EM Forster's “A Passage to India” is a literary work that operates on two levels simultaneously: personal and impersonal. Scenes involving the characters' innermost thoughts and feelings alternate with scenes vocalizing the voice of the omniscient narrator, who directly addresses some of the heavier questions at the heart of the novel. The theme of religion works the same way. On a broader level, this allows Forster to provide social commentary by supporting themes of colonialism and ethnic relations. Its depiction of the tensions that exist within different segments of Indian society foreshadows historical events that occurred years after the novel's publication. However, each of the three great religions is also presented as a philosophy through which man makes sense of himself and the universe around him. Presenting its effects on individual characters allows Forster to explore philosophical concepts such as infinity and head versus heart. The reactions and personal values ​​of the adherents of each religion in turn reinforce the novel's other themes, linking it all to Forster's grand vision. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay On a socio-historical level, religion is presented as a divisive force. The “Mosque” and “Temple” sections are separated by the “Caves” section, representing the gulf between Muslims and Hindus in India. The Marabar Caves are associated with the idea of ​​negation: the journey to these caves would have "questioned the very spirit of Indian Land, which keeps men in compartments", and ended in disaster. Its insidious presence, both in the structure and throughout the novel, nullifies any hope of unification between Indians and Muslims, despite Dr Aziz's heroic battle cry at the end of the novel ("Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs will only 'A ! "). ). Nearly a quarter of a century later, the partition of India into the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan vindicated Forster's premonitions. Meanwhile, the only Western religion, Christianity, is conspicuously absent, not only in structure, but also in the rest of the novel. Eastern places of worship are described in detail by Forster and are the locations of important events in the plot (e.g. Dr. Aziz's first meeting with Mrs. Moore). The mosque and the Hindu temple are both mentioned in a concrete way while there is no mention of any Christian element built on Indian soil. Religion appears only through characterizations and biblical references, which leave no lasting impressions. Thus, Forster implies that Christianity, and by extension the British colonialists, have no place in India. Despite their attempts to subjugate the Indians, they never managed to establish themselves permanently in the country. Once again, Forster's prediction was correct. In 1947, India gained independence from the British, 23 years after the novel's publication. The description of the places of worship also illustrates the central contrast between the attitudes of the English and the Indians: the former are rational and reserved, while the latter openly show their emotion. The mosque and the Gokul Ashtami festival are depicted using images and evoke the spirit behind the religion. Dr. Aziz's quiet appreciation of the beauty of the mosque ("...the struggle between this rivalry and the dualism of shadows pleased him...") and the various sensations he vaguely experiences (e.g. the orchestraamateur, the smell of jasmine flowers) create a sense of calm, showing how Islam is a source of comfort for the emotional Dr. Aziz. His recitation of a poem shows how much he connects with Islam with all his heart. The Gokul Ashtami festival is described differently: it is a vibrant burst of color and movement, with a myriad of sensations described one after the other. There is a sense of collectiveness – even Professor Godbole's vision is tempered by his interactions with other characters (e.g. talking to the drummer, his colleague untangling his pince-nez). Although the vitality of the party and the scene at the mosque convey different atmospheres, they are both full of emotion. Christianity, on the other hand, is never demonstrated in practice (except in Adela's brief prayer on the morning of the trial). Only the formal trappings of religion, such as biblical quotes and missionaries, appear, which reflects the rationality of the English people. Religion, although something personal, is not close to their hearts. The exceptions are Mrs. Moore and, during the trial, Adela Quested, but they cannot calm their mental disturbances. The first religion that appears in the novel is Islam, which is depicted as a religion reveling in past glory. This is demonstrated through the characterization of Dr. Aziz. The decline of Islam is one of his favorite subjects, and he has a wealth of knowledge about past Mughal emperors, such as Akbar and Alamgir, which he usually brings into his conversations with Fielding and the Englishwomen, impressing them with his passion. However, the Muslims in the novel do not blindly follow their religion. Some Islamic ceremonies, such as circumcision, are prevalent, others, such as polygamy, are rejected by educated Muslims. Traditional religious values ​​are thus tempered by Western ones. Dr. Aziz initially rejects his arranged marriage because he was "affected by Western sentiment...he did not like the union with a woman he had never met." Adela's question about polygamy was akin to asking him if he was civilized, and Dr. Aziz felt insulted. He felt a greater need to defend himself because monogamy was a new belief. As the novel progresses, Dr. Aziz's initial enthusiasm for Islam fades. The head shrine and the body shrine of Mau go against Islam's prohibition of idolatry. Dr. Aziz, although at first dismissive, soon accepts her, even bringing his children to visit him. Despite Islam's apparent lack of endurance, the Muslims in the novel consider themselves superior to the Hindus. They use various unflattering adjectives (e.g. "flabby", "limp") to describe Hindus. Dr. Aziz criticizes Mrs. Bhattacharya's fake invitation to the English women on the grounds that they are Hindus, then, ironically, makes the same mistake himself. The engineer, Mr. Syed Mohammed, described Hindu religious fairs with contempt, and Dr. Aziz once hit a Brahmany bull (which is sacred to Hindus) with a polo stick, angering Panna Lal. This lack of respect for other religions is one of the reasons why the gulf between Muslims and Hindus is so deep. Each thinks of the other in terms of religious identity and not as an individual. Dr. Aziz reconciles with Mr. Das but initially considers him a Hindu, while Mr. Das thinks that "some Muslims are violent" without questioning whether Dr. Aziz himself falls into this category. The herd mentality is too strong to allow the brief unification brought about by Dr. Aziz's trial to continue. Nevertheless, Dr. Aziz himself eventually seeks employment in aHindu state, because its hatred of the British is stronger than its dislike of the Hindus. He still makes flippant comments about Hindus, but he is less harsh ("...he hoped that they would enjoy transporting their idol, because in any case she did not interfere in the lives of others .”). Like Islam, Christianity is also presented as a religion that erects barriers between men, despite the presence of biblical quotes that encourage mutual acceptance. This shows the hypocrisy of Anglo-Indians, who do not practice what they preach. “In our Father's house there are many mansions” is the message preached by Maurice and Mr. Sorley, the two Christian missionaries, but the Anglo-Indians treat the natives with contempt, dehumanizing and humiliating them. Mr. McBryde's wife expresses her opposition to the missionaries, apparently because she considers the Indians to be inferior beings and therefore unworthy of heaven. The Anglo-Indians are not particularly religious: they seem to ignore the missionaries, whose lack of resources is evident in their lives beyond the slaughterhouse and their third-class travel on the railways. Ronny Heaslop embodies the typical Anglo-Indian attitude towards religion – the brand of the “sterile public school” which lacks practical application. It is part of the Anglo-Indian identity, not a way of life ("Ronny approved of the religion as long as it supported the national anthem, but opposed it when it attempted to influence his life." ) However, because religion is meant to serve as a moral guide, the school version, which focuses on clear divisions between good and evil, is not sufficient in India, with its lack of explicit boundaries. The only person who can be considered a "real Christian" in the novel is Mrs. Moore, who is one of the most spiritual characters. His loving acceptance of the wasp and consideration of the Indians ("God put us on Earth to love our neighbors...") show his inherent good nature. However, even she cannot find solace in Christianity. The phrase "poor little chattering Christianity" is used, foreshadowing Mrs. Moore's disillusionment with religion. Its principles are not vague: on the contrary, Christianity is the most organized religion and is associated with churches, chaplains and missionaries. However, the word "talkative" implies that his teachings are only rhetoric, since the deeper side of divinity, that which is unknown and incomprehensible to man, is not addressed. Mrs. Moore thought more about God in India, but, given the familiarity and structure of English society, this offered little consolation. The echo in the Marabar Caves gave Mrs. Moore a vision of negation, where man is powerless to influence anything around him. As a result, she realized her own insignificance and grew tired of living. Similarly, Adela Quested took up prayer after the Marabar incident. However, it was ineffective because she had not reconciled her feelings and her intellect. Christianity emphasizes rational moral codes without fostering true spiritual understanding. It is a reflection of the Anglo-Indian character; excessively logical and incapable of understanding India’s “confusion”. Unlike Islam and Christianity, Hinduism is a religion presented as a unifying force, unhindered by racial barriers. Ms. Moore is a Hindu at heart (“so you’re oriental”). Because of her simple kindness to all creatures, Mrs. Moore is Indianized as the Hindu goddess, “Esmiss Esmoor” – she is symbolically elevated to the spiritual plane from which she wasperfectly conscious. Mrs. Moore's spirit also lives on through her two children, Ralph and Stella Moore, whose instinctive appreciation for Hinduism is further proof of the religion's inclusiveness. All the main characters (representatives of the three religions) appear in the last part of the novel: Adela's voice is heard through her letters and that of Mrs. Moore, through Ralph Moore. Images of peace and harmony dominate, as even Dr. Aziz (who is initially skeptical) is taken by the joyful mood of the worshipers and behaves kindly toward Ralph Moore. The atmosphere of conviviality is further enhanced by the description of the procession, which unites people in devotion and ultimately brings together Dr. Aziz and Fielding as well, when their boats collide in the water and with some worshipers. Thus, Hinduism presents the possibility of connections between people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds. Hinduism focuses on the unification of man and God through love and equality of all creatures. This is shown by Professor Godbole, the main representative of Hinduism in the novel. In the heat of the festival, he gets an almost divine glimpse of Mrs. Moore and the wasp. Like a benevolent God, he finds it within himself to love them equally. “It doesn't seem like much, but it's still more than what I am myself,” he thinks of the two. This is reminiscent of Mrs. Moore's appreciation for a wasp on her coat hook, demonstrating the simple acceptance that is at the heart of Hinduism. Professor Godbole recognizes that there is only so much he can do, as a tiny part of the universe. Yet Mrs. Moore, in spirit, and the wasp he saw, together, are part of a larger universe and are therefore more spiritually connected than he is. This contrasts with Christian missionaries' rejection of the wasp ("We must exclude someone from our gathering, otherwise we will be left with nothing.") Hinduism emphasizes spirituality rather than rules and regulations. formalities, although there are caveats, like that of Professor Godbole. dietary restrictions. Ironically, the inscription "God Si Love" on the temple wall was misspelled, although Hindus actually practiced the biblical expression. For Hindus, God is not an inaccessible figure located in the heavens. It is a force that circulates in the blood of all living beings. The games played during Gokul Ashtami, such as feeding the deity with butter, may seem moody and in bad taste, but they show how close God is considered to be to his subjects. Therefore, he receives human attributes such as the pleasure of playing games. They not only pray to God, but see themselves as part of Him and the wider universe. Hinduism also contains an acceptance of the unknown. Professor Godbole’s “song of the unknown bird” has captivated everyone from Anglo-Indians to humble water chestnut collectors. Its haunting nature emerged precisely because it could not be identified, and yet it touched their souls. This echoes Ronny and Adela's failure to identify an unknown bird. Their discomfort indicates an inherent need to categorize things, instead of feeling and appreciating them, as they did with Professor Godbole's song. There are things beyond the limits of human understanding, and knowing this is the key to understanding the infinite. The cosmos is so immense that no one can fully penetrate its mysteries. Mystical events such as Professor Godbole's vision and Ralph Moore guiding Dr. Aziz to the Rajah statue prove that there are unseen forces at work..