Christianity in India: Two Thousand Years of FaithChristians have lived in India since the early centuries of this era. In South India they believe their ancestors received the Gospel from the apostle Thomas. After that, the arrival of Christianity was sporadic, helped first by merchants and priests from the Middle East and from the fifteenth century by European merchants and missionaries who settled in India. The faith that took root was strongly influenced by local organizations and cultures; thus the Christians in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Goa are almost as different from each other as they are from their Hindu and Muslim counterparts, the tribal Christians of central and north-eastern India, and Dalit Christians all over the country. Written by two of the country's foremost theologians, Christianity in India traces the fascinating history of each of these communities, and describes the role of Christians in education, social services, multilingual publishing and the freedom struggle. The authors explain to non-Christians the tenets and rituals that bind the faithful, whether Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox, and examine the controversial issues of caste within Christianity and conversions from other faiths. Along the way, we meet interesting personalities in the annals of Indian Christendom, such as Emperor Akbar, who essentially founded the North Indian Christian mission, and Brahmabandhab Upadhyay, the swadeshi Catholic who helped Tagore found Santiniketan. |
Contents
AND THE QUESTION OF CONVERSION | 110 |
THE PROTESTANT | 153 |
DALIT CHRISTIANS | 179 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
Christianity in India: Two Thousand Years of Faith Leonard Fernando (s.j.),G. Gispert-Sauch Limited preview - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
accepted Akbar ancient Andhra Pradesh Asia authority baptism baptized became Bengal Bible bishop Brahmabandhab Upadhyay Brahmins Calcutta called caste catechists Catholic Church celebrated century Christian community Christian faith Christians in India College conversion culture Dalit Christians death Delhi dialogue disciples divine early English especially Eucharist European Father forgiveness freedom God's Gospel Hindu Hinduism human important Indian Christians influence inspiration Jesuits Jesus Christ Jewish Kerala Kochi Kozhikode language later lives Lord marriage means mission missionaries Mizoram Mizos movement Mumbai Muslim Nadar nineteenth Nobili Parayar person political poor Pope Portugal Portuguese prayer preaching presence priests Protestant raja religion religious resurrection Roman Rome sacrament saints Sanskrit Sardhana sense Serampore social society South India spiritual spread St Thomas symbol Syrian Syro-Malabar Church Tamil Nadu teaching Testament theology Thomas Christians tradition tribals Upadhyay village Western women word worship