Forster represents the idea of "God" or the "Divine" in very distinct ways in A Passage to India, by the Western and the Oriental. However, Forster also places God as the center of human connection. We are first presented with the idea of God through Mrs. Moore in her conversation with her easily-irritated son, Ronny.
Beyond her initial statement that "'God...is...love," she goes further to discuss what could possibly be the most pleasing thing in God's eyes: "'The desire to behave pleasantly satisfies God...The sincere if impotent desire wins His blessing. I think everyone fails, but there are so many kinds of fialure. Good will and more good will and more good will. Though I speak with the tongues of...'" It is interesting that the narrator comments through Mrs. Moore's perspective how he only "approved of religion as long as it endorsed the National Anthem," which is the filter through which many nationalistic people view humanity (52).
So now we are given the first insight to God's character through the eyes of an older Englishwoman. There is this dichotomy that occurs between the more passive view of God being all that Love encompasses, and Ronny's view that God blesses and should be associated with national pride. Both characters view the other as being off base from the truth, either given into disillusionment or just by being stubborn or foolish.
[I would like to note that the Beatitudes found in the book of Matthew emphasize the overall Christian values of being pleasant to one another and existing in a way that will call one to a Higher place of understanding. This, and the more obvious passage that relates to Mrs. Moore's concept of God: "Beloved, let us love one another, for Love is of God and everyone who loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love" (1 John 4: 7-8). I don't particularly like King James version, but here it is. ]
But by the end of the novel, we are exposed to a different view of the Divine that is lacking throughout the first half. For really the first time in the novel, we experience some element of a carefree behavior. Celebrating the Birth is just that: a celebration. "All sorrow was annihilated, not only for Indians, but for foreigners, birds, caves, railways, and the stars; all became joy, all laughter; there had never been disease nor doubt, misunderstanding, cruelty, fear" (287-288). It must be noted that yes, this is not the idea of the Divine all year long; there is a time and place for laughter and sorrow, according to King Solomon. But the novel needs some relief, some reassurance that humans are still capable of connecting, despite racial and social divides.
On a personal note, I expected Aziz to be completely forgiving, to achieve this higher level of spirituality by realizing that human connection required a clean slate of forgiveness. The grudge he holds actually only emphasizes his human nature, and yet the religion associated with his India celebrates a time when everything comes to a renewal, like a start-over button.
What could Forster be saying about the nature of God or the Divine, if he is saying anything at all? Is there something to be said of the fact that Mrs. Moore can boil down what satisfies God to "pleasantness" and the Indians recognize a broader range for their "spiritual orgy"?
Birth of Krishna: http://saranaagathi.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/janmastami.jpg
The Beatitudes: http://www.biblebios.com/master/beatitudes.jpg
Christ and Krishna: http://www.gita-society.com/images/krishna-christ.jpg
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