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JULIUS LIPNER - Dr 
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
FACULTY OF DIVINITY
THE DIVINITY SCHOOL
ST JOHN'S STREET
CAMBRIDGE
May 3rd, 1993
Mr Antall Joseph,
Miniszterelnok,
Parliament
Kossuth Ter, No 5-7
1051 Budapest
Hungary
Dear Sir,
I am writing to testify that the International Society for Krishna
Consciousness (or ISKCON, popularly known as the Hare Krishna Movement)
is an authentic Hindu religious tradition with antecedents in Hinduism
going back many hundreds of years.
Theologically, it is a movement 'of religious devotionalism with
belief in one God and in the welfare of the human race and our global
environment. Though I myself do not belong to this religion, I have
had various close contacts with its adherents and have studied its
teachings over the years. To the best of my knowledge, there is
nothing sinister in any of its teachings whether of a social, political,
or theological nature. In this it is on a par with other accredited
religious traditions of the world like Christianity, Judaism, Islam
and Buddhism. I request you, therefore, to consider its presence
in your country sympathetically.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Julius Lipner
University Lecturer in the Comparative Study of Religion and in
Indian Religions Fellow and Tutor, Clare Hall, Cambridge
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UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE FACULTY OF DIVINITY
The Divinity School St. John's Street CAMBRIDGE CB2 ITW
6th February 1995
Mr Boris Yeltsin The Kremlin Moscow
Dear President,
I understand that a debate will soon be
held in the Russian Parliament about the status of the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) as a religious group.
Though I am not a member of ISKCON, as University Lecturer in Indian
Religion in this Faculty familiar with this Society and its teachings,
I assure you that it is a bone fide religious organisation of the
Hindu
tradition, not likely to act as a corrupting agent in society.
As a religious organisation, it is entitled
to the same freedom and respect as the ancient Christian Churches
of your country. I hope that the Russian Parliament will acknowledge
this entitlement in its deliberations.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Julius Lipner University Lecturer in
Indian Religion
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