ALLAN BASAS - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by ALLAN BASAS
Philippiniana Sacra, Dec 31, 2022
Social responsibility is incumbent upon all human beings because all are called to be ethical tow... more Social responsibility is incumbent upon all human beings because all are called to be ethical toward their neighbors in a disinterested way. What social responsibility demands is radical and is met when we heed the plea of that anonymous other whose face, both high and humble, triggers our guilt for the good life we enjoy and their dire condition. As Levinas insists, the face of the Other summons us to action. Where in our experience as Filipino can we locate such a high ethical standard? Many Filipino scholars claim that sociality is one of the strongest traits of the Filipino people. They are resilient in the face of trials and tribulations because of the person next to them who is willing to lend a helping hand. In the present world order and the current Philippine context, there is a high demand for each person to act more responsibly toward the person next to him. Social responsibility is challenged by the renewed threats of war on a global scale, the resurgence of old injustices like corruption and grave abuse of power, and, likewise by rampant violation of human rights. Therefore, in this article, we ask the primary question: where in our experiences as human beings can we find the notion of social responsibility that recognizes the inviolability of the Other? In answering this, the following tasks are undertaken: first, an exposition of the brief outline of Levinas' notion of responsibility; second, an unfolding of Filipino sociality through the concepts of kapwa and pagpapakatao; and third, a thematic discussion of the converging and diverging points between Levinas' notion of social responsibility and Filipino sociality to show that responsibility is a universal value with many faces.
Journal of Religion and Health
Scientia - The International Journal on the Liberal Arts
Inculturation emerged as a result of paradigm shifts in the missionary outlook of the Church nece... more Inculturation emerged as a result of paradigm shifts in the missionary outlook of the Church necessitated by a heightened sense of culture, especially the plurality of cultures. This outlook saw culture as a tool for the transmission of the Gospel message to different frontiers. In view of this, dialogue with culture has passed from being an exception to the rule to becoming normative. Inculturation is a complex process, which must be undertaken gradually and critically. Overall, it aims to incarnate the Gospel in every culture by maintaining a healthy balance between tradition and progress. In this paper, the method of inculturation that is highlighted is the one developed by Charles Kraft and Anscar Chupungco known as “dynamic equivalence,” which seeks to build a “communicational bridge” between the Gospel message and human experience. This paper, therefore, embarks upon the discussion of faith-culture dialogue, keeping in mind Church’s efforts to proclaim the message of the Gospe...
Philippiniana Sacra
The Second Plenary Counicl of the Philippines (PCP II) expresses one of the hopes and memories of... more The Second Plenary Counicl of the Philippines (PCP II) expresses one of the hopes and memories of Vatican II, which is to witness the emergence of world Church or the realization of the Church in a given place, time, and people. Guided by the query, “How do we live as Christians...in our situation of lights and shadows?,” the Council determined that the Church in the Philippines should be a Discipleship in Community. To understand the outcome of the Council, it helps to situate it within the broader movement during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, which saw the emergence of contextual theologies. The integration of the total human reality in doing local theology responds to the predicament of Asian theological associations during the said decades which struggled against the so-called “burden of the past” or the “petrified status quo,” referring to the western ecclesiological framework, which was viewed as hindrance in the building up of a truly local church. In light of all these, this ...
Philippiniana Sacra
On the occasion of the 500th year of the commemoration of Christianity’s coming to the Philippine... more On the occasion of the 500th year of the commemoration of Christianity’s coming to the Philippines, the Filipino people profoundly remember how God bestowed abundant graces to them. Proofs to this remembrance are the external and internal manifestation of gratefulness among the Filipino people. The milestones reached by the Church in the Philippines are not an invitation to blow the horns of triumphalism but a call to profound introspection and humility. Thus, remembering how God has sustained us for half a millennium leads us back to people whom God used as conduits of His overflowing mercy. In this paper, I focus on Fr. Francisco Marin-Sola, O.P., who has contributed significantly to Catholic theology. Fr. Marin, as he is fondly called, had ties with the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. It was in this institution that he was able to hone his virtues and skills as a student, teacher, and writer. This Dominican’s natural talent blended well with St. Thomas Aquinas’ framework tha...
There are intersections between the kind of theologizing done in the Catholic Church in the years... more There are intersections between the kind of theologizing done in the Catholic Church in the years leading to and after the Second Vatican Council, known as Theology of the Signs of the Times, and in the way that critical theorists engendered philosophizing during the same period. Mainly, Critical Theories and the Theology of the Signs of the Times emphasize the shift from conceptual thinking to thinking that is socially and historically grounded. As such, both focus on the critique of the reified society where the suffering poor are oppressed all the more. In view of the foregoing, this essay discusses the following main themes: 1) basic impulses of critical theory; 2) main points of the Theology of Signs of the Times, and; 3) intersecting points between Critical Theory and the Theology of the Signs of the Times.
It is commonly accepted that though religious in nature, popular religiosity is culture bound sin... more It is commonly accepted that though religious in nature, popular religiosity is culture bound since it is a form of expression that is essentially influenced by ethnic patterns such as values, traditions and institutions. This paper discusses the existing forms of Filipino religious culture and analyzes these forms in their anthropological and theological dimension. Due to the extensive nature of the topic Filipino religious culture, this research focuses on the phenomenon of popular religiosity in the Philippines. Filipino religious culture in the context of the phenomenon of popular religiosity brings to light the confluence of the dual constants of anthropology and theology; the former reveals that religion is woven in the fabric of human existence, whereby man is naturally drawn to seek and commune with higher beings; the latter stresses that religion is not simply a cosmic imperative that human beings cannot escape from because faith dictates that it is God’s intervention in th...
There are intersections between the kind of theologizing done in the Catholic Church in the years... more There are intersections between the kind of theologizing done in the Catholic Church in the years leading to and after the Second Vatican Council, known as Theology of the Signs of the Times, and in the way that critical theorists engendered philosophizing during the same period. Mainly, Critical Theories and the Theology of the Signs of the Times emphasize the shift from conceptual thinking to thinking that is socially and historically grounded. As such, both focus on the critique of the reified society where the suffering poor are oppressed all the more. In view of the foregoing, this essay discusses the following main themes: 1) basic impulses of critical theory; 2) main points of the Theology of Signs of the Times, and; 3) intersecting points between Critical Theory and the Theology of the Signs of the Times.
Luz Y Saber, Jan 28, 2013
Philippiniana Sacra, Dec 31, 2022
Social responsibility is incumbent upon all human beings because all are called to be ethical tow... more Social responsibility is incumbent upon all human beings because all are called to be ethical toward their neighbors in a disinterested way. What social responsibility demands is radical and is met when we heed the plea of that anonymous other whose face, both high and humble, triggers our guilt for the good life we enjoy and their dire condition. As Levinas insists, the face of the Other summons us to action. Where in our experience as Filipino can we locate such a high ethical standard? Many Filipino scholars claim that sociality is one of the strongest traits of the Filipino people. They are resilient in the face of trials and tribulations because of the person next to them who is willing to lend a helping hand. In the present world order and the current Philippine context, there is a high demand for each person to act more responsibly toward the person next to him. Social responsibility is challenged by the renewed threats of war on a global scale, the resurgence of old injustices like corruption and grave abuse of power, and, likewise by rampant violation of human rights. Therefore, in this article, we ask the primary question: where in our experiences as human beings can we find the notion of social responsibility that recognizes the inviolability of the Other? In answering this, the following tasks are undertaken: first, an exposition of the brief outline of Levinas' notion of responsibility; second, an unfolding of Filipino sociality through the concepts of kapwa and pagpapakatao; and third, a thematic discussion of the converging and diverging points between Levinas' notion of social responsibility and Filipino sociality to show that responsibility is a universal value with many faces.
Journal of Religion and Health
Scientia - The International Journal on the Liberal Arts
Inculturation emerged as a result of paradigm shifts in the missionary outlook of the Church nece... more Inculturation emerged as a result of paradigm shifts in the missionary outlook of the Church necessitated by a heightened sense of culture, especially the plurality of cultures. This outlook saw culture as a tool for the transmission of the Gospel message to different frontiers. In view of this, dialogue with culture has passed from being an exception to the rule to becoming normative. Inculturation is a complex process, which must be undertaken gradually and critically. Overall, it aims to incarnate the Gospel in every culture by maintaining a healthy balance between tradition and progress. In this paper, the method of inculturation that is highlighted is the one developed by Charles Kraft and Anscar Chupungco known as “dynamic equivalence,” which seeks to build a “communicational bridge” between the Gospel message and human experience. This paper, therefore, embarks upon the discussion of faith-culture dialogue, keeping in mind Church’s efforts to proclaim the message of the Gospe...
Philippiniana Sacra
The Second Plenary Counicl of the Philippines (PCP II) expresses one of the hopes and memories of... more The Second Plenary Counicl of the Philippines (PCP II) expresses one of the hopes and memories of Vatican II, which is to witness the emergence of world Church or the realization of the Church in a given place, time, and people. Guided by the query, “How do we live as Christians...in our situation of lights and shadows?,” the Council determined that the Church in the Philippines should be a Discipleship in Community. To understand the outcome of the Council, it helps to situate it within the broader movement during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, which saw the emergence of contextual theologies. The integration of the total human reality in doing local theology responds to the predicament of Asian theological associations during the said decades which struggled against the so-called “burden of the past” or the “petrified status quo,” referring to the western ecclesiological framework, which was viewed as hindrance in the building up of a truly local church. In light of all these, this ...
Philippiniana Sacra
On the occasion of the 500th year of the commemoration of Christianity’s coming to the Philippine... more On the occasion of the 500th year of the commemoration of Christianity’s coming to the Philippines, the Filipino people profoundly remember how God bestowed abundant graces to them. Proofs to this remembrance are the external and internal manifestation of gratefulness among the Filipino people. The milestones reached by the Church in the Philippines are not an invitation to blow the horns of triumphalism but a call to profound introspection and humility. Thus, remembering how God has sustained us for half a millennium leads us back to people whom God used as conduits of His overflowing mercy. In this paper, I focus on Fr. Francisco Marin-Sola, O.P., who has contributed significantly to Catholic theology. Fr. Marin, as he is fondly called, had ties with the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. It was in this institution that he was able to hone his virtues and skills as a student, teacher, and writer. This Dominican’s natural talent blended well with St. Thomas Aquinas’ framework tha...
There are intersections between the kind of theologizing done in the Catholic Church in the years... more There are intersections between the kind of theologizing done in the Catholic Church in the years leading to and after the Second Vatican Council, known as Theology of the Signs of the Times, and in the way that critical theorists engendered philosophizing during the same period. Mainly, Critical Theories and the Theology of the Signs of the Times emphasize the shift from conceptual thinking to thinking that is socially and historically grounded. As such, both focus on the critique of the reified society where the suffering poor are oppressed all the more. In view of the foregoing, this essay discusses the following main themes: 1) basic impulses of critical theory; 2) main points of the Theology of Signs of the Times, and; 3) intersecting points between Critical Theory and the Theology of the Signs of the Times.
It is commonly accepted that though religious in nature, popular religiosity is culture bound sin... more It is commonly accepted that though religious in nature, popular religiosity is culture bound since it is a form of expression that is essentially influenced by ethnic patterns such as values, traditions and institutions. This paper discusses the existing forms of Filipino religious culture and analyzes these forms in their anthropological and theological dimension. Due to the extensive nature of the topic Filipino religious culture, this research focuses on the phenomenon of popular religiosity in the Philippines. Filipino religious culture in the context of the phenomenon of popular religiosity brings to light the confluence of the dual constants of anthropology and theology; the former reveals that religion is woven in the fabric of human existence, whereby man is naturally drawn to seek and commune with higher beings; the latter stresses that religion is not simply a cosmic imperative that human beings cannot escape from because faith dictates that it is God’s intervention in th...
There are intersections between the kind of theologizing done in the Catholic Church in the years... more There are intersections between the kind of theologizing done in the Catholic Church in the years leading to and after the Second Vatican Council, known as Theology of the Signs of the Times, and in the way that critical theorists engendered philosophizing during the same period. Mainly, Critical Theories and the Theology of the Signs of the Times emphasize the shift from conceptual thinking to thinking that is socially and historically grounded. As such, both focus on the critique of the reified society where the suffering poor are oppressed all the more. In view of the foregoing, this essay discusses the following main themes: 1) basic impulses of critical theory; 2) main points of the Theology of Signs of the Times, and; 3) intersecting points between Critical Theory and the Theology of the Signs of the Times.
Luz Y Saber, Jan 28, 2013