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Book Review: Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies Volume 14 Article 19 January 2001 Book Review: "Finding Jesus in Dharma: Christianity in India" M. Thomas Thangaraj Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/jhcs Part of the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Thangaraj, M. Thomas (2001) "Book Review: "Finding Jesus in Dharma: Christianity in India"," Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies: Vol. 14, Article 19. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7825/2164-6279.1262 The Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies is a publication of the Society for Hindu-Christian Studies. The digital version is made available by Digital Commons @ Butler University. For questions about the Journal or the Society, please contact [email protected]. For more information about Digital Commons @ Butler University, please contact [email protected]. Thangaraj: Book Review: "Finding Jesus in Dharma: Christianity in India" Book Reviews 51 controversies have a long history in which both Indians and Europeans have Francis X. Clooney, S.J. participated vigorously. Boston College Finding Jesus in Dharma: Christianity in India. Chaturvedi. Badrinath. ISPCK: Delhi, 2000, xii + 217 pp. THE HISTORY of the encounter between Hinduism. The author finds that the Syrian Christianity and Hinduism is a fascinating Orthodox tradition in India has more yet frustrating project due tothe complexity successfully accommodated itself into the of both religious traditions and their Dharmic ordering of life in India than any of respective histories. Chaturvedi Badrinath, a the other Christian traditions in India. The Hindu philosopher and thinker, offers in this next three chapters deal specifically with the book . a penetrating analysis of this encounter between Protestant Christianity encounter, which both broadens and deepens and the Dharmic communities. They outline our understandings of both traditions. Since two types of Christianity, viz., an abusive his analysis takes Jesus and Dharma as its Christianity that tragically fails to operative categories, the book opens by understand the Hindu mind and life, and a stating, "For me, Jesus Christ is the perfect sympathetic Christianity that, in spite of its embodiment of dharma." (p.l). Badrinath good intentions, fails to grasp the core of offers a way to understand what dharma what it means to live in a Dharmic society. stands for by looking at its three attributes: Badrinath highlights some of the failures of prabhava, dharana and a-himsa. Thus Christianity in dealing with matters such as dharma is that which is nurturing life, caste and image worship. He also exposes supporting all living beings, and securing both the problems and complexities in freedom from violence. Given such a view attempts at self-governance of the Christian of dharma, the author goes on to claim that church in India and the processes of the encounter between Christianity and indigenisation of the Christian faith within Hinduism in India is the interaction between the Indian and Dharmic setting. "a deep sense of Hindu reverence for Jesus" While the earlier chapters focussed and "an equally deep rejection of missionary attention on what Western missionaries in arrogance." (pJ). The rest of the book is the India thought and wrote, the seventh chapter unfolding or unpacking of this claim. shifts attention to Indian Christian The author begins with a very brief theologians of the 19th and 20th centuries summary of Christianity. He acknowledges who attempted to interpret 'Christianity in that the abstract view of Christianity he Hindu terms. The theologians considered in offers is not an invitation to forget neither this chapter include Goreh, Chenchiah, M. the manifestation of Christian faith in social Thomas, Raimon Panikkar and Paulos Mar practice, nor that the ideas of Christianity Gregorios. From this Badrinath concludes are dependent on the relationship between that: "Christianity would mean little to India church and state. This means that unless expressed in Dharmic idiom; but that "Christianity is the history of the Church." idiom is so alien to the temper of historical (p.7). Then follows an examination of the Christianity, and so indefinite in itself, that encounter between the Syrian Orthodox its use is best calculated to neutralise tradition and the Dharmic communities of whatever is distinctive in Christianity." India, and the meeting of Catholicism and (p.lIO). In the following chapter, the author Published by Digital Commons @ Butler University, 2001 1 Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies, Vol. 14 [2001], Art. 19 52 Book Reviews goes on to discuss the promise and problems identity, or the meeting of the Hindu and of dialogue between Hindus and Christians. Christian in India and abroad. Badrinath He highlights the fear of syncretism that dissuades a Western reader from containing pervades the Christian mind and ably shows Dharma within the confines of Western how the idea of syncretism is totally foreign definitions of religion, while he will not to the Dharmic mind. Thus dialogue allow an Indian reader to view Indian becomes difficult and dangerous given the Christianity simply as a carbon copy of profound differences between these two Western Christianity. There are a few places understandings of syncretism. Similar is the where one can detect lack of precision (for problem with regard to Christian and example using "Mar Thoma" to refer to all Dharmic understandings of pluralism. The Eastern Orthodox Christians in India). book ends with a call to bring together Jesus Barring that the book is very readable and and Dharma (the meaning of both rests in timely, since Christian and Hindu identities "faith, trust, caring, love and truth.") and .are matters of serious concern and debate. thus "bring together what is falsely The Index at the end of the book serves both separated, making a journey towards both." as an index of subj ects and authors and also (p.185). as an annotated Bibliography. This book is a This book is the work of a creative required text for all those who are interested mind that is able to lay bare some of the in and committed to Hindu-Christian complexities of the encounter between dialogue and collaboration. Christian faith and Dharma. The major strength of the book lies in its avowed refusal to accept reductionist views of M. Thomas Thangaraj Dharma, Christian faith, Indian Christian Emory University Living with Hindus, Hindu-Christian Dialogues: My Experiences and Reflections. Vandana Mataji. IJA: Bangalore and ISPCK: Delhi, 1999, xvi + 106 pp. VANDANA MATAJI (Sister Dhalla, rscj) had come in contact with inspiring teachers. will already be known to many readers of Her conversion to Catholicism stirred up the the Bulletin. She has written books on "Sophia College case" which almost cost the Christian Ashrams and on J apa, edited the college its accreditation to Mumbai monumental Sabda, Sakti, Sangam, has University. Never one to do things half­ given retreats and lectured widely in heartedly, she not only got baptized but England, America and Australia on Hindu­ joined the order and entered a three-year Christian dialogue. Living with Hindus noviceship in England. Back in India, she provides in the first part a fairly detailed started teaching at Sophia College where she narrative of the author's background and also founded a Bharatiya Sanskriti Parishad dialogue experiences, and in the second part (Indian Culture Academy) in which students some scholarly reflections on issues explored Indian literature and music - then a connected with Hindu Christian dialogue. novelty in college under Western religious She briefly writes about her Zoroastrian leadership. upbringing, her family and the pain it caused A further turning point in her life her parents when she decided to become a became her participation in the 1968 All­ Christian. As a student in Sophia College India Seminar "The Church in India Today" (Mumbai), under the direction of sisters of in Bangalore, at which over 500 delegates the Congregation of the Sacred Heart, she reflected on a great many crucial issues then https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/jhcs/vol14/iss1/19 DOI: 10.7825/2164-6279.1262 2.
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