Life Of Pi Religion Essay
Life of Pi
Religion and spirituality are present all over the world. While they manifest themselves in different areas, and seem to have discernable differences, Picine “Pi” Patel, the protagonist in Life of Pi by Yann Martel, unites all religions in his daily life. Throughout the novel Yann Martel uses Pi to show that all religions have the same core, that being to love God
Pi was born into Hinduism, and was very loyal to it, he explains that Hinduism makes sense through his eyes, and how he loves the Gods, and how they give him enlightenment, but, one day he stumbled upon a church. “I was fourteen years old-and a well-content Hindu on a holiday-when I met Jesus Christ” (50). This sparked his interest for Christianity, He was drawn to the love God had for the people, so much so that he had sacrificed himself for the sins of the people. “Why would God wish that upon Himself? Why not leave death to the mortals?” (54). “Love was Father Martins response” (54). At the very core of …show more content…
the Christian faith was a strive to love God, because he had loved the people enough to die on the cross. “Father, I would like to be a Christian please” (57). Pi pleaded with Father Martin, to which he replied “You already are…” (57). Pi now pursued the Christian faith, as well as the Hindu faith.
A year later, Pi discovered the religion of Islam, he was apprehensive to enter the mosque because of the reputation of Islam, but just beyond the Mosque he came across a baker’s house, and became friendly with him. He observes the baker praying and asks the baker “what’s your religion about?” (60) “It’s about the Beloved” (60), responds the baker. One must infer that the “Beloved” is, in fact, God, and the core of Islam is to love God, as well as the core of Christianity. Pi takes to Islam quickly “I challenge anyone to understand Islam, its spirit, and not to love it. It is a beautiful religion of brotherhood and devotion” (61). With that, he dives into Islam, and becomes more involved, he describes how the recital of the Qur’an in Arabic sounds to him, and how he enjoys the warmth of it. Pi has become Christian, Muslim, and Hindu all at once.
Pi believes that all three main religions are not that much different than we think.
In explaination to a woman whom English is a second language to her, and misunderstood Hare Krishnas as “Hairless Christians” he says “Hindus, in their capacity for love, are indeed hairless Christians, just as Muslims, in the way they see God in everything, are bearded Hindus, and Christians, in their devotion to God, are hat-wearing Muslims” (50). In that, he linked all three religions with one common theme: God. And when Pi was being scrutinized by all three religious leaders, a priest, a pandit, and an imam, for practicing all three religions, he proclaimed “I just want to love God” (69). To which his father responded “I suppose that’s all we’re trying to do-love God” (69). The three men agreed with Pi’s father’s statement, and decided not to reprimand him any further. This is also supports that the root of all religions is God. And one can practice all religions because they have the same
core.
Yann Martel shows throughout the book that all religions have the same core, which is to love, and get closer to God by having Pi explore and practice three main religions, Hindu, Islam, and Christianity, throughout his spiritual and religious quest he found that these religions are not completely different and that they can be at harmony, and not conflict with each other.
Religion and spirituality are present all over the world. While they manifest themselves in different areas, and seem to have discernable differences, Picine “Pi” Patel, the protagonist in Life of Pi by Yann Martel, unites all religions in his daily life. Throughout the novel Yann Martel uses Pi to show that all religions have the same core, that being to love God
Pi was born into Hinduism, and was very loyal to it, he explains that Hinduism makes sense through his eyes, and how he loves the Gods, and how they give him enlightenment, but, one day he stumbled upon a church. “I was fourteen years old-and a well-content Hindu on a holiday-when I met Jesus Christ” (50). This sparked his interest for Christianity, He was drawn to the love God had for the people, so much so that he had sacrificed himself for the sins of the people. “Why would God wish that upon Himself? Why not leave death to the mortals?” (54). “Love was Father Martins response” (54). At the very core of …show more content…
the Christian faith was a strive to love God, because he had loved the people enough to die on the cross. “Father, I would like to be a Christian please” (57). Pi pleaded with Father Martin, to which he replied “You already are…” (57). Pi now pursued the Christian faith, as well as the Hindu faith.
A year later, Pi discovered the religion of Islam, he was apprehensive to enter the mosque because of the reputation of Islam, but just beyond the Mosque he came across a baker’s house, and became friendly with him. He observes the baker praying and asks the baker “what’s your religion about?” (60) “It’s about the Beloved” (60), responds the baker. One must infer that the “Beloved” is, in fact, God, and the core of Islam is to love God, as well as the core of Christianity. Pi takes to Islam quickly “I challenge anyone to understand Islam, its spirit, and not to love it. It is a beautiful religion of brotherhood and devotion” (61). With that, he dives into Islam, and becomes more involved, he describes how the recital of the Qur’an in Arabic sounds to him, and how he enjoys the warmth of it. Pi has become Christian, Muslim, and Hindu all at once.
Pi believes that all three main religions are not that much different than we think.
In explaination to a woman whom English is a second language to her, and misunderstood Hare Krishnas as “Hairless Christians” he says “Hindus, in their capacity for love, are indeed hairless Christians, just as Muslims, in the way they see God in everything, are bearded Hindus, and Christians, in their devotion to God, are hat-wearing Muslims” (50). In that, he linked all three religions with one common theme: God. And when Pi was being scrutinized by all three religious leaders, a priest, a pandit, and an imam, for practicing all three religions, he proclaimed “I just want to love God” (69). To which his father responded “I suppose that’s all we’re trying to do-love God” (69). The three men agreed with Pi’s father’s statement, and decided not to reprimand him any further. This is also supports that the root of all religions is God. And one can practice all religions because they have the same
core.
Yann Martel shows throughout the book that all religions have the same core, which is to love, and get closer to God by having Pi explore and practice three main religions, Hindu, Islam, and Christianity, throughout his spiritual and religious quest he found that these religions are not completely different and that they can be at harmony, and not conflict with each other.