Christian Engagement in Social Change: The Role of Theological Education

Christian Engagement in Social Change: The Role of Theological Education’ is a collection of reflections from authors from a variety of Indian Christian backgrounds in a context where Christian participation in the public sphere is becoming a great concern. Challenging the perspectives, including those by Christians, which continue to harbor discourses that isolate `religion’ from other aspects of life and that have the dangerous potential for leading to `religious’ ghettoization, the book brings together resources from different theological fields and perspectives to strengthen the directions that have been already initiated by many Indian Christian thinkers but have still a long way to go in a society like India.

Contents: Part I. Introducing the Theme and the Book: 1. Christian Engagement in Social Change : The Need of the Hour/Muthuraj Swamy, Wilson Paluri and Asish Thomas Koshy. 2. Christian Social Engagement: Some Guiding Principles/Richie Varghese. Part II. Biblical Perspectives: 3. Breaking the Power of Silence and Espousing Engagement (Mark 3:1-6)/Asish Thomas Koshy. 4. Prophetic Intervention for Social Change : A Study of Prophet Elijah’s Intervention in Land Conflict (1 Kings 21) from the Sumi Naga Context/Rachel Katty. 5. You are the Light of the World (Matthew 5:14-16) : An Impetus for Christian Social Engagement/Z. Malsawmlien Gangte. 6. "The New Commandment" in the Farewell Discourse and Its Implications for Reaching out to the Marginalized Communities/Reji George. 7. Paul’s Moral and Social Ethics in 1 Corinthians 5:1-8/Holika. 8. Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus as a Model for Christian Participation in the Eradication of Female Foeticide in India: A Socio-Rhetorical Approach/Mary Grace. Part III. Philosophical, Theological and Religious Perspectives: 9. Moving beyond the Rhetoric: Plato, Paul and Substantial Social Change/John Jebaseelan. 10. Towards a Dialogue of Subjectiveness in the Upsurge of Homosexual Culture/Nicky Sangama. 11. Viable Social Philosophy for Religious Commitment towards Social Change/Wilson Paluri. 12. Towards an Active Christian Public Engagement in the Context of Hindu(tva) Fundamentalism/Muthuraj Swamy. Part IV. Missiological and Ministry Perspectives: 13. Ecological Crisis and Christian Engagement/James Wesly. 14. The Role of the Church in Addressing HIV/AIDS in Mizoram/H. Lalnunmawia. 15. Missional Engagement of the Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo among Differently Abled Children/Watirenla Jamir. 16. The Impact of BPO Work Culture on Indian Family : A Pastoral Response/Saraswati Koirala. 17. Issues Faced by Sexual Minorites (LGBT): Challenges for Pastoral Ministry/Lipoklemla Pongener. 18. Caring for the Senior Citizens: Challenges for Christians/Lochumi Ezung. 19. Christian Engagement in the Context of Human Trafficking: Perspectives from Christian Education/Nukshijungla. 20. Pastoral Care to the Migrant Families Experiencing Loneliness in Mumbai/Marian Susi Dharmaraj. Index.