Widow burning – or sati– is an ancient ritual practiced in India where a widow is burned on her husband’s funeral pyre. Practiced for thousands of years, this custom was banned by British colonial law in the nineteenth century. What stance – if any – should Christians take regarding this practice? It is important to look at it from a human point of view – and not a religious one – as there are Hindus both for and against it, and both sides have evidence from ancient Hindu texts that substantiate their position. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves, so the act of someone being hurt should evoke a response to alleviate pain. We are also told not to judge. In order to get an educated, Christian perspective, Dr. Paul Louis Metzger interviews Dr. Mrinalini Sabastian and her husband Dr. J. Jayakiran Sebastian about this controversial subject.
The Institute for Cultural Engagement, an official program of Multnomah University and Biblical Seminary