Dalit
critique on Indian Christian Theology
A.P.
Nirmal, the Pioneer of Dalit theology argues that ICT is a
Brahminic Theology. It had less concern for worldly reality.
1.
This Brahminic Theology, not address the majority of Indian issues especially
the dalit.
2.
Indian Christian theology was promoted by upper caste people who wanted to
appropriate Christian faith within the framework of Hindu religious traditions.
3.
Philosophical concept used by Indian Christian theology is basically alien to
Dalits.
4.
ICT tried to developed a theological system in terms of advaita and
visishtadvaita.
5.
Majority of Indian Christian comes from dalit background but ICT response to
the life thinking reality of upper caste
6.
ICT had not considered contextual realities.
7.
The liberation of dalits and other lower- caste was not the main focus of
Indian Theology.
M.E.
Prabakar, in his book, ‘ Towards a Dalit Theology,’ Indian
Christian theology is characterized by other worldly pietism, pessistivity,
uninvolvement in social action and individual seeking salvation. All these
comes from Hindu religious idealogy.
V.
Devasahayans, Bishop of CSI says ICT has narrow perception
of Indian context as it focus of religious philosophical component of Indian
society and ignored socioeconomic pattern or realities of Indian society.
James
Massey, another Pioneer of Dalit theology, argues that,
missionary theology and ICT focus on holiness, personal conversion, new birth
and other wholeness. This theological ignored the social realities of the
dalits, the systematic theology ignored their life realities, ICT missionary
method has very little to do with the history.
It has two history
1.
Sacred history, and
2.
Profane history.
ICT
ignored the importance of history because Indian has no place of history Hindu
religious thought
Dalit
Theology
1.
Attempts to interpret or understands Christian faith from dalit perspectives.
2.
This theology attempts to response the aspirations of dalit.
M.E.
Prabakhar, says this Theology emerges out of the past
discrimination and realities of dalit and the present reality. Their struggles
against Caste system. Their aspirations for social justice.
Dalit
Theology is theologically articulated and liberation from the bondage of caste
system, this is the focal point.
A.P.
Nirmal, says theology is about dalit, for dalit and from
dalit. He argues that, it is a counter theology, the theological position of
the dominants. Dalit says human life is the primary data for theologising. And
God is the object of theology.
James
Massey says, dalit Theology is a faith expression of the living experiences of
the Dalit.
The
ultimate goal of dalit theology is to enable the Dalit to recover their
original status divinely undivided humanity of the created body.
The
role of dalit theology build up solidarity among the dalit the forces of social
oppression. It facilitates the notional change in the psyche of the Indian
Christian in a larger society.
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