The god that cannot save

A couple of days ago a few of us visited the Kali temple in Calcutta. This is my reflection on the experience. I offer it as someone who believes that Jesus is the only hope for mankind.
Kali is the goddess of the city; the goddess of destruction, but also of time and change; some see her as a benevolent goddess. Saturday was a very busy day in the temple because it was New Year’s Day and many people were hoping to receive a blessing from her to bring them luck in the coming year.
In the courtyard of the temple was a little court with an altar, burning incense sticks, flowers, and two upright stones with just enough room to put your head in between. This is where the animals are sacrificed, and the upright stones were covered with blood. We saw people queuing up to put their head between them, pray, then kiss both stones. Just around the corner we saw a goat that had just been sacrificed, being skinned.
Three of us then went into the temple. It was unbelievably crowded, and around the idol there was an atmosphere of frenzy to try to get close and make an offering to the goddess.
I’m not very sensitive to spiritual atmospheres, and I do think its easy to persuade oneself that there is a sense of spiritual oppression in a place, but I think I detected a sense of darkness. Others said they certainly did. What I felt most (apart from mild panic inside that we might be separated, robbed, co-opted into an act of worship I wasn’t willing to participate in, or crushed to death) was a deep sense of sadness for the people. Their spiritual hunger was so evident, their religious fervour apparent, but there’s no one listening, no hope for them.
I’m reminded of Isaiah 46. Here are some excerpts: Their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary... I[God] have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you... They lift [their god] to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Though one cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save him from his troubles... I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please... What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.
Oh that these hungry people might meet the Living God!