leader in India from 1914-1948, and if anyone in the history of the world lived a life as close to that of Jesus Christ, it was Gandhi. Both men's countries were occupied by a foreign power. Both men lead peaceful movements against their foreign rulers. Both men had issues with the religions as they related to the politics within their countries. Both men were non-violent. Both men inspired others to seek change through peaceful means.
Both men were killed by their own people.
Gandhi went further in his lifetime than Christ did in his. Gandhi stopped two shooting wars with hunger strikes, and lived to see the day the occupiers left his country.
So any way you slice it, Gandhi was a great man of peace. If anyone in the world could hold a candle to the life of Jesus Christ, it is Gandhi.
But...
Gandhi could never, ever, accept Jesus Christ as his personal savior.
Why? Millions upon millions of people would have died in horrific wars if he did. India was populated my Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians and various sects thereof. The first two had been at war with each other for centuries. Their hatred for each other still make Palestinian / Jewish fights look like a tough day on the playground. The British occupiers of India for over a hundred years, were Christian.
Gandhi was born and raised Hindu, but would say of his own religion, "I am a Hindu and a Muslim and a Christian and a Jew – and so are you." His neutrality on religion was the cornerstone of the peace he forged between Hindus and Muslims – something no one had been able to do before him. If he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior, it would mean he'd sided with the British and could no longer be trusted with the future of India. The cold war between Hindus, Muslims, and Christians would have turned hot and millions of people would have been killed.
Even after his assassination, there could be no hint of Gandhi having accepted one religion over another. The Mahatma (Great Soul), Bapu (Father), of India had to remain a father or all mankind, not just one piece of it. Accepting "Thou shall have no other God by me," would have turned the Ganges river red with blood.
Now, here's the teat:
Is Gandhi in heaven? Choose your answer in the poll, then click on the menu choice to find out if you're a good Christian or a Bad one.
