Some years ago, when living in Southend, and getting involved with Hope for Southend, I was exploring ways in which Christians has sought to engage with culture. One person I was instead in was William Carey. I read, The Legacy of William Carey by Vishal and Ruth Mangalwadi. Carey was involved in social reform in India. It is interesting that Bishop Lesslie Newbigin, who has been so important in the UK in just this area of Christian life, was formed by his experiences in India.
Today I have been reading Stephen Neill's history of Christianity in India, including the coming of the Jesuits in the 16th century. In a very mixed story of 'Light and Shadows it is interesting how on the positive side, there were stories of 'acts of mercy', deeds which gave flesh to teaching, from the 'Misericordia' - a lay movement echoing that founded in Lisbon some years earlier. A Brahman, Neill relates, said that there were two causes of conversion to Christian faith: seeing works of charity, and the reading of spiritual books. (Neill, 220).
There was not an evangelistic aim and was directed to the needs of the Portuguese. Whatever may said about this limited aim, nevertheless, the compassion was noticed and had an impact, without parallel in European Asiatic colonies until modern times (Neill, 122, quoting Prof. C R Boxer).
It will be interesting to see whether it is possible to trace any link to William Carey and / or the modern Indian church. This applies both to the deeds of the Misericordia and also the Jesuit's emphasis on teaching.
Yesterday I met my supervisor for the first time. A very helpful conversation gave me one theme which might help hold all my thinking and questions together. Or to put it another way, I have a new hero to emulate in my learning: St Thomas, who came with his questions but also bowed to the revelation of Christ. As I keep bumping into the figure of Thomas in all my reading, he will be a hero I will be continually reminded of and glad to learn from. I also determine to immerse myself in India, to allow myself to be overwhelmed by it.
More formally, I am aware that Indian Christians I have met in Harlow have a lively faith and are well-taught in Christian things. Their faith is generally more vibrant than that of Christians in the UK. So I will be asking what is distinctive about The Church of South India's liturgy, its worship and spirituality that we can learn from in Harlow.
A closing thought: Where do we find true knowledge? Is it in encounters with others, supremely God in Christ, or is it from the Tree of Knowledge?:
Today I have been reading Stephen Neill's history of Christianity in India, including the coming of the Jesuits in the 16th century. In a very mixed story of 'Light and Shadows it is interesting how on the positive side, there were stories of 'acts of mercy', deeds which gave flesh to teaching, from the 'Misericordia' - a lay movement echoing that founded in Lisbon some years earlier. A Brahman, Neill relates, said that there were two causes of conversion to Christian faith: seeing works of charity, and the reading of spiritual books. (Neill, 220).
There was not an evangelistic aim and was directed to the needs of the Portuguese. Whatever may said about this limited aim, nevertheless, the compassion was noticed and had an impact, without parallel in European Asiatic colonies until modern times (Neill, 122, quoting Prof. C R Boxer).
It will be interesting to see whether it is possible to trace any link to William Carey and / or the modern Indian church. This applies both to the deeds of the Misericordia and also the Jesuit's emphasis on teaching.
Yesterday I met my supervisor for the first time. A very helpful conversation gave me one theme which might help hold all my thinking and questions together. Or to put it another way, I have a new hero to emulate in my learning: St Thomas, who came with his questions but also bowed to the revelation of Christ. As I keep bumping into the figure of Thomas in all my reading, he will be a hero I will be continually reminded of and glad to learn from. I also determine to immerse myself in India, to allow myself to be overwhelmed by it.
More formally, I am aware that Indian Christians I have met in Harlow have a lively faith and are well-taught in Christian things. Their faith is generally more vibrant than that of Christians in the UK. So I will be asking what is distinctive about The Church of South India's liturgy, its worship and spirituality that we can learn from in Harlow.
A closing thought: Where do we find true knowledge? Is it in encounters with others, supremely God in Christ, or is it from the Tree of Knowledge?:
2 comments:
All the best for your sabbatical Martin:
May you enter trustingly into this sabbath space
May you enter quietly into this sabbath space
May you enter joyfully into this sabbath play
Let your body unfold in this sabbath
Let your mind unwind in this sabbath
Let your spirit expand into this sabbath
May it reveal its secrets to you gently
May it embody its truth in you authentically
May it release new life in you abundantly
So go with gladness into this sabbath
Go with gratitude into this sabbath
And may the God who rests on the sabbath
look at his labours in you
and proclaim, 'It is very good.'
(Nicola Slee in R. Burgess, A Book of Blessings, Wild Goose Publications, 2001)
Thank you Philip
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