Sometimes an interfaith encounter can reveal more about one's own tradition than it reveals about the other. Recently, I made visit to a local Hindu temple and had the chance to participate in another's "puja." Such encounters are alway enlightening. (he-he!) One of the first things that one notices is that the ceremonies are conducted in Sanskrit, an ancient language that only the priests know. To most adherents, it is gibberish - I suppose it is the gestures that count. But sitting in a local congregation, I am struck at how similar is the mix of un-demythologized tangled metaphors that are used both in our ritual life, our creeds, and holy conversation - most of which is the repeating of pious language that in familiar but generally not understood.
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