Had a chance to visit one of the Self Realization Fellowship temples in the USA(organization was founded by Sri Paramahansa Yoganandaji).
In SRF center, the priest wears the robe like a Catholic priest, though in saffron colour. The temple architecture looks exactly like a church, from outside and inside. People sit in the rows of chairs, in front of the altar, just like Church. Altar has the images of both Sri Krishna and Jesus. Pose of Jesus is much like Krishna too. Priest delivers the sermon, though based upon Gita and Vedanta, but in same fashion as Catholic priest would do.
Not sure howmuch and what impact that had made though.
So, the idea was exactly what these people are trying to do, in a reverse direction.
Later: Also not a new idea. Robert de Nobili had tried his best to do it in South India and Sri Lanka in the 17th century, as explained in one of Husky's earlier posts. He failed miserably and died as a disappointed man. However the difference is, he had tried to do this on the plane of theology and philosophy and targets were half-learned Brahmins. This time, the folks are attempting this at the level of symbols, appearances and rituals. Target are common public with sentimental roots into these symbols.
In SRF center, the priest wears the robe like a Catholic priest, though in saffron colour. The temple architecture looks exactly like a church, from outside and inside. People sit in the rows of chairs, in front of the altar, just like Church. Altar has the images of both Sri Krishna and Jesus. Pose of Jesus is much like Krishna too. Priest delivers the sermon, though based upon Gita and Vedanta, but in same fashion as Catholic priest would do.
Not sure howmuch and what impact that had made though.
So, the idea was exactly what these people are trying to do, in a reverse direction.
Later: Also not a new idea. Robert de Nobili had tried his best to do it in South India and Sri Lanka in the 17th century, as explained in one of Husky's earlier posts. He failed miserably and died as a disappointed man. However the difference is, he had tried to do this on the plane of theology and philosophy and targets were half-learned Brahmins. This time, the folks are attempting this at the level of symbols, appearances and rituals. Target are common public with sentimental roots into these symbols.