Christianity

Published in the Series Encyclopedia of Indian Religions, this volume is devoted to Christianity in India, where it has had a long presence, going back to the time of the apostles of Jesus Christ. Divided into two parts, this volume focuses on the history, origin, organizations and local engagements, belief system, worship practices, Rites, Rituals, Christian life, Contributions, Spirituality and a few of the main doctrinal items. The Second Part covers the doctrinal and theological arena. It examines the earlier phase of the history of Christianity starting with the traditional belief of the arrival of St. Thomas in AD 52, moving to the periods of its association with the Chaldean church, the Portuguese, the Dutch, English and so on. This volume highlights the missionary activities of persons like St. Francis Xavier, the creative contributions made to the inter-religious dialogue by such people as Roberto de Nobili (1577-1656) and Swami Abhishiktananda (1910-1973), the linguistic and educational contributions of some of the pioneers like the German Jesuit Johanne Ernst Hanxleden (known as Arnos Padiri) (1681-1732), Herman Gundert (1814-1893), St. Elias Kuriakos Chavara (1805-1871), and, a fortiori, the enormous contributions in the healthcare area throughout the country. Caring for and serving the socio-economically marginalized ones, the peripheralized people formed an integral part of the Christian activity In India, as it is done even today. This is highlighted very much in the volume. It, further, explores the contact India had with European Christianity, showing that European Christianity proved to have wider influence in the Norther part of India, unlike India’s early episodic encounters with Palestinian and Persian forms of Christianity, which had deep influence in the Southern part of India. The volume also highlights the inner struggle among the followers resulting even in its division originating at the Synod of Diamper in 1599 manifesting, by and large, the Church-state ‘love and hate’ relationships. In fine, in spite of the drawbacks of putting the herculean task of two thousand years of history in eight hundred pages or so, this volume gives a rather comprehensive view of Christianity in India especially to those who are unfamiliar with its life and dynamics in the Indian context. The wide range of photographs, especially of the churches revealing the architectural beauty and multiplicity along with the ensample of art and paintings and pilgrimage centers adds to the enrichment of the volume.

Prof. John Chathanatt, SJ is a Jesuit priest belonging to the Delhi Province of the Society of Jesus and is Professor (Emeritus) and former Principal of Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi. He has been the Vice-President and Research Director at the Indian Social Institute, New Delhi. and is now the Vice-President of the Jesuit Research and Development Society, Indian Social Institute, New Delhi. He has degrees in Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Philosophy and Theology. He has a Masters in Theology from Woodstock Theological Centre, Boston, USA and has his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, U.S.A. He was an International Visiting Fellow at the Woodstock Theological Centre, Georgetown University, Washington DC, in 2001-2002 and was also a Research Fellow cum Visiting Faculty at Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University at Berkeley, California, U.S.A, 2013-2014. He was a member of the Governing Board of Jesus and Mary College, New Delhi, and also the Chairman of the Governing Board of the same College from 2016 to 2019. He is a member of the Ethical Committee of Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi. He is also a Visiting Professor to many Faculties. He has nine books to his credit and one of them being an edited work, Unto the Margins: Pope Francis and His Challenges. He has over 100 published articles in India and abroad. At present he is involved in Research and publications.

His major publications include

BOOKS

1. Songs of Silence: Christians in Nation Building. Fr. S. Arokiasamy, S. J. & John

Chathanatt, S. J. (Editors), New Delhi: CBCI Publication, Media House, 2000.

2. Gandhi and Gutierrez: Two Paradigms of Liberative Transformation. New Delhi: Decent Publishers, 2004.

3. Wounded History: Religion, Conflict, Psyche and Social Healing, John Chathanatt &

Manindra N. Thakur (Editors). New Delhi: Media House, 2006.

4. Silent Waves: Contribution of the Catholic Church to NationBuilding,

John Chathanatt, S.J. & Dr. Jaya Peter (Editors). Bangalore: Claretian Publications, 2012.

5. Unto the Margins: Pope Francis and His Challenges (Editor). Delhi: Media House & Claretian Publications, Bangalore, 2013.

6. Social Development Policy of Caritas India, New Delhi: March 2013

7. Poverty and Hunger: The Millenium Development Goal in the Global and Indian Context. John Joseph & John Chathanatt. New Delhi: Indian Social Institute, 2014.

8. Economic Growth, Democracy and Human Development: In Reference to MGNREGA & Panchayati Raj Institutions. John Joseph & John Chathanatt, Bangalore: Claretian Publications, 2016.

9. Seven and a Half Churches of St. Thomas. Bangalore: Claretian Publications, 2022.

10. Wounded History: Religion, Conflict, Psyche and Social Healing. Revised Edition John Chathanatt & Manindra N. Thakur (Editors). New Delhi: Media House, 2022.