Religion Professor Praises ISKCON

Is the International Society for Krishna Consciousness a pseudo-religious "cult" or a genuine religious culture? Here's what Dr. George Bond, Assistant Professor of Religion at Chicago's Northwestern University, said recently about ISKCON:

"The Krishna Society represents a Western outgrowth of a living religious movement in India which goes back over two thousand years. Since my field of study is Eastern religions, I have been interested to observe many of the Eastern religious movements which have arisen in the U.S. and to compare them with the beliefs and practices of the religions of Asia, If you make this comparison; you will find that in every respect the Krishna Society reflects the authentic teachings of Hinduism. Their religion centers around the ideas of one of the main Indian holy books, Bhagavad-gita, the book which Mahatma Gandhi read daily as his chief inspiration. They follow a peaceful philosophy stressing the unity of all beings and God's love for humanity. They have brought this religion, which is followed by millions of Indians, and established it in the West as an alternative and a complement to Western religions.

"Their books represent translations of some of the most important Hindu scriptures as well as commentaries upon Indian philosophy. These books exemplify the highest ideals of Indian thought. To quote but one opinion of these books, Dr. John L. Mish, head of the Oriental Division of the New York Public Library, has said, 'The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust editions of famous religious classics of India, with new translations and commentaries, are an important addition to our expanding knowledge of spiritual India.'

"The founder of the Krishna Society, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, stands in the best tradition of Indian religion. Describing this man's writings, Professor J. Bruce Long of Cornell University has said, 'A.C. Bhaktivedanta has combined a healthy mixture of the devotion and aesthetic sensitivity of a believer, and the intellectual rigor of a textual scholar.' "