THE GOSPEL IN ASIA

Authors

  • Isaac Padinjarekuttu DHARMARAM VIDYA KSHETRAM (DVK)

Keywords:

GOSPEL

Abstract

In this brief historical sketch, I would like to draw your attention to
some of the less remembered facts and events in the history of the
missions in Asia. The evangelisation of Asia did not begin with St
Francis Xavier. It did not begin during the Vasco da Gama era. It
began on that glorious day when Christ came on the shores of the Sea
of Galilee announcing, “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and
believe in the Gospel” (Mk1:15). It took another step forward when
he sent out his disciples two by two saying, “Preach as you go… Heal
the sick, raise the dead…You received without paying, give without
pay” (Mt 10:7-9).

Author Biography

Isaac Padinjarekuttu, DHARMARAM VIDYA KSHETRAM (DVK)

Missionary activity was an integral part of Christianity from the
beginning. Without it, there would have been no world Christianity
with its more than two billion followers today. This success was,
however, not achieved without struggles and problems as every age
posed its own specific questions to and criticisms against mission.
The pluralistic, highly secular and globalized contemporary world is
no exception. Cultures and religions of the world have come closer
and interact with each other in an increasingly interdependent and
networked world. At the same time there is also the urge to assert
one’s identity, and in the process, respect and tolerance for each other
and the correct way to communicate with each other have become
problematic. How can Christianity meaningfully speak about mission
in a world of religious and cultural pluralism with its exclusive truth
claims? Such claims are viewed sceptically and are even rejected by
the postmodern world. This scepticism cannot be washed away
because the fact remains that there is no rational or empirical
foundation for such claims, and added to that, there is the historical
burden of Christian mission, although one cannot close the eyes to
the immense religious and cultural contributions of Christianity to
humanity.

References

Stephen B. Bevans & Roger P. Schroeder, Constants in Context, Maryknoll:Orbis, 2004.

Irwin Dale & Scott W. Sunquist, History of the World Christian Movement,Bangalore: TPI, 2004.

Martin Palmer, The Jesus Sutras, New York: Ballantine Publishing Group,2001.

Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 28 a.

Edward Norman, Secularisation, London: Continuum, 2002.

Sentinel 6.11.04.

Maitri Upanishad 6:24.

Koran VI, 48,49.

Downloads

Published

2011-12-31

How to Cite

Padinjarekuttu, I. (2011). THE GOSPEL IN ASIA. Asian Horizons, 5(04), 680–697. Retrieved from https://dvkjournals.in/index.php/ah/article/view/2373

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 04 (2011): ASIAN HORIZONS

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)