Part II - The Asian Religious Context

Summary

In distinction from Africa or Latin America, Christianity encountered a context in Asia that was stamped religiously by the holy books of other religions. It is obvious, therefore, that the meaning of Jesus in Asia was related implicitly or explicitly to these other religions (Samartha). The sources for this included not only the study of the literature but also the life stories of Asian Christians, which often reflect the central stories of more than one religion (Song). Given the current Asian situation of overwhelming poverty, the connection should be sought preferably in stories of suffering (Pieris). In the second part of this chapter, we will look at the “critical Asian principle” that a large number of theological institutions in Asia have drawn up, on the basis of the above sketch of the Asian religious and social situation, as a guide for doing theology. What emerges clearly here is how the interweaving of the divine and human is viewed as one of the most prominent features of doing theology in Asia.