Oberoende akademiska och övriga utlåtanden, brev etc
om Krishnarörelsen
(ISKCON - Det Internationella Sällskapet för Krishnamedvetande)

W OWEN COLE

West Sussex Institute of Higher Education

17 May 1993

Dear Prime Minister

Perhaps I had better begin this letter by introducing myself

I am a specialist in Religious Studies and Religious Education and a member of the Church of England. During my career I have served on a number of interfaith committees of my own denomination and the Council of Churches of Britain and Ireland as well as being a consultant on inter-religious affairs to the archbishops of Canterbury and York. In these capacities I have close contact with ISKCON (the Hare Krishna movement) and other Hindus both in Britain and India which I have visited four times.

As a result of these experiences and my own academic work as a lecturer in Hinduism I hope that I am in a position to assure you of the authenticity and respectability of ISKCON. In Britain tile large Hindu community which originated in India recognises it as an integral part of Hinduism. This is the view which the academic world also shares. It is no longer regarded as a cult or sect by informed observers. ISKCON publications arc of a very high standard and are widely used in the education of young British Hindus by academics and teachers in our schools. As you will know Hinduism forms part of the Religious Education syllabus in British schools.

It caused me some concern to learn that ISKCON might be in danger from Christian anti-cult groups. Great care needs to be taken to be as informed as possible about each so-called cult, after all Christianity was persecuted for three hundred years because Roman Emperors were persuaded that it was a destructive and subversive cult. The word 'cult' is one which trips easily from the tongue and stirs up strong emotions.

I have, however, another reason for anxiety. In 1957 I organised a school in Hednesford, England, for Hungarian refugees. It was my first post as a professional teacher. It gave me great joy to help victims of persecution begin a new life in a free democracy. You will realise how heartened I was when democracy was recently restored in your country after a period of over thirty years of suppression. Democracy is a tender plant and when a purge of any group is undertaken its roots are damaged. I believe that democracy can thrive without recourse to the suppression of groups which might be designated as causing a threat to main stream religions. In any case the British experience demonstrates that ISKCON enriches the religious diversity of our nation and teaches social stability and ethically based spirituality.

Thank you for considering my letter which I hope will lead to ISKCON being removed from any list of destructive cults - and to the questioning of the desirability of list at all.

Yours faithfully

W Owen Cole, BA, BD, M Phil, Ph D, Dip Ed

***

Chichester Institute of Higher Education, Chichester PO19 4ED.
England.

6th Feb 1995.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness

To whom it may concern.

It has come to my notice that the Russian Republic is considering declaring ISKCON to be a destructive sect which should not be allowed to exist in the country. I hope this will not happen. ISKCON is recognised by the British Hindu community to be an integral and important part of the religion and a form of the religion's ancient Vaishnavite tradition. British educationalists in general, regardless of their religious allegiance, regard it as making a considerable contribution to the teaching of Religious Education which is an important subject in British schools. It is a valued member of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales.

We, in the west, are overjoyed at the way in which Russia has emerged so quickly as a democracy after a period of totalitarian government and an earlier long history of Tsarist autocracy. I can understand the concern to cherish Russia's institutions. However, I must assure you that I personally, and those other people in Britain who have had dealings with ISKCON are sure that it can bring only positive benefits to your country by encouraging the development of religious freedom. No one need feel threatened by its presence, it is likely to be enriching.

W Owen Cole; BA, BD, M Phil, PhD, Dip Ed.. Former consultant on inter-religious affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury and currently member of several Anglican and ecumenlcal Christian committees.