FIRE: Fellowship In Religious Experience
Fellowship in Religious
Experience (FIRE) promotes harmony of life, in tune with the motto of the Centre for the Study of World Religions,
fides querens harmonium vitae (Faith
seeking harmony of life). It is a creative and fruitful response to religious
pluralism in India, and could serve as a model for cosmopolitan and
metropolitan cities where peoples of different religions and cultures are
learning to live together in harmony. The programme shares in the ancient
Indian wisdom āno bhadrāḥ kratavo yantu viśvataḥ (Let Noble
come everywhere Rigveda 1.89.1) and is giving a practical expression to the
Catholic Church’s teaching: “The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true
and holy in these religions... The Church, therefore, exhorts her children,
that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions,
carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and
life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and
moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these people” (Nostra Aetate 2).
Like fire, religion is a singularly
unique element in the human history. It is divine and human; it is used for
good and evil. Fellowship in Religious Experience (FIRE) promotes frank and
friendly contact for the good of the entire community and seeks the values
inherent in the various religions. This is done with a view to reciprocal
acquaintance and enrichment in the matter of moral and spiritual values, in an
atmosphere of friendship, mutual respect and liberty. We meet as pilgrims who
have set out to look for God and harmony of life, not in buildings of stone,
but in the mutual fellowship.
The participants of FIRE look with
sincere respect upon the ways of conduct and of life, the rules and teachings
of other religions which differ in many particulars from what they themselves
hold. They reject nothing which is true and holy in these religions. To the
knowledge and practice of one’s own faith, participants are given a sufficient
idea of the religion of those with whom they engage in fellowship experience.
The participants are encouraged to look for what is luminous, beautiful, noble
and great instead of turning instinctively to what is base and ugly. FIRE recognizes
the fact that religion is not primarily an intellectual enterprise, though not
without cognitive content; it is a way of life involving reason and passion.
Plurality of religions is not only a fact of life but also a blessing. It is
not just something that is to be tolerated, but something precious that is to
be celebrated, knowing very well that no religion is superior or inferior or
even equal; they are singularly unique. Conversation and collaboration among
members of various religions promote integration and harmony of life.
Besides individual homes of people
who follow sincerely their traditions, we visit some of the following centres
for FIRE
Al Ameen Mosque, Bangalore
Art of Living Centre
Aurobindo Ashram
Bull Temple, Bangalore
Brhamakumari Rajayoga Centre, Gottigere
Dharmaram College Chapel
Fireflies, Kanakapura
Gurudwara, Ulsoor
ISKON Temple, Bangalore
Jain Temple
Mahabodhi Society
National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical Centre
Pyramid Valley, Kanakapura
Ramakrishna Math
Vidya Vanam Ashram