(Spoiler Alert: This review reveals the end of the story in the book, I have not seen the movie.)
Life of Pi by Yann Martel is ostensibly an adventure story of survival at sea but the story is much than that as it addresses metaphysical aspects of religion. It’s interesting that the protagonist’s name is Pi which readily brings to mind 3.14 which is an irrational number which portends an irrational story.
The book consists of three major sections. The first section deals with Pi’s desire to know God and his devotion to Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. A crisis ensues when a leader from each of those religions simultaneously meet Pi and claim him as an adherent to their religion.
After the “Hellos” and the “Good days”, there was an awkward silence. The priest broke it when he said, with pride in his voice, “Piscine is a good Christian boy. I hope to see him join our choir soon.” My parents, the pandit and the imam looked surprised. “You must be mistaken. He’s a good Muslim boy. He comes without fail to Friday prayer, and his knowledge of the Holy Qur’an is coming along nicely.” So said the imam. My parents, the priest and the pandit looked incredulous. The pandit spoke. “You’re both wrong. He’s a good Hindu boy. I see him all the time at the temple coming for darshan and performing puja.” My parents, the imam and the priest looked astounded. “There is no mistake,” said the priest. “I know this boy. He is Piscine Molitor Patel and he’s a Christian.” “I know him too, and I tell you he’s a Muslim,” asserted the imam. “Nonsense!” cried the pandit. “Piscine was born a Hindu, lives a Hindu and will die a Hindu!” The three wise men stared at each other, breathless and disbelieving. Lord, avert their eyes from me, I whispered in my soul. All eyes fell upon me.
Pi finally responded,
Bapu Gandhi said, “All religions are true.” “I just want to love God,” I blurted out, and looked down, red in the face.
In the next section of the story Pi’s family has sold the animals in their zoo and they are traveling to Canada by ship along with some of the animals. A storm breaks out and sinks the ship and Pi is left in a lifeboat with several animals. This amazing story of survival occupies a large section of the book. The author writes with such vividness you’re convinced of the plausibility of this story up to a certain point.
After 227 days at sea Pi is finally rescued and this introduces the third major section. Officials from the Japanese Ministry of Transport meet with Pi to determine how the ship sank. Pi relates his amazing survival story with the animals which the officials find difficult to believe. When they do not believe his story, Pi responds,
“You want a story that won’t surprise you. That will confirm what you already know. That won’t make you see higher or further or differently. You want a flat story. An immobile story. You want dry, yeastless factuality.”
So Pi relates a story of human savagery and survival which parallels the story of survival with the animals. The officials find this story gruesome but believe it offers a possible rational explanation. The following conversation then takes place between Pi and the officials,
“I told you two stories that account for the 227 days in between.” “Yes, you did.” “Neither explains the sinking of the Tsimtsum.” “That’s right.” “Neither makes a factual difference to you.” “That’s true.” “You can’t prove which story is true and which is not. You must take my word for it.” “I guess so.” “In both stories the ship sinks, my entire family dies, and I suffer.” “Yes, that’s true.” “So tell me, since it makes no factual difference to you and you can’t prove the question either way, which story do you prefer? Which is the better story, the story with animals or the story without animals?”
The officials concede that,
“The story with animals is the better story.”
Pi then responds,
“Thank you. And so it goes with God.”
When the officials write their final report they conclude with the implausible but “better” story as they conclude,
Very few castaways can claim to have survived so long at sea as Mr. Patel, and none in the company of an adult Bengal tiger.
As I read this book it is a compelling story. Pi is genuinely searching for truth – the three major religions described in this book assert that they have the true way to God. We are confronted with an epistemological question, “How does one know the true way?” This book seems to lead one to the conclusion that they all offer a valid way to God. Each of these major religions offers a story and we are free to believe the story we want to believe – as Pi says, “And so it goes with God.” This conclusion is quite appealing to a relativistic worldview where tolerance is a cardinal virtue.
Followers of Christianity however must acknowledge the teachings of Jesus,
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6)
You may think this verse is exclusive and you are correct; however, Jesus does not give us the option to accept Him as a good teacher but not as the Messiah. Syncretism may seem appealing so one can pay homage to all religions but Jesus calls us to follow Him. Are you following a way other than Jesus? Solomon wisely observes, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death”. (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25).
Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University
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