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.
Description
Ph.D. thesis
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