Dalit theology

Dalit theology

Dalit theology is a branch of Christian theology that emerged among the Dalit caste in India in the 1980s. It shares a number of themes with liberation theology, which arose two decades earlier, including a self-identity as a people undergoing Exodus.[1] Dalit theology sees hope in the "Nazareth Manifesto" of Luke 4,[2] where Jesus speaks of preaching "good news to the poor ... freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind" and of releasing "the oppressed."[3]

Contents

Development

A major proponent of Dalit theology was Arvind P. Nirmal (1936–95), a Dalit Christian in the Church of North India.[4] Nirmal criticised Brahminic dominance of Christian theology in India, and believed that the application of liberation theology to India should reflect the struggle of Dalits,[4] who make up about 70% of Christians in India.[5][6] Nirmal also criticised the Marxist element within South American liberation theology.[1] Nirmal drew on the concept of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53[7] to identify Jesus himself as a Dalit – "a waiter, a dhobi, and bhangi."[8]

Dalit theologians have seen passages in the gospels, such as Jesus' sharing a common drinking vessel with the Samaritan woman in John 4,[9] as indicating his embracing of Dalitness.[10] The parable of the Good Samaritan is also seen as significant, providing a "life-giving message to the marginalized Dalits and a challenging message to the non-Dalits."[11]

M. E. Prabhakar expanded on the Dalitness of Jesus, stating that "the God of the Dalits ... does not create others to do servile work, but does servile work Himself."[12] He also suggested that Jesus experienced human, and especially Dalit, brokenness in his crucifixion.[12] Prabhakar has developed a Dalit creed, which reads in part:

"Our cries for liberation from harsh caste-bondage
Were heard by God, who came to us in Jesus Christ
To live with us and save all people from their sins."[13]

Vedanayagam Devasahayam (b. 1949) of the Church of South India followed Nirmal as head of Dalit theology at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, and further developed Nirmal's ideas, writing a number of books.[14] Devasahayam later became bishop of the Church of South India's Madras Diocese.[14]

Dalit theology opposes indigenization movements within Indian Christian liturgy, since these are seen as reinforcing traditional caste hierarchies.[15] However, the incorporation of some pre-Sanskritic Indian religious traditions is supported.[15]

Literature

  • Arvind P. Nirmal and V. Devasahayam, A Reader in Dalit Theology, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute, 1990, 180 pages.
  • V. Devasahayam, Outside the Camp: Bible Studies in Dalit Perspective, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute, 1992, 54 pages.
  • V. Devasahayam, Doing Dalit Theology in Biblical Key, Dept. of Research and Publications, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, 1997, 75 pages.
  • V. Devasahayam, Frontiers of Dalit Theology, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute / Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1997, 501 pages.
  • Masilamani Azariah, A Pastor's Search for Dalit Theology, Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2002, 211 pages.
  • Peniel Rajkumar, Dalit Theology and Dalit Liberation: Problems, Paradigms and Possibilities, Ashgate, 2010, 218 pages.
  • Keith Hebden, Dalit Theology and Christian Anarchism, Ashgate, 2011, 186 pages.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Anand Rao, Soteriologies of India and Their Role in the Perception of Disability, LIT Verlag Berlin-Hamburg-Münster, 2004, ISBN 382587205X, p. 232.
  2. ^ Jan Peter Schouten, Jesus as Guru: The Image of Christ Among Hindus and Christians in India, Rodopi, 2008, ISBN 9042024437, p. 247.
  3. ^ Luke 4, NIV (BibleGateway).
  4. ^ a b Hans Schwarz, Theology in a Global Context: The Last Two Hundred Years, Eerdmans, 2005, ISBN 0802829864, p. 529.
  5. ^ Carol Henderson Garcia and Carol E. Henderson, Culture and Customs of India, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002, ISBN 0313305137, p. 40.
  6. ^ Dalit Christians demand equality, Times of India, 14 February 2004.
  7. ^ Isaiah 53, NIV (BibleGateway).
  8. ^ Anand Rao, p. 233.
  9. ^ John 4, NIV (BibleGateway).
  10. ^ Adrian Bird, M.M. Thomas: Theological Signposts for the Emergence of Dalit Theology, PhD thesis, University of Edinburgh, February, 2008, p. 53–54.
  11. ^ M. Gnanavaram, "'Dalit Theology' and the Parable of the Good Samaritan," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, Vol. 15, No. 50, 59-83 (1993).
  12. ^ a b John Parratt, An Introduction to Third World Theologies, Cambridge University Press, 2004, ISBN 052179739X, p. 63.
  13. ^ Rowena Robinson, Christians of India, SAGE, 2003, ISBN 0761998225, pp. 199–200.
  14. ^ a b Hans Schwarz, p. 530.
  15. ^ a b Charles Stewart and Rosalind Shaw, Syncretism/Anti-Syncretism: The Politics of Religious Synthesis, Routledge, 1994, ISBN 041511117X, pp. 101–102.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dalit Christian — In the late 1880s the Marathi word Dalit was used by Mahatma Jotiba Phule for the outcasts and Untouchables who were oppressed and broken by Hindu society.[1] The term Dalit Christian (sometimes Christian Dalit) is used to describe those low… …   Wikipedia

  • Dalit Bahujan Shramik Union — AP DBSU AP Type Rights organisation Director Smt J.Sasikala (General Secretary) Location Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India …   Wikipedia

  • Dalit saints of Hinduism — Dalits who are a section of Hindu society, generally referred as lower castes, have produced several influential saints in Hindu tradition.[1][2][3][4] Some of the most notable Dalit Hindu saints are Ravidas, Kabir, Namdev, Chokha Mela, Sant… …   Wikipedia

  • Outline of Christian theology — Part of a series on Christianity   …   Wikipedia

  • Arvind P. Nirmal — Arvind P. Nirmal, (1936–1995) was a Dalit Christian theologian[1]. He questioned the Christian conversion of the upper castes, especially the Brahmin.[2]. A major proponent of Dalit theology, Nirmal argued that Jesus himself was a Dalit and that… …   Wikipedia

  • Caste system among Indian Christians — The Caste system among Indian Christians is attributed to the assimilation of local Hindu practices, which has caused caste distinctions to be retained after conversion. Some Christian groups have adapted the Indian caste system in diverse ways… …   Wikipedia

  • Hinduism and other religions — In the field of comparative religion, some have sought to discover similarities between Hinduism and other religions. Further information: Indian religions and Eastern religions Hinduism has a history of co existence with Buddhism and… …   Wikipedia

  • Christian movement — Part of a series on Christianity   …   Wikipedia

  • Christian movements — are theological, political, or philosophical interpretations of Christianity that are not generally represented by a specific church, sect, or denomination. Religious * The House Church or Simple Church movement is a worldwide shift of Christian… …   Wikipedia

  • Christianity and other religions — Part of a series on Christianity   …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”