Living Theologies: Reflections from Diverse Specificities is a compendium of theological, ecclesial and missional articulations from different perspectives that speak to the situations we live by. These reflections have emerged out of the intersections of faith, culture, traditions, ethics, etc., as they provide the rich resource for theologising in a particular context. As we live in difficult situations that are compounded by the pandemic, economic crisis, crony capitalism, discrimination, division and so on, these reflections reassert and reaffirm our faith in God whom we believe. As our journey of faith is beset with problems and issues that threaten our life and the livelihood of people, these reflections provide the means by which we can strengthen our faith in God as he leads us on. To that end, if these reflections find meaning and relevance, to enlarge the horizons of our understanding of God's plan for us; to provoke and strengthen our faith and encourage us to move forward with God who enables us by his presence to cope with the situations, the editors would be satisfied.
Dr. Indukuri John Mohan Razu is a Professor of Christian Social Ethics. He has taught at the United Theological College (UTC), Bengaluru, and Clarke Theological College (CTC), Mokokchung Nagaland. Presently, he is serving as a Consultant and Research Fellow for the Doctoral Division of ACTS Academy of Higher Education, Bengaluru. He contributes articles to international and national journals and periodicals; a regular contributor to Nagaland Post (largest circulated newspaper in Nagaland). He is also a member of International Academy of Practical Theologians (IAPT) and People's Union of Civil Rights (PUCL), Bengaluru. Out of his various edited and authored books, Ethics of Inclusion and Equality (3 Volumes) got published by Gobethics, net, Geneva, Switzerland. Rev. Arun Kumar Wesley is a former Presbyter of the CSI Karnataka Diocese. He was the Editorial Consultant at Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society. He lives with his wife Rita and son Ashish in Bangalore, Karnataka.
I am happy to commend to you this volume of reflections in honour of Rev. Dr Vincent Rajkumar. As I have known him personally he deserves such an honour. having headed the course of an institution for years on an intersectional route where religion and society were prominent in study and research. This volume of festschrift is the outcome of a group of academicians, theologians, students and others during a seminar organized on Theology in the age of Empire on 28 to 29 February 2020 in Mangalore by CISRS that resolved to bring out a festschrift in honour of its director. This volume takes the reader on a unique journey of sorts where it allows realities, analyses and perspectives to meet, converge, diverge or sometimes collide. The intersection of these manifestations locate critical thinking and creativity. It is the place where theological, ecclesiascal and missional thoughts, methods and positions get sharpened, regenerated, redirected and reoriented. Thus, theology. ecclesiology and missiology carried out at an intersection will take on a totally different form from that where it emerges from a straight road or an autobahn. Theologizing requires its own rhythm, heartbeat and thinking, a form of courage and humility too. The articles in this volume are written from intersectional experiences that manifest culture, religion, language, faith etc., overriding, colliding and overlapping each other in a particular context. Therefore, intersectionality forms the core of these articles as the intersectional experiences provide the material for theological, ecclesiological and missiological articulations. Woven together, the context is taken as the determining factor from where critical thinking emerges. The topography of Indian experience is marked by multiple intersections. India has multiple terrains with hierarchical gradations that meet at these intersections and the implications are important for faith communities to understand and address the issues that emerge in time and space. However, the theological endeavour and effort that apparently become evident in this book are not only important for faith communities in the Indian context, but also for others as well.
This book draws together the work of theologians, ecclesiologists, missiologists engaged in their respective fields, those who have just entered and others who are beginning to develop their voices in the emerging conversations in recent times showing the prospect of living theologics that endur and enliven. It is at this juncture, as editors we do see the vital importance of intersectionality. Any festschrift or book that intersects theology, ecclesiology and missiology is most welcome at a time when so much of hardship and havoc are being faced and confronted by the global humanity. The deadly pandemic has unleashed a huge devastation by decimating the entire human activity across countries resulting in the loss of lives, jobs, businesses and a host of other things. It is at this juncture, we see the importance of intersectionality which is vital and significant, in view of the fact that it interfaces critical and creative theologies, ecclesiology and missiology. Further, it offers a gamut of spaces and perspectives when it comes to celebrating life in all fullness from varied vantage points in the areas of theologies, ecclesiology and missiology which get evolved and developed in response to different Indian locales. As against this backdrop, it is our hope that the convergence and divergence of a variety of voices and the exploration of contemporary issues will ensure a continuity of critical theological reflection where Christian faith is increasingly being challenged by the onset of sinister forces around us. We chose to include a wide range of voices from across the spectrum of age and experience, as well as across lines of gender, region, culture and denomination. As editors we recognize that a single volume like this cannot represent all the voices, but only a fraction of the diversity of living theologies that intersect the Indian context today. Consensus on key features of living theologies with diverse foci that pitches the very notion of contextuality at the center intersecting ecclesiological and missiological discourses locating around a common framework that includes biblical principles such as a justice, hope, liberation, shalom, love, dignity, freedom and equality serves as a regulating point of ongoing debate and reflection on God of Life in India and elsewhere. This volume seeks to provide a forum for living theological voices on important issues and topics of the day at a time of socio-economic, religio-cultural, political, missiological and ecclesial upheavals.
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