This thesis speak of
the origin of Christianity in India, its development, growth, contribution to
the larger Indian Society and present challenges Christianity in India faces in
their mission of evangelization today.
1.
Apostolic
Origin:
·
One of the oldest and the strongest
tradition is the “Thomas Tradition”,
regarding the origin of Christianity in India.
·
This belief is supported by a powerful
and living tradition. There are at least 4 separate traditions on the apostolic
origin of Thomas Christians.
1.
The
south Indian Tradition:
· According
to this tradition, St Thomas the apostle landed in Kodangallur in 52 CE and preached and baptized the natives.
· He
converted high caste Hindus and established churches.
· He
then moved to Coramandal coast to preach and suffered martyrdom and was buried
at Mylapore.
· This
tradition is found in the folk songs like – Margam Kali and Ramban Songs.
· Some
written documents were burnt following the synod of Diamper.
2. The North Indian Tradition:
·
Evidence for the North Indian apostolate
of St Thomas is found in “The Acts of
Thomas” which is an apocryphal book.
·
According to this St Thomas converted
the Royal family of Gundophar. This
figure assured a certain historical value with the discovery of some coins in
North India in 1833.
3. The Patristic
Traditions
·
Writings of the fathers of the church
point to the preaching of the gospel by St Thomas in India.
Before
th council of Nycea :
Clement of Alexandria ,
Eusebius , Origin (St John Chrysostom, St Ambrose, St Jerome) say that he came
to india through the existing trade routes and reached Parthia and evangelized there. From there he went to India
and converted many and was martyred
there.
After
the Council of Nycea:
·
Gregory of Nazianzus, Paulinus of Nola link St Thomas with them.
·
St Ephreim of Edessa has composed hymns
in honour of St Thomas where he mentions
his apostolate in India.
4. Tomb of Mylapore:
·
East Syrian and Malabar traditions were
unanimous about the apostolate of St Thomas in Kerala.
·
The truth of the tomb of St Thomas at
Mylapore.
Christianity
Preached by apostle Barthalomew:
·
Tradition that attributes the presence
of Christianity in India to the apostle Barthalomew.
·
He came to Kalyan region of Bombay and
preached there.
·
After preaching Jesus Christ to Indians
he left behind the gospel of Matthew in Hebrew.
·
It has less historical evidence or
support of the traditions.
Christianity preached
by merchant and missionaries of the east Syrian and Pursian Church
·
East Syrian merchants and missionaries
came to India from the 4thn C and preached Christianity in India.
·
Well known names are - Thomas of Cana -4th
C, Brother Sopor and Prot( 9th -10th C).
·
This view is accepted by historians and
scholars but it doesn’t rule out the possibility of st Thomas coming to India.
2.
For many centuries Indian
Christianity Characterized as - Hindu in Culture – Christian in faith, oriental
in worship (by Prof. Placid Podipara)
Hindu
in Culture:
Thomas Christians lived
in an integral part of Kerala society.
Adopted – societal
customs – marriage customs – marriage ceremonies of their fellow Hindus
Cultural practices like – songs,
ceremonial baths, giving sweets, system of Dowry
·
Christians seemed to be like noble
castes.
·
men dressed like the Nair Caste
·
Women , More modestly dressed like Nair
women
·
Hygiene and Cleanliness – those of high
caste Hindus.
·
Followed local calendar.
·
Built churches like Hindu Temples.
Christian
in faith
Believed
in – Trinity
Incarnation
Sacraments
Venerated
the cross
Lived
Christian faith
Celebrated
Christian feasts.
Liturgical
seaons like –advent, lent, Easter
Gave
importance to Holy Spirit.
Oriental
in Worship (Liturgy) :
·
They did not develop their own liturgy
rather received eat Syrian liturgy – that is prayers and formulas – Act of
worship were those of east Syrian church.
·
had an arch deacon
·
Participatory Church – “Palliyogams”
3.
Western Christianity was introduced into
India from 16th Century.
Motives
for discovering new sea routes was –increasing commerce(activities)
·
1498 – Vasco –de-Gama – first successful
voyage to India.
Slowly the Portugee aquird land in
India,
·
1510 Under viceroy Alphonso, Portugese
captured Goa.
·
1534 Diocese of Goa was erected and the
patronage was given to the king. They began to spread Chritian faith.
·
1542 Francis Xavier arrived in India –
preached the gospel in various parts of the country, especially in Goa and
Tamil Nadu.
·
1558 Sea of Cochin was erected.
·
1606 Mylapore was made Bishopric, taken
from the jurisdiction of Cochin.
·
16th Century, Portuguese
missionary enterprise in India, reaped rich Harvest.
New Christian communities belonging to
the Latin rite sprang up. along the coast from Gujarat to Kerala and from
Kerala to TN.
Portuguese laid a strong foundation for the growth
of Christianity in India. But the drawbacks were many too.
Drawbacks:
·
Quasi – identification of Christianizing
with westernizing.
·
Convert were asked to adopt Portugese
proper names and surnames.
·
Western dress was part of conversion.
·
This prevented well placed Hindus from
becoming Christians.
·
1606 – Robert De Nobili a Jesuit
declared himself a member of the Raja Caste.
·
He lived like an Indian and brought to
the church a number of high caste Hindus.
Efforts
to Latinize Christians
·
Portuguese missionaries and priest had a
sense of superiority over Thomas Christians.
·
Their aim to Latinize was to substitute
the Chaldean Patriarchal jurisdiction with the Portuguese Padroado
jurisdiction.
·
This attempts at latinization resulted in
the synod of Diamper on 20 June , 1599.
·
After this many joined Latin Church.
·
Jan 3, 1653 – Coonan cross Oath brought division.
4.
One of
the significant developments in Indian Christianity in the 19th and
20th centuries has been mass conversions.
·
19th C saw the extension of
missionary movements, Mass conversions.
·
Backward communities like Parawas in TN
·
Tribals in Chotanagpur
·
North east states.
·
Dalits – Andra Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar
ChristianMissionaries
·
Promoted education.
·
Raised social and economic states.
Reasons
for the success of Mass conversions
·
Role of Land
·
Role of coloured policies – CNTA, SPTA
etc.
·
Status Factor
·
Freedom from societal injustice
·
Prophetic role of missionaries like Fr
Lievans.
·
Absence of intellectual systems in
tribals and Dalits
·
Differentiation and identity formation
Protestant Christianity in India
·
Until 18th C, protestantalism
wasn’t present in India.
·
1706 German Lutharans arrived in India.
1.
Barthalomew Ziganbalg – translated the
Nt into Tamil.
2.
Henry Pluestine worked hard- hand in
hand with Bathalomew.
·
1786: Anglicans arrived in India.
·
1793: Baptist mission in India – 1792 :
William Carry
·
Beginning of 19th century
there were 500 protestant missions – Alexander Duff a Scottish missionary.
·
1830 – Missionary societies in India
Focus :
·
Social reforms and English Education
·
Naidus of South and Tribals of Bengal
embraced Protestantism.
5.
Encounter between Christianity and Indian cultures has been
superficial although there has emerged a significant Indian christian theology.
Bbecause
of Many problems.
1.
Missionary enterprise :
·
Implanted culture which is western and
not Indian.
·
Colonial attitude
·
Cultural and religious imposition.
2.
Alienation
·
Cultural
·
Economic
·
Social
·
Political
Religious
– within the church , Outside the church &. in the
government
3.
Indian Theologians were third world
theologians …..
·
Rome’s imposition on the Indian Church
·
India’s dependency on Rome for economic
sustenance.
4.
Lack of Credibility in the Church:
·
Enmity between Catholics and
Protestants.
·
Superficial: Not within tribal symbols,
Not within cultural understanding, not within my ethos – so it looks
artificial.
Indian Theology :
·
Robert de Nobili , Matteo Ricci,
Amalorphavadoss, Raymando Panickar, Thomas Hahx,, IM Fathers, Appasamy, Brama
bandav Upadhyay,Wilfred, George Saurus Prabhu, Michael Amoldoss etc with Indian
mind interpreted the message of Jesus Christ for the socio – economic,
cultural, political and religious reality in India.
·
Present Indian Christians theologians as
Indian Christians have responded to the needs of the poor, the oppressed, the women, the tribes and the laity through different ways:
·
Dalit Theology , Inter faith Dialogue,
Ecumenism, Liberation Theology, Inculturation
5.
Contemporary Indian Society poses many challenges to the Christian
Churches and their mission in India today.
Challenges : Caste ystem, Poverty,Multi
Cultures,Many Religions
Our
Mission Today:
·
Promote wholeness and holiness in human
community
·
Shift from Royal mentality to servant
mentality
·
Inter Religious Dialogue
·
Healing the wounds
·
Remove mutual suspicion
·
Remove the division between religions
and celebrate the differences
·
Church should take public stance on
vital national issues like
– HR violation
·
Injustice done to any section of the
people.
·
Church should be truly Indian and
Genuinely Christian.
Insert the Christian faith 
