Dallas Morning News,
Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.
When President Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty exactly 50 years ago, advocates called it the moral obligation of a wealthy nation. Johnson said he was doing it not because it was efficient or helpful or politically expedient (which, of course, it was for liberals), but because it was right. The idea of advancing public policy in moral terms is hardly new. The Civil Rights movement invoked a moral imperative in its quest of public policy. Social conservatives want a government that reflects values they consider fundamental and unchanging. The impetus of President Obama’s health-care initiative and its various government precursors was, at least at some level, a moral one.
Robert Barron, a Catholic priest, notes in a column that one of the most common observations made by opponents of religion is that we don’t need God in order to have a coherent and integral morality. After all, aren’t there plenty of good, moral people who don’t believe in God? But supporters of religion warn that without God, there’s moral chaos.
Barron suggests removing God is tantamount to removing the ground for basic good, and once the basic good has been eliminated, all that is left is the self-legislating and self-creating will. Thus, he says, people of faith should be wary when atheists and agnostics blithely suggest that morality can endure apart from God.
So what is the relationship between morality and the existence of God? Can you have one without the other?
For all the talk by politicians and policy advocates about the morally in advancing various programs, good government typically means managing a competition between various secular interests in a way that benefits the common good. It’s about reaching a consensus in the community. It’s relative. But can morality ever be relative? And if not, doesn’t that mean it requires, at its heart, something absolute — like God.
What is the relationship between morality and the existence of God? Can you have one without the other?
NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas
Morality requires spiritual vision. For example if there is accident on the highway, what should be cared for first? The passengers in the car or the car itself? Similarly, a person with spiritual vision will know what is of greater importance, the body, or the soul within the body. That person who is in ignorance cannot see the soul and thus cannot make proper moral decisions.
"The foolish cannot understand how a living entity can quit his body, nor can they understand what sort of body he enjoys under the spell of the modes of nature. But one whose eyes are trained in knowledge can see all this. The endeavoring transcendentalists who are situated in self-realization can see all this clearly. But those whose minds are not developed and who are not situated in self-realization cannot see what is taking place, though they may try." -Bhagavad Gītā As It Is15.10-11
It is just like someone who is not trained in automobile repair. He can see the car and the mechanic can see the same car but he will not be able to see what the mechanic sees unless he has been trained to see it. Thus it is mechanic who can make decisions rather than the ignorant person.
"The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle priest, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater." -Bhagavad Gītā As It Is 5.18
Thus a moral person who has spiritual vision does not condone harm to anyone regardless what their race, species, or position within or out of a womb, if such harm is for personal gratification.
To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.
With Niranjana and Sivarama Swamis 
I do not prefer yoga, occult powers or salvation,
I do not prefer to be with the Lord in Vaikunta,
Nor do I prefer to have only pure love for him,
But I would prefer to live in Vrindavana. 
Govinda Swami: Just sat down to take a flight and the gentleman man, in charge of the cabin, came to speak to me.
He said, I'm George, from Lebanon, and I'm your servant.
If there is anyway I can serve you, please let me know.
When he said that I went into a sort of ecstasy !!
I told him that's the topmost viewpoint a person could have in his life, and I try to follow that, though most of the time I fail.
I shook his hand and said,
"George, you just made my day." 
Radhadesh Mellows is one of the most anticipated events of the year. It is a kirtan festival organised by and held in a 19th century Belgian castle which now serves the purpose of being one of the most stunning temples in Europe dedicated to Radha-Krishna. Kirtan is the call-and-response chanting performed by the devotional traditions of India, although now it is found to be practiced in every country by millions of people, regardless of their race, caste or creed; Kirtan simply means to glorify God by chanting His Holy Names. 
Indradyumna Swami: "The heavenly planets are more celebrated than the earth. But the celebrity of earth has defeated that of the heavenly planets because of Dwarka where Lord Sri Krsna reigned as a king. Three places, mainly Vrindavan, Mathura and Dwarka, are more important than the famous planets within the universe. These places are perpetually sanctified because whenever the Lord descends on earth He displays His transcendental activities particularly in these three places. They are perpetually the holy lands of the Lord, and the inhabitants still take advantage of the holy places, even though the Lord is now out their sight." 
The second ring of the main dome has begun. This supporting structure is an epic coil of over 200 pieces of steel designed to fit together. The entire process involves intricate calculations accounting for forces such as counter-weight and weather hazards. The rising ring will form the base of the new temple's centerpiece, the main dome, which will be finished in tile work. 
On Januray 7th, 2014, the China Social Sciences Press proudly announced the historic release of two ancient cultural classics of India: Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad-gita As Is. 
A litte rain couldn't stop this happy lot from a great day out chanting in the streets, book distribution and to finish off, a prasadam picnic in the park. Excellent Prasadam prepared by Garuda Dasa. 
Hare Krishna Land (ISKCON Juhu) is set upon four acres of prime land and a stone throw away from Juhu beach. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON, inspired the construction of one of India’s most beautiful temple of Lord Krishna in Mumbai.
The presiding Deities at the temple are Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari and Sri Sri Sita Rama Laxman Hanuman.The Deities were personally installed by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 
