Indian Approaches to the Theology of Liberation (original) (raw)
AI-generated Abstract
The article examines Indian approaches to liberation theology, emphasizing the social, political, and economic challenges in India. It argues for the necessity of assessing societal structures through a Christian lens, advocating for a reconstruction of social order to minimize sin's influence. By analyzing unique aspects of Indian theology, the paper differentiates between local and global theological perspectives on liberation, stressing the significance of negative expressions in articulating concepts of non-acquisitiveness and human relationships. Furthermore, it suggests that liberation praxis must consider the ultimate goals regarding structures versus individual liberation.
Related papers
Introduction This paper begins with discussion on the three missionaries, viz., Nobili, Farquhar and Stanley Jones. It focuses mainly on the life, context, formulation and articulation of theology, theological contributions and appraisal. The biographical background gives the place of origin, denomination and place of missionary activity. The context enables to know the formative factors which influenced them to formulate their particular theology in their particular context and time. In formulation and articulation of theology, the distinct missionary strategies and expression of Christ/Christianity in response to their background is indicated. The theological contributions of the missionaries present distinguishable and dissimilarities in their theological articulation for the Indian Church. Appraisal depicts the inadequacy and strength, even ir/ relevancy of their theology in today's climate and atmosphere.
The Indian experience of the plurality of religions offers challenges as well as opportunities for Indian Christian theology in general, and Indian theology of religions in particular. Instead of the splendid isolation from other religions that the Church seemed to have enjoyed in the historical past, the contemporary times call for existential encounters between Christians and the followers of other religions. Against this multi-religious backdrop, a clear and unprejudiced perception of other religions and their role in the economy of salvation is called forth in order to make sense of the Christian faith and the unique role that the Church assumes in reaching out to the whole human race. Theologians, who are existentially familiar with the fact of Christians living amidst people belonging to, and practising divergent religious faiths, and well-versed in the evolution of Christian theological positions as well as the teachings of the Church in this regard, are in a better position to develop a more solid theology of religions. They can also offer effective solutions to the theological problems and practical ambiguities that we face within the domain of religious pluralism.
'Social Dimension' in Christian Mission: An Appraisal of Social Mission of the Church in India
International Journal of Research and Innovation of Social Science, 2024
The social dimension of the Christian mission played a vital role in the mission of the church. This has to do with uplifting the poor, eradicating social evil, reflecting fraternity, bringing social justice, seeing the progress of better humanity, peace, unity, etc. With the arrival of colonial rule in India, the mission of the church appeared to be engaged in so many social activities. Foreign missionaries arrived with their strategy, but with the pressure of colonial rulers in India, they could have achieved exactly what the mission of the church was supposed to be. However, an attempt to strengthen society is always as appreciable as service to God in favour of human beings. In the present era, the social dimension has gone down in the mission of the church. Therefore, it is important to research for better humanity when one thinks of the service of the church. Even amid difficulties in the church, social division is seen as a service to God. Here I appeal for continuing the social acts in Indian society in service of God as a reflection of the true mission of church. For this article, I have used the technique of socio-historic analysis in an ethno-religious approach.
'Religious Freedom' in Hindu Thought: Rethinking Christian Mission in India
The central aim of this paper is to excavate historical conceptual resources on religious freedom and dialogue, internal to the dominant Hindu traditions which can provide Christian traditions intellectual scaffolding for dialogue with Hindu traditions that could even potentially lead to conversion. This excavation is done at three moments within the broad history of Hindu traditions. The first moment is from classical Hindu thought based on the commentarial tradition on the Bhagavad Gita. The second moment is from the medieval era particularly from the 11th century onwards in the use of the concept of Samvada. In its historical usage, Samvada has been developed and used as a method for philosophical discussion and debate between different philosophical and religious traditions. I will explore the structure of a vāda or inter-tradition debate, through the Buddhist-Hindu debates found in the 11th century Udayana’s treatise Atmatattvaviveka to argue that within the broader Hindu/Indian history there are resources to engage and learn from traditions different from one’s own and even to convert. The final moment is taken from a contemporary fieldwork done in Maharashtra, particularly in Vidarbha and Nagpur. The insights gleaned from conversation with the Bhatki community in Vidarbha reveals the existence of rich resources within contemporary Hindu traditions for space for the other that includes the possibility of conversion. Therefore, this paper has three sections: in the first section, I reinterpret the Hindutva response to Christianity to argue that even in this apparent foe of Christianity in India there is an openness for an indigenous kind of Christianity in India. Here I share the example of the possibility of the Christian Naga Hindus. In the second section I excavate three moments from the history of Hindu traditions that provide insights on religious freedom and dialogue. The final concluding section consists of a reflection on Christian mission in India that follows the Indian rules of engagement to be at play in the dialogue of Hindu and Christian traditions in India. Against this backdrop, who knows, perhaps a form of Christianity might emerge that is truly Christian and truly Indian.
Loading Preview
Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.