THE WITNESS OF THE ‘THIRD CHRIST’ AND FUNDAMENTALISM VIS-À-VIS RELIGIONS-IN-DIALOGUE

Abstract

This article argues that the witness of Jesus becomes all the more relevant and significant in the present scenario of cultural fragmentations, political polarizations and religious fundamentalism. The discussion mainly dwells on the “Third-Witness” of Jesus which is beyond religious and dogmatic constrains of Jesus’ testimony and mission. The witness of the “Third Christ” is existential, realizational and experiential. The article describes the importance of developing a Christology of ‘Third Christ’ of awakening in the present multi-faith contexts and how Jesus can become a vital agency as well as empowering consciousness of this new fellowship of devotees/disciples of Jesus outside the borders of the Church, especially in the Asian scenario. This “Third Christ” is by and large, Asian, both in substance and style. The article develops further the concept of the ‘Third Christ’ meditating upon the meaning of Jesus’ Cross. It also points out that Jesus the Risen One and his Witness transcend historical constraints and anthropocentric notions. Jesus, the Risen, as the Author of Life goes beyond anthropocentric profiling of God. The article indicates how such Christological dimensions can be developed drawing inspiration from Asian/Indian myths. The implications of the “Third Christ” for inter-faith dialogues are also discussed.