CHRISTE (original) (raw)

Faith . Society . Life

| | The Christian Institute for Theological Engagement (CHRISTE) is a gathering of Christian academic scholars and specialised practitioners seeking to facilitate a germination of Christian theological reflection by: ​engaging in ecumenical Christian thought with special focus on cross-disciplinary studies relevant to contextual issues impacting contemporary society; and​promoting the study of Christian Theology and dialogue with other religions. | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

Picture THE DIGITAL CONTINENT: RESPONSIBLE COMMUNICATION IN A PANDEMICISED WORLDThis is the second e-book which is published by CHRISTE and was launched on October 19, 2021, through a live online event. Consisting of articles written by our Research Fellows and also a guest writer, this book presents some salient considerations on the importance of social communications, its prospects and pitfalls, and how we may engage in social communications for the betterment of society. The authors of the book emphasise the importance of communication literacy in order that Christians may be able to communicate more responsibly in a world that is proliferated by communications.
HOPE FOR HUMANITY:​SPIRITUAL IMMUNITY IN A PANDEMICISED WORLDOn September 27, 2020, CHRISTE launched our maiden e-book publication. This book is a collation of various articles contributed by our panel of Research Fellows. Approaching the most sobering issue of our time, that is, the Covid-19 pandemic, our Research Fellows penned down their reflections from perspectives of theology, Scripture, family, communication, commerce, and spirituality. Picture

Research Funded by CHRISTE

Beginning from 2022, CHRISTE awards research grants to a number of academic scholars each year from the endowment fund of the Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professorial Chair in Theology and Dialogue. These research grants are meant to give impetus to the furtherance of knowledge in aspects of Christian theology as well as ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. Scholars who are keen to apply for research grants may write to CHRISTE to enquire.

Year Research Topic Scholar(s)
​2022 Material Religion in Marian Feast Celebrations among Catholic Tamil Communities: A Transnational Study of Our Lady of Velankanni Celebrations in Chennai and Kuala Lumpur Rev. Dr James Ponniah,University of Madras (India)​Dr Melissa Shamini Perry,National University of Malaysia
2022 The Future of Online Church in Malaysia Dr Tan Meng Yoe,Monash University (Malaysia)
2023 Are Malaysia and Singaporean Christians Flocking Back to Church or Flying Away? A Comparative Study on Christian Churches in Malaysia and Singapore in the COVID-19 Recovery Phase Dr Pauline Leong,Sunway University (Malaysia)Dr Tan Meng Yoe,Monash University MalaysiaDr Lim Hock Ann,​Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur
2024 Life Skills for Faith-based Community Leaders: ​A Need Assessment Study Dr Jonas Richard A.,Kristu Jayanti College (India)
2025 Anthropological and Missiological Lessons from Religious Pilgrimages As a Shared-Pathway or Joint-Journey for Asian People (with Special Reference to Malaysia) Rev. Dr James Harding,St Mellitus South West (England)
Picture Catholic Studies Explore a systematic study of Catholicism Picture Youth Programme Explore our Communicare youth programme
Picture Entrepreneurship Explore our upcoming programme on transformational entrepreneurship Picture Postgraduate Studies Consider pursuing a postgraduate degree in ​Christian Theology or Interfaith Studies

| | Picture If you have not witnessed this event on September 16, 2021, you may still do so by clicking on the banner above. | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

Updates & Announcements

Jan 30, 2023 CHRISTE's Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professor of Theology and Dialogue (Professor Dr Sherman Kuek) today receives a letter of appointment from the Rev. Dr James Ponniah, Associate Professor and Head of the Christian Studies Department at the University of Madras , India, to be Visiting Professor of Asian Christianity for the university. Dr James Ponniah is also Research Fellow in Religion and Culture for CHRISTE. Exciting plans for close collaboration between CHRISTE and Madras University's Department of Christian Studies are in the pipeline.
Jan 25, 2023 CHRISTE is happy to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding today with Saint Xavier College Jalukie (Nagaland, Northeast India) to assist with the education development of the college in the near future. CHRISTE's Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professor of Theology and Dialogue (Professor Dr Sherman Kuek) is appointed Visiting Professor of Social Science for Saint Xavier College Jalukie, which is permanently affiliated with the Central University of Nagaland, India.
Jan 23, 2023 On this day, CHRISTE is delighted to be forging a close collaborative friendship with the North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR) in Nagaland, Northeast India, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on matters of common concern. We congratulate the Rev. Fr Dr CP Anto, Principal of NEISSR, on his appointment as Research Fellow in Peace and Conflict Transformation for CHRISTE. Correspondingly, CHRISTE's Cornelius Cardinal Professor of Theology and Dialogue (Professor Dr Sherman Kuek) is appointed Visiting Professor of Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue for NEISSR.
Dec 16, 2021 CHRISTE is delighted to announce that the Right Reverend Thomas Low, Lutheran Bishop of Malaysia, has graciously consented to be one of our Ecclesiastical Patrons. We thank Bishop Low for sharing in our vision for ecumenical collaboration.
Sep 16, 2021 CHRISTE congratulates the Reverend Deacon Professor Dr Sherman Kuek OFS on his installation as our Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professor of Theology and Dialogue today! Dr Sherman Kuek continues in his responsibility to steer the research activity of CHRISTE to advance the mandate of our research institute.
Jun 21, 2021 CHRISTE welcomes the Reverend Dr James Ponniah onto our team as Research Fellow in Religion and Culture. Father James, a Roman Catholic priest, is Assistant Professor at the Department of Christian Studies in the University of Madras, India. He holds a PhD in Religion and Culture from the same university and is a widely published scholar.
Jun 17, 2021 CHRISTE is delighted to welcome Mr Alwin Chong onto our team as Research Fellow in Education. A professional educator based in Brunei, Alwin holds degrees in Literature and Teaching. We look forward to interacting with his competence in education-related matters, which also very much impact our understanding and practice of faith education in Christian communities.
Jun 10, 2021 We are delighted to have Dr Tan Meng Yoe on our team as Research Fellow in Religion and New Media. Meng Yoe holds a PhD with a special research interest in issues pertaining to how the new media is impacting the practice of religion and politics. He is a Lecturer in Communication at Monash University Malaysia. Welcome, Meng Yoe!
Jun 7, 2021 We are delighted to welcome Mr Nick Chui onto our team as Research Fellow in Marriage and Family. An educator based in Singapore, Nick holds a Master of Theological Studies from the John Paul II Institute of Marriage and Family in Melbourne and publishes rather prolifically. More information on him can be found on the profile page of our Research Fellows. We look forward to many collaborations with Nick in the near future!
May 29, 2021 We announce with profound sadness the demise of our inaugural Ecclesiastical Patron, His Eminence, Cornelius Cardinal Sim, at 8.28 AM on May 29, 2021. We are grateful for how His Eminence had been such a blessing and inspiration to so many in the course of his ministry as a priest and bishop.
Jan 1, 2021 We wish everyone a grace-filled year! To begin our year, keeping in mind that we are still in the middle of a global pandemic which has impacted many people economically, CHRISTE will be conducting a webinar entitled "Creativity through Adversity: Christian Entrepreneurship in a Pandemicised World" facilitated by two of our Research Fellows. The webinar will take place on 11 January 2021. Please refer to the poster in the Events page of this website for further details.
Oct 25, 2020 We are very happy to announce that our Ecclesiastical Patron, His Lordship the Right Reverend Cornelius Sim (Vicar Apostolic of Brunei), has just been elevated by the Holy Father Pope Francis as Cardinal. Upon his elevation, His Eminence Cornelius Cardinal Sim becomes one of the Cardinals who are eligible to vote for the election of a new Pope in a conclave. CHRISTE offers our heartiest congratulations to our dear Bishop Sim with much reverence and affection. Please pray for him!
Sep 29, 2020 It is our delight to announce that the Most Rev. Dr James Thoppil, Roman Catholic Bishop of Kohima (Nagaland, Northeast India), has graciously consented to be one of CHRISTE's Ecclesiastical Patrons (together with the Rt Rev. Cornelius Sim, Vicar Apostolic of Kuching in Brunei Darussalam). Bishop Thoppil hails from Kerala but embarked on his clerical vocation as a missionary priest in Nagaland from a young age. His Lordship is an Asian Ecclesiologist whose Doctor of Sacred Theology degree was conferred by the Pontifical Urban University in Rome.
Sep 27, 2020 Launching of CHRISTE's inaugural e-book_Hope for Humanity: Spiritual Immunity in a Pandemicised World_
Aug 28, 2020 Official launching of CHRISTE and www.christeonline.org