A CRITICAL STUDY OF CONTEXTUAL THEOLOGIES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO GONDS

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Date
2018
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Faculty of Theology Gospel & Plough Institute of Theology Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences, Allahabad, UP. India
Abstract
The word „Contextualization‟ is termed as ―incarnation,‖ ―indigenization,‖ ―inculturation‖, and ―local‖. The very act of creation depicts the engagement of God in the world and above all the incarnation is the supreme act of God becoming human being as ‗Jesus of Nazareth‟. He sent His disciples to all over the world to accomplish mission of His saving act for the salvation of the whole creation; but major challenge lies that how to imply the Gospel to a cultural context without diluting its true meaning effectively. The missionaries commonly ignored Asian or Indian spirituality, aspiration and frustration. The local folk story, music, songs, culture and traditions were generally considered as heathen. More over, the contributions to Indian Christian theology in the past came from the high caste converts perpetuated to Brahmanic theology. However, Asian and Indian contextual theologies emphasized on social, political and economical issues of oppressed, exploited and raised voice for their liberation. This research focuses on Gondwana contextual theology it is an evolving theology emerging from Adivasi Gonds of Madhya Pradesh, commonly known as mool – Adivasi original inhabitant of India, speak Gondi and live fairly enough in isolation from the caste dominant system of Indian history. Gondi folk stories carry valuable characteristics of Lingo, a liberator of Gond community. He was killed by his Gond brothers but God revived Lingo with His nectar. Lingo after founding Gond society went back to His gods. The Gonds of Dori and surrounding villages still live in poverty; they are under privileged, surrounded by caste system, injustice and exploitation. An action oriented theology like Gospel and Plow‘ can be one of the tools for their transformation as Gonds who are proud to be called as Koiture means people of the earth, they sing a song “Deval ka danda, Dharti, Mutva Dev, Kond ro Deval ko danda,Dharti Matal Ki Sewa Dev Sewa. Gonds believe Earth belongs to God and He revolves it with his stick according to His wish. Gonds greet each other by saying Sewa means service; let us serve the earth as we are made of earth and the Service to earth is a real service to God therefore Gospel and Plough or any other method can be helpful for transformation of Gonds.
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Ph.D. thesis
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