CHRISTIAN THOUGHT IN ASIA

Course Description: This is a survey course which considers how various Asian Christian
thinkers have approached Christ and the gospel. Special emphasis is given to the theological reflection in India.

Course Objectives:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. To introduce students to contextual theology To have the understanding of different models of contextual theology Enable students to understand the need for contextual theology Enable students aware of different contemporary contextual theologies Study the selected Indian contextual theological response.

Course Outline: Unit- 1. Introduction to Contextual Theology

Lesson- I What is Contextual Theology? 1. Definition 2. Historical background of Contextual theology (p.63-67) The Bible and theology... 3. Two components of Contextual thelogy (p.67-75) 4. Hemeneutical principles of Contextual theology (p.99-100) The Bible and Theology in Asian Contexts Lesson-II Why doing theology should be Contextual ? 1. Biblical foundation (p.51,52,82-90)The Bible and Theology in Asian Contexts 2. Mission of the Church (106-109) The Bible and Theology in Asian Contexts 3. Issues and challenges in Asia 101-106 The Bible and Theology in Asian Contexts

Unit- 2

Criteria and Models of Contextual Theologies

Lesson- III Criteria for Contextual theology (p.61-120)Mangoes or Bananas? 1. Sociopolitical concerns 2. Missiological concern 3. Inculturation 4. Christian tradition and Religious pluralism ( p.61-121) Mangoes or Bananas? Lesson- IV Models of Contextual theology 1. Translational model 2. Anthropological model 3. Praxis model 4. Synthetic model 5. Transcendental model

Unit- 3

Background and Impulse for Contextual Theology in India

(Sunand Sumitra's book.Theology in Indian Context Lesson- V Background 1. The Socio-Political context 2. Religious- Cultural context Lesson- VI 1. 2. 3. Impulse for Contextual theology in India (Class notes) Syrian trdition Roman catholic traditiona Protestant tradition

Unit- 4 Asian Contextual Theologies

Lesson- V Asian Theologies 1. Dalit theology 2. Minjung theology 3. Theology of the poor Lesson-VI.4 Pain of God theology 5.Third Eye theology 6. Water Buffalo theology

Unit- 5

Indian Contextual Theological Response (part-I)

Lesson- VII : K.C.Sen: The Indian Renaissance Krishna Mohan Banerjee and Nehemiah Goreh: Indian Christian apologetic response Lesson-VIII: Brahmabandav Upadhyay and Raimundo Panikkar: advaitic understanding of Christ

Unit- 6

Indian Contextual Theological Response (part-II)

Lesson- IX : Sadhu Sunder Singh and Appasamy: Christian Bhakti tradition P. Chenchiah: Re-thinking Christianity Lesson- X : P.D.Devanandan and S.J.Samartha: Inter-religious dialogue M.M.Thomas: Praxis oriented