Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2000 Development of an Adventist Radio Program for Farmers in Tamil Nadu Thambiraj Mantharasalam Subbiah Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Subbiah, Thambiraj Mantharasalam, "Development of an Adventist Radio Program for Farmers in Tamil Nadu" (2000). Dissertation Projects DMin. 572. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/572 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVENTIST RADIO PROGRAM FOR FARMERS IN TAMIL NADU by Thambiraj Mantharasalam Subbiah Adviser: Nancy Vyhmeister ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVENTIST RADIO PROGRAM FOR FARMERS IN TAMIL NADU Name of researcher: Thambiraj M. Subbiah Name and degree of faculty adviser: Nancy Vyhmeister, Ed.D. Date completed: September 2000 Problem Tamil Nadu is one of the states of India located in the southern part. The people who live in the state are called Tamils. Agriculture is the main occupation of this state. About 70 percent of the total population of the state are farmers. Hinduism is the main core of their religion. Hinduism taught them various beliefs, such as salvation by work and transmigration of the soul. At the same time, the farmers are caught up with various traditional beliefs which are very much influenced by their agricultural activities. Many gods need to be worshiped for their various needs. They do not have a personal god. They believe in the incarnation of gods. Among them Jesus is considered as one of the incarnations of their gods. The Adventist message has not completely penetrated into the farming community because of various setbacks. There is a great need for an appropriate evangelistic approach to reach the farmers in Tamil Nadu. Method This project approaches development of Adventist radio programming for the farmers in Tamil Nadu from a contextual perspective. For an effective strategy, this project was approached from two main aspects, such as a background study and development and implementation of the strategy. The background study was done to understand the target audience based on their culture, farm activities, and religious practices of the Tamil farmers. In order to achieve this, various Tamil literature and related sources are also examined. The second aspect deals with the strategy development of an Adventist radio programming for this selected audience. This aspect includes certain key concepts of the radio broadcasts. It also suggests an implementation process and a systematic follow-up for the expected results. Results This mission strategy will provide an effective evangelistic approach to the Adventist World Radio in taking the gospel message to every home and heart of the rural community in Tamil Nadu. The main aim of this project is soul-winning for the Lord. Conclusions This radio broadcast strategy will be a more effective approach for the twenty-first century than any other evangelistic approaches in Tamil Nadu, because it is a contextualized model which meets the Hindu farmers at their physical and spiritual needs. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVENTIST RADIO PROGRAM FOR FARMERS IN TAMIL NADU A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Thambiraj Mantharasalam Subbiah September 2000 DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVENTIST RADIO PROGRAM FOR FARMERS IN TAMIL NADU A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Thambiraj Manthrasalam Subbiah APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Jordinator, India D.Min. Prograr Jon L. Dybdahl Dean, SDA ThecrfogicabSmninary John K. McVay 00/ -^=A¥emef K. Vyhn eister Date approved TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1 Purpose ...........................................................................................................................4 Justification ....................................................................................................................4 Limitations ...................................................................................................................... 5 Overview ............................................. 5 2. FARMERS IN TAMIL NADU ...................................................................................... 7 The Land and Its People ............................................................................................... 7 The L a n d ............................................................................................... 7 Location............................................................................................................... 7 Clim ate..................................................................................................................8 R ivers....................................................................................................................8 The P eople..................................................................................................................8 O rigin....................................................................................................................8 Number ............................................................................................................... 9 Local Government ............................................................................................. 9 C a s te ........................................................... 10 The Farmers ..................................................................................................................11 Their Way of Life .................................................................................................. 11 Family ................................................................................................................12 Education .........................................................................................................13 Health ............................................................................................................. 14 Diet .................................................................................................................. 15 Clothing ........................................................................................................... 15 E co n o m y ........................................................................................................... 16 Entertainment ................................................................. 16 Their Farms ........................................................................................................... 17 Kinds o f Farmers ........................................................................................... 18 Crops and Crop Management .......................................................................18 Farming Improvements ............. 20 iii 3. RELIGION OF THE FARMERS IN TAMIL NADU 21 Hinduism ....................................................................................................................21 Basic Beliefs of Hinduism .................................................................................... 22 Unity o f All Religions .................................................................................... 22 The Identity of Human Self ...........................................................................22 Four Ages o f the World ................................................................................22 God Is in Everything: Pantheism ............................................. 23 The Concept o f Salvation ............................................................................. 23 Gods and Goddesses ...........................................................................................24 Local Religiosity .........................................................................................................25 Popular Gods .........................................................................................................25 Murugan .........................................................................................................25 Vinayagan 26 Venkateswaran ................................................................................................27 Amman ............................................................................................................. 27 Lakshmi ................................................. 27 Saraswati .........................................................................................................27 Worship of Animals .................................... 28 Monkey ...........................................................................................................28 Bull ..................................................................................................................28