Context, Culture And Worship: The Quest for ‘Indian-ness’

Cross-cultural encounters remain memorable experience for many but for those like Paul Collins they have provided a stimulus for deep research and reflective writing. As these reflections have emerged from a personal plunge experience in several areas of liturgical importance in South India, they remain authentic.  One would congratulate the writer for his ability to combine first hand experiences with historical backgrounds of the international and ecumenical world. Setting the attempts of inculturation in theology and worship in the wider context of ecumenical discussions on the theme provides an overall historical perspective. Paul Collins has made a great contribution to the understanding of liturgical traditions in South India. The book is informative, analytical and challenging. Being an outsider, with the acquaintance of major liturgical traditions of the Christian church and of ongoing international and ecumenical discussions is a great advantage for him to look at the south Indian scene with a fair amount of objectivity but without losing passion and engagement.