verandering van spijs doet eten: alles op z'n ei-


gen tijd ~ er was eens ...
"Western civilization? A good idea ...!


In 1941 Stanley Samartha began his theological studies at the UTC in Bangalore, which was the first ecumenical theological institution established in Asia. Founded in 1910 as a joint effort of several protest-ant denominational mission societies, it was supported by many ecumenical visionaries. The stated aim was to train a higher class of agents for work as pastors, evangelists, and theological teachers, to lead the church and to bring the message of the gospel forcefully. Staying in Bangalore was a tremendously widening experience to Sam, because here he met students of different christian denominations for the first time and there was also a staff of highly qualified lecturers, Indian as well as western teachers.

Devanandan, who was professor of philosophy and history of religion from 1932 to 1949, created a grest impression upon his students by his thorough and sympathetic way of teaching hinduism; the British missionary Ward was professor of systematic theology and Hebrew. Some forty years later, after his death,
Sam paid a tribute to him. One of his impressive features, according to SJS, was his sensitivity to the feelings of Indian students in a time of war and in a periode just before the independence of India.

The freedom movement in India and the Second World War deeply influenced and shocked Samartha:
the satyagraha movement in India, the war against the British of non-violent passive resistance, led by Mahatma Gandhi, made people critically aware of Western dominance. The impact of the nationalistic spirit began to be evident at the college as well. Although teh work and contribution of many Western missionaries at UTC were appreciated, there was a growing criticism of Western forms of christian presence in India. Participation of the students at the United Theological College, including SJS, in the struggle for an independent India, however, was more emotional than political.

In those days, Sam's interest was aroused in the intellectual contributions of several Indian leaders.
Gandhi's respect for Jesus Christ, Radhakrishnan's remarkable apologetics for the Hindu tradition in asso-ciation with Western thought, and Rabindranath Tagore's songs and poems deeply impressed SJS & laid
the foundation for his later research. An Indian theologian, who made an impact on Samartha, was Pandi-peddi Chenchiah, a leading figure of the 'Rethinking Group,' a name which was derived from their best known publication Tethinking Christianity in India. Chenchiah once delivered a lecture at a meeting of the local YMCA, of which SJS was a member. Especially his commitment to Christ and his criticisms of Western Christianity stayed in Samartha's memory.

Ik
bedoel maar:
het kan ook anders!
"Heidense", joodse, christelijke,
hindoe & moslim [e.d.] traditions are so
intertwined in history that sometimes it seems
impossible to seperate them anymore? Er bestaan geen 'pure' bewegingen,
separatisme is alleen nog maar een doodlopende weg & de enige manier voor de toekomst van allen
is het kennisnemen van elkanders oorsprong, ontwikkeling & gezamenlijke voortgang:
ook secularisme is after all ondenkbaar
zonder op de hoogte te zijn
van alles 'wat eraan
voorafging'
...
engel
13 sep 2010 - meld ongepast verhaal
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Profielfoto van Asih
Asih, man, 80 jaar
   
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