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In Search of a Contextual Pastoral Theology for Dalits in India

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In Search of a Contextual Pastoral Theology for Dalits in India University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 1-1-2012 In Search of a Contextual Pastoral Theology for Dalits in India Johnson Petta University of Denver Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Petta, Johnson, "In Search of a Contextual Pastoral Theology for Dalits in India" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 512. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/512 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. IN SEARCH OF A CONTEXTUAL PASTORAL THEOLOGY FOR DALITS IN INDIA __________________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the University of Denver and the Iliff School of Theology Joint PhD Program University of Denver _____________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy ______________ by Johnson Petta August 2012 Advisor: Dr. Larry Kent Graham i Author: Johnson Petta Title: In Search of a Contextual Pastoral Theology for Dalits in India Advisor: Dr. Larry Kent Graham Degree Date: August 2012 Abstract Current approaches to the ministry of pastoral care and counseling in the South Indian context lack a serious grasp of the critical needs of survival, liberation and cultural identity of the Dalit Christian communities. Prevailing models of care that are individualistic and based on clerical hierarchy have failed to give adequate attention to the systemic, cultural and psychological dimensions of the contextual needs of the Dalit Christians and foster a shared understanding of their problems. The theological and cultural sources that inform the pastoral care practices are not indigenous to their context and therefore fail to provide a critical and constructive perspective on the needs that arise in the context of caste oppression. This study develops a communal contextual and intercultural approach to pastoral care and theology that is interdisciplinary in nature and informed by indigenous sources of knowledge, Dalit liberation theology as well as Latin American liberation psychology to respond to the contextual needs of the Dalit people. The communal contextual approach seeks to understand pastoral needs in their wider sociocultural and political contexts that include the realities of caste prejudice, patriarchy and sexism, among others. The communal contextual approach also expands the ministry of care from being the exclusive domain of the ordained clergy to include caring resources of the faith community, thereby affirming the collective subjectivity of the Dalit communities. The intercultural approach offers a framework not only for facilitating a healthy, constructive ii and respectful interaction with other cultures, but also for empowering marginal communities such as the Dalits. This approach encourages Dalits to resist the hegemonic nature of the dominant discourses while also affirming and privileging Dalit cultural perspectives and resources to build and strengthen Dalit cultural identity. As an intercultural approach, it pays particular attention to the power dynamics that come into play when two cultures interact. Dalit liberation theology provides the theological rationale and cornerstone for this communal contextual and intercultural approach to care. This theology is operationalized using strategies of intervention from narrative theory as conceptualized by Michael White and David Epston. This dissertation, written from a Dalit perspective, argues that this new model of pastoral care and theology creates new possibilities that theologically empower Dalits to not only to reimagine their ‘Dalitness’ by reclaiming their cultural heritage, but also to effectively address their critical issues of survival, liberation and developing a cultural identity. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation would not have been possible without the encouragement and support of several individuals who in one way or another contributed and extended their valuable assistance in the preparation and completion of this study. First and foremost, I would like to express my utmost gratitude to my parents, Petta John Roosevelt and Satyavathi, who encouraged me to pursue education above everything else. I am also very deeply indebted to Dr. Nicholas Gier, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Idaho, for making it possible to pursue my higher education in the United States. Without his generous financial support, this work would not have been possible. He is also my philosopher, guide and friend, who encouraged me in difficult times during the research and writing of this dissertation. I owe a debt of gratitude to my Advisor, Dr. Larry Graham, who patiently provided the vision, encouragement, advice and necessary resources for me to proceed through the doctoral program and complete my dissertation. He guided me through numerous challenging phases of my graduate studies. I thank him for all the insightful discussion, ideas, suggestions and feedback that were invaluable for this dissertation. I am also grateful to Dr. Carrie Doehring and Dr. Ginnie Ishimatsu for their ideas, suggestions and feedback. I especially thank Dr. Carrie Doehring for her patience in proof reading the document and helping me to gain clarity in many of the key ideas and theoretical viewpoints in this dissertation. Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank my wife Sarita. Her support, encouragement, quiet patience and unwavering love helped me finish this long and arduous journey. iv Table of Contents CHAPTER ................................................................................................................ PAGE CHAPTER 1 – Introduction ................................................................................................1 Thesis and Scope .................................................................................................................7 Methodology and Rationale ..............................................................................................10 Significance and Contribution ..........................................................................................13 Chapter Outline .................................................................................................................14 CHAPTER 2 – THE CASTE SYSTEM AND THE DALITS ......................................... 16 Dalit Mass Movements ..................................................................................................... 31 Missionaries and the Caste System ................................................................................... 34 Post-missionary Indian Dalit Church ................................................................................ 39 Theories of the Origin and Nature of the Caste System ................................................... 42 Traditional Hindu Mythic Explanation ............................................................................. 42 Economic or Occupational Theory ................................................................................... 43 Theory of Ritual Purity-Pollution ..................................................................................... 44 CHAPTER 3 – DALIT PASTORAL CARE EXPERIENCES AND THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES .................................................................................52 Empirical Studies on Dalit Pastoral Care—Andhra Pradesh ............................................53 Empirical Studies on Dalit Pastoral Care—Tamil Nadu ..................................................59 Empirical Studies on Dalit Pastoral Care—Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka ......................68 Religious Life and Pastoral Care ......................................................................................71 Theological Perspectives ..................................................................................................76 Classical/Traditional Western Theology ...........................................................................77 Indian Christian Theology ................................................................................................83 The Dalit Theology ...........................................................................................................89 CHAPTER 4 – THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCES OF THE DALIT PEOPLE ............................................................................................................................99 Significance of Dalit Psychological Experiences ...........................................................100 Psychology and Pastoral Care in South India .................................................................104 Dalits and Internalized Oppression .................................................................................107 Karma and Dharma .........................................................................................................120 Self-Blame ......................................................................................................................126 Accommodation and Adjustment ...................................................................................128 Survival Dependence ......................................................................................................131
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