PDF hosted at the Radboud Repository of the Radboud University Nijmegen The following full text is a publisher's version. For additional information about this publication click this link. http://hdl.handle.net/2066/30920 Please be advised that this information was generated on 2021-09-29 and may be subject to change. HUMAN DIGNITY Promotor : IN INDIAN SECULARISM AND IN Prof.dr.Georg Essen CHRISTIANITY Christianity in Dialogue with Indian Secularism Manuscriptcommissie : Een wetenschappelijke proeve Prof. dr. Toine van den Hoogen op het gebied van de Godgeleerdheid Prof. dr. Felix Wilfred (University of Madras, Chennai) Prof. dr. Norbert Hintersteiner (University of Utrecht) PROEFSCHRIFT ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan de Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen op gezag van de rector magnificus Prof. Dr. C.W.P.M. Blom, volgens besluit van het College van Decanen in het openbaar te verdedigen op maandag 12 februari 2007 ’s ochtends om 10.30 uur precies door John Romus Devasahayam geboren op 9 maart 1949 te Kottavilai, India. HUMAN DIGNITY Supervisor : IN INDIAN SECULARISM AND IN CHRISTIANITY Prof.dr. Georg Essen Christianity in Dialogue with Indian Secularism An academic essay in Theology Doctoral Thesis Committee : Prof. dr. Toine van den Hoogen Prof. dr. Felix Wilfred (University of Madras, Chennai) Prof. dr. Norbert Hintersteiner (University of Utrecht) Doctoral thesis to obtain the degree of doctor from Radboud University Nijmegen on the authority of the Rector Magnificus Prof. dr. C.W.P.M. Blom, according to the decision of the Council of Deans Copyright © John Romus Devasahayam 2007 Morning Star College Barrackpore, Kolkota – 700 120, India to be defended in public on Monday, 12 February 2007 [email protected] at 10.30.a.m. precisely by John Romus Devasahayam Born in Kottavilai, India, ISBN 81–89851–06–3 On 9th March 1949 Claretian Publications P.O. Box 5577 Malleswaram West, Bangalore - 560 055, India Tel : 91-80-23446977 Claretian Publications www.claretianpublications.org Bangalore, India Printed in India at Paradise Printers, Kolkata. vi HUMAN DIGNITY… CONTENTS 1.1.5.1. The U.S. Supreme Court on the “Establishment Clause” 62 1.1.5.1.1. Transportation Facility to Parochial School 64 1.1.5.1.2. Release Time Programme for Religious ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xii Instructions 68 ABBREVIATIONS xv 1.1.5.1.3. Prayer at Public Schools 72 1.1.6. Separation Not Absolute 76 INTRODUCTION 1.1.7. Conclusion: Separation for Co-existence 77 0.1. The Concept of Secularism 1 0.2. The Concept of Political Secularism 3 0.3. The Context of the Study, Research Question and CHAPTER TWO Research Objectives 9 THE INDIGENOUS FOUNDATIONS FOR 0.3.1. The Centrality of Secularism 9 INDIAN SECULARISM 0.3.2. The Secular Provisions Affirm Pluralism 13 0.3.3. Secular Constitution on Trail 15 1.2. Introduction 80 0.3.4. The Indian Church amid the Nation’s Secular Concern 17 1.2.1. The State in Ancient India 82 0.3.5. Centrality of Human Dignity 21 1.2.1.1. The State and Theocracy 85 0.4. An Overview of Chapters 25 1.2.1.2. The State and Religious Liberty 87 0.5. Methodology 30 1.2.2. The Indo-Islamic Political Pragmatism in Medieval India 90 1.2.2.1. The Delhi Sultanate 92 PART ONE 1.2.2.2. The Mughal Empire 93 THE CONCEPT OF SECULAR STATE IN THE WESTERN 1.2.3. The British Rule in India 95 AND INDIAN TRADITIONS 1.2.3.1. The Religious Policy of the British in India 96 1.2.4. The Emergence of Indian Nationalism 103 1. Introduction 33 1.2.4.1. Religious Nationalism 104 1.2.4.2. Secular Nationalism 104 CHAPTER ONE 1.2.4.3. Communal Nationalism 108 SECULAR STATE IN THE WESTERN TRADITION 1.2.4.4. The Growth of Secular Nationalism 115 1.2.5. The Making of a Secular Constitution 121 1.1. Introduction 36 1.1.1. The State Cult in the Roman Empire 37 1.2.5.1. The Omission of the term ‘Secular’ in the Constitution 122 1.1.2. The Church in the Roman Empire 38 1.2.5.2. The Constituent Assembly Debates on Secularism 123 1.1.3. The Medieval Church-State Controversy 48 1.1.4. The Reformation: Religious Diversity and 1.2.5.3. The Inclusion of the term ‘Secular’ in the Preamble 130 Secularisation 52 1.2.5.4. The Opinion of the Scholars 133 1.1.5. The Separation of the Church from the State 60 1.2.6. Conclusion: The Legacy of the Indian Heritage 134 CONTENTS vii viii HUMAN DIGNITY… CHAPTER THREE 1.3.5.2. Abolition of Untouchability 217 HUMAN DIGNITY CENTRAL 1.3.5.3. Egalitarian Society in Defence of Human Dignity 223 TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF INDIAN SECULARISM 1.3.6. Conclusion: A Humanistic Secularism 231 1.3. Introduction 137 1.3.1. The Need to Define Religion 139 PART TWO 1.3.1.1. The Western Judicial Attempt to Define Religion 141 1.3.1.2. The Indian Judicial Attempt to Define Religion 143 THE CHRISTIAN CONCEPT OF HUMAN DIGNITY : 1.3.1.2.1. Sri Lakshmindra Case 145 A SIGNIFIGANT THEOLOGICAL RESOURCE 1.3.1.2.2. Ratilal Case 148 TO FURTHER THE CAUSE OF THE HUMANISTIC 1.3.1.2.3. Quareshi Case 152 SECULAR ETHOS OF INDIA 1.3.1.2.4. Durgah Committee Case 156 2. Introduction 237 1.3.1.2.5. Tilkayat Case 158 1.3.1.2.6. A Principled Approach towards Religion 161 1.3.2. Free Exercise of Religion 162 CHAPTER FOUR 1.3.2.1. Freedom of Conscience 163 THE IMAGE OF GOD DOCTRINE AND HUMAN DIGNITY 1.3.2.2. Profession of Religion 166 IN THE SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION 1.3.2.3. Practice of Religion 168 2.4. Introduction 240 1.3.2.4. Freedom to Propagate Religion 172 2.4.1. The Significance of Image of God Doctrine to 1.3.2.5. An Indigenous Approach to Religious Freedom 176 Human Dignity 242 1.3.3. The Exercise of Religion Subject to State Restriction 178 2.4.1.1. Image of God Central to Biblical Anthropology 244 1.3.3.1. Subject to Law 178 2.4.1.2. The Meaning of God’s Image and Likeness 246 1.3.3.2. Subject to Public Order and Morality 180 2.4.1.3. Universalization of the Divine Image in Humankind 249 1.3.3.3. Subject to Public Health 185 2.4.1.4. Image of God Intrinsic to Human Nature 251 1.3.3.4. Subject to the Fundamental Rights 187 2.4.2. Image of God and Christocentric Anthropology 253 1.3.3.5. Religious Freedom in Consonance with Human 2.4.2.1. Image of God and Christ’s Divine Sonship of God 255 Dignity 189 2.4.2.2. The Image of God and New Humanity in Christ 258 1.3.4. State Assistance to Religion 191 2.4.2.3. Image of God as Children of God 260 1.3.4.1. Religion and Taxation 192 2.4.2.4. Divine Image Reveals the Dignity of Being Human 265 1.3.4.2. Direct State Aid to Religion 194 2.4.3. Image of God and Human Dignity in the Tradition 1.3.4.3. State Aid, Education and Religion 197 of the Church 270 1.3.4.4. State Aid and State Control 201 2.4.3.1. The Eastern Development of the Doctrine 273 1.3.4.5. State Aid to Religion Conditioned by Indian 2.4.3.2. The Western Development of the Doctrine 279 Political Ethos 208 2.4.3.3. The Image of God doctrine in the Contemporary 1.3.5. The Welfare State and Religion . 211 Theology 285 1.3.5.1. Religious Freedom Subject to Social Welfare and 2.4.3.4. The Image of God Doctrine in the Social Teaching Reform 214 of the Church 286 CONTENTS ix x HUMAN DIGNITY… 2.4.3.4.1. Encyclical Letter Rerum Novarum (1891) 288 2.5.5. Christian faith safeguards Transcendent Dignity 366 2.4.3.4.2. Encyclical Letter Quadragesimo Anno (1931) 291 2.5.6. Transcendent Dignity and Religious Freedom 367 2.4.3.4.3. Encyclical Letter Mater et Magistra (1961) 293 2.5.6.1. Religious Freedom as Immunity from Coercion 370 2.4.3.4.4. Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris (1963) 295 2.5.6.2. Immunity from Coercion Grounded on Human 2.4.3.4.5. The Post-Conciliar Encyclicals in the backdrop of Dignity 372 Vatican II 300 2.5.7. Human Dignity and the Concept of Secular State 375 2.4.3.4.5.1. Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio (1967) 302 2.5.7.1. Distinction between the Scared and the Secular 378 2.4.3.4.5.2. Encyclical Letter Laborem Exercens (1981) 303 2.5.7.2. Distinction between State and Society 379 2.4.3.4.5.3. Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (1987) 306 2.5.7.3. Distinction between Common Good and Public Order 381 2.4.3.4.5.4. Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus (1991) 309 2.5.7.4. The Subject of the Right to Religious Freedom 383 2.4.4. Conclusion: Divine Image and Human Dignity 311 2.5.8. Conclusion: A Human Dignity Centred Political Doctrine 386 CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX THE CONCILIAR THEOLOGY OF HUMAN IDGNITY : ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND INDIAN CHURCH IN DIALOGUE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL STATE INDIAN SECULARISM 2.5. Introduction 315 2.6.