Christianity – Emerging Prospects!
Jesus Christ is the son of God. The Bible is its scripture and the Church is its institution. The Christian doctrine is based on the Holy Trinity: God as the creator, Lord of the History of Salvation, Father and Judge who revealed himself in the Old Testament as the Lord, who, in the figure of Jesus Christ lived among men as the Resurrected One; and as the Holy Spirit. It is the first and only true religion; and “natural” and “rational” religion. Some classify it as a “true philosophy – a correct manner of knowledge and a correct way of life, that is, the right kind of morality. It also represents a unity of divine service and knowledge of God.
Yet another significant facet of Christianity is the “Unity of the Church”, but within a multiplicity of forms of doctrine, liturgy and polity. It claims to be the first and only true religion; and “natural” and “rational” religion. It believes in redemption, but with a major difference – no separation of the soul/spirit from the body. Thus, the new born re-emerges in the entirety of body, soul and mind. Otherwise, the understanding of Man in Christianity was different. Man, like all other creatures of the universe, is a creation of God and is thus not divine, vis-à-vis, man as a special creature. To add to it, Christianity believes in progressive perfection of man – the new man, the reborn man, the perfect man and the fellow man as the present Christ.
Christianity vital features are the concept of an ‘essence of Christianity’, ‘Christian way of life’ and ‘Christian way of death’. First, the unity of life and teaching determined the concept of an ‘essence of Christianity’. However, three creative English thinkers produced significant theories on the above concept. First, a distinction was made between private and public religion; private religion as the spiritual – religious and moral life of an individual believer before God; and theological dogmatic definitions of legally valid church creeds of public religion. Second, what is essential in religion can be discovered only in definite concrete religion and only at a given time – ideological claim to absoluteness. Third, Christianity is ‘not a message; not a teaching; but, a historical person; a real human being; Jesus, and the fructification to be viewed not as a barbaric or wretched act, but as the divine way of salvation. In the above context of contradictory ideas, the essence of Christianity was reviewed in every era and in our environment has been identified as an imperative.
Let me highlight at the outset in India, Christianity too has got Indianized. Its religious practices vary from State to State. Since Christianity is a world religion, its linguistic multiformity was inevitable. In fact, it forms the basis for its expansion. The Bible is translated in local languages today. Most importantly, the Hindu social rituals, particularly the caste system, continue to remain in force contrary to human dignity and the right kind of morality.
Although Christianity made an entry as early as in the first century AD at the Taxila Court, its growth remained way behind the growth of Islam that forayed many centuries later. For comparison, Islam today is practiced by over 20% Indians, Christianity is nearly 2.3% only.
In 2023 approx 3.22 Crores or 32 million people are Christians in India – 3rd largest religion. In 1871, it was only followed by 8, 96,658. Christianity is the major religion in three Northeastern states, namely, Nagaland (87.93%), Mizoram (87.16%), and Meghalaya (74.59%). It also has a good percentage in Manipur (41.29%), Arunachal Pradesh (30.26%), Goa (25.10%), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (21.28%) and Kerala (18.38%).
There are a total of 25918 Churches in India as of August 11, 2023. About two years ago, a whopping 15,000 churches were built in Tamil Nadu alone in just the last ten years.
There is a long-standing debate on Christian conversion activities in our country. According to a report in the media, a strategic conference of Church leaders to discuss their “Vision 2030 Nehemiah Push” was held in Chennai on 10 and 11 January 2023, attended by over 300 missionaries and Christian priests. The event saw the participation of controversial Christian pastor Mohan C. Lazarus who is known for his hate speeches against Hindus.
The 'strategic meet’ - Vision 2030 Nehemiah Push - has plans to establish 400,000 Churches in the ‘unchurched villages in India’ under the leadership of Rev. Kalyan Kumar of Harvest Church India. During the meeting, it was resolved that they would undertake random mass conversion targeting 2292 ‘unreached’ communities totaling 59, 92, 74,000 people, almost half of the Indian population. In the first phase, the missionaries plan to target 25 communities and convert them to Christianity.
Where will the Money come from to construct and manage 4 Lakh Churches whose estimated minimum cost is Rs.80, 000 crores? The sources are, quite obviously, from the unimaginable funds of the churches and missionary organizations in foreign countries. They will invest not only to construct Churches but also organize profitable Christian businesses such as educational institutions, hospitals, research centers, etc. Church businesses also take advantage of tax loopholes, citing ‘charity’. In India, they operate as profitable yet tax-exempt “NGOs” (non-governmental organizations claiming to be non-profit).
Be what may have been the higher concepts of Christianity, the self-understanding of the Christian Church has been a matter of intense controversy. Early Christianity was a combination of Judean and Pagan beliefs. Later, new elements got incorporated. Ab initio, two types of Churches opposed to one another existed: the first is based upon a view of the continuity; and, the second is based on a return to the conditions of an idealized “original Church”. The concept of continuity is represented by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and Anglo-Catholic Church. Quakers, Baptists, Calvin, Luther, Scottish, Presbyterian and the American Free Church represented the other school. There is also the Protestant Church – associated with theology and preaching.
Ipso facto, Christianity, too, has gone through its share of intra-religious conflicts. There were many radical reform groups which broke away from their parent Church because of betrayal of Christian substance in the process of adaptation. Because the basis of Christianity too is blind acceptance of a lot of impossible and unscientific stuff. It was only in the 1960s under Pope John XXIII, the Roman Catholic Church, relaxed its anti-modernist stance not only in the area of theology, but also in their attitude towards Socialism and Communism.
But what is more vital to recognize is that the status and position of the Church has undergone many internal transformations also. First, James the brother of the Lord, inherited dynastic leadership. Second, there was Peter, the first Apostle to witness the appearance of Jesus as the Resurrected one. Thereafter, John. Finally, there were others called by the Lord himself. So, the Apostles appointed bishops, thereby promoting monarchical church leadership. There were joint bishops, besides presbyters participating side by side in the church leadership. Thus, the unity of the Church consists not only of the unity of its polity, but in its understanding of the Christ and in its belief that physical death does not divide the community. This ‘essential’ unity formed the basis of organizational and constitutional unity.
But, it is the Christianity’s political twist which is most interesting. In the beginning, it was negligent to political order in the hope of imminence of the Kingdom of God. It rejected the emperor cult and even state offices, especially that of the Judge. But, Paul developed the Christian political consciousness. When the Roman State gave up persecution of Christians, it became the basis for the self-establishment of the Roman Empire. During the reign of Constantine of the Byzantine Empire, church leadership was given certain rights to include the ‘Bishop of Foreign Affairs’. When the Roman Empire collapsed under pressure of barbaric ethnic migrations, the Roman Catholic Church filled the vacuum by exercising its law in maintaining order in the midst of chaos, thereby developing a specific ecclesiastical state. The Roman Popes detached themselves from the power of the Byzantine Emperor which was viewed as a political revolt.
The Frankish (Germanic) kingdom in the 8th century assumed the leadership role and Charlemagne became the protector of the Pope. Pope, thus, became the Bishop of the State. Other bishops were appointed also by the State. In the process, feudalization of the Church occurred. Princes became bishops; they often were much more interested in the political tasks. However, the position of the King and the temporal position of bishops were rejected by 11th Century AD.
The ‘Renaissance (around 1500 AD)’ of ancient civilization humanistic values triggered the ‘Reformation’ by Martin Luther and his onslaught on Catholic practices which rested on the buying of God's favor, celibacy in priesthood, pilgrimages, masses for the dead, and so on. Also, Latin was replaced by vernacular languages. Calvin was followed by Baptists, Congregationalists, Quakers and others. Followed, also, Counter Reformation and the reformation of Catholicism with reassertion of past practices.
Thus, the ruler-papal politico–religious conflict raged till the 18th century, when the separation of the Church and the State was proclaimed during the French Revolution. Subsequently, it was also achieved during and after the American Revolution and the Russian Revolution. In sum, although separation of State and Church is only 200 years old, mutual inter-relationships or inter-dependency exists between the two.
Also, the Christian way of life may appear simplistic to Hindu mind. But in reality, it is not true. There are as many manifestations as can be perceived in other ancient religions. For Christianity too rose to redeem society of its evils and has undergone many transformations in its forward march. To amplify the Christian way of life, it is also characterized by numerous ethics, a distinct form of church discipline, a definite form of religious instruction and in various forms of devotion, prayers, worship, relics and rituals. Individual prayers or congregational/community prayers by hierarchical priests, or ordained clergy, or, a new breed of ministers exercising monopoly. Singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs are extraordinarily numerous.
Yet, the substance of the prayer remains praise, thanksgiving and intercession reflecting in overall piety – just the same as in other religions. But, Western art has progressively introduced icon painting and worship. In fact, plastic technology has been used to introduce a three dimensional form of God – the Christ. Even the Bibles differ in content.
Even the Christian way of death needs to be also correctly appreciated. But, its changes are dramatic. In the past cemeteries were consecrated by the Church and denial of burial in consecrated earth was viewed as the most severe ecclesiastical punishment. In today’s context, for reasons of lack of space and hygiene, most churches, except Roman Catholic, view cremation as inconsequential.
Yet another vital feature of Christianity is its approach to personal ethics which is contradictory and conflicting. For example, how can one explain the commandment to love God and neighbor, tolerance, humility and forgiveness, and yet at the same time religious intolerance.
As commonly perceived, the Christian commandments of love are universal and not restricted to fellow Christian. It includes the demand to love its enemies too. However, the whole history of Christianity is characterized by many attempts to confine the commandment of love to certain categories: the fellow believer, the family member, the fellow tribesman or the fellow countryman. In fact, Christianity also tended towards intolerance that was rooted in its religious self consciousness or supremacy. Of course, the attitude got reinforced when confronted by Islam in the 7th Century and manifested in the form Crusades centuries later. Religious intolerance still remains as can be discerned from its concerns of 21st Century Islam. Suffice to state, the Christian understanding is based on supremacy of its faith over others and unyielding in its content as it exists today.
Scholars have identified three distinct features of the growth process of Christianity. First, in the early stages of newly missionized lands, there was emphatic resistance against the ‘paganism’ of the environment. For example, there were bitter societal conflicts particularly in Rome, where Christian mobs even lynched prominent ‘pagan’ representatives and destroyed pagan temples and cultic monuments. Second, there too was a quiet retreat or withdrawal, where it was necessary. Nonetheless, such shifts were characterized by strong systematic and effective adherence to the faith, but not provocative. The third feature is peaceful co-existence on the basis of a far-reaching accommodation with the existing order. It was followed mostly by the third generation converts, who displayed a greater toleration primarily aimed to gain acceptance in society and the state in their surrounding environments. In addition, their attitudes towards technology, albeit neutral in the past, have been increasingly viewed as a means in building the Kingdom of God. Thus, over the centuries the development of Christian philosophy has been classified as “the process of practical adaption”.
In sum, Christianity too started as a higher order religion or higher order politico-socio-economic ideology to get rid of pagan societal ills such as idol worship, rituals, sacrifices, customs and institutions. But, it too could not obliterate such practices, because it too was based on blind acceptance. Over the centuries, its development also got influenced by the ancient philosophies/religions and modern ones alike. More surprisingly, it faces an increasing threat from rationalism, materialism and consumerism – the ills of developed nations. Albeit monotheist, it is also pluralistic. Similarly, dogmatic, but living, open and changing.
Let me briefly narrate the history of Christianity in India. As per legend, Christ’s apostle, Judos Thomas came to preach Christianity at the Taxila Court in the first century AD. Some even link the introduction of Christianity to the birth of Jesus Christ (the son of God) claiming that the Pahlva ruler Vindapharan (called Gasper by the Syrians) was one of the three Magis, who followed the star that led them to Bethlehem to worship the newly born Christ child. Other scholars claim that the Syrian Christian Church was established in South India early in the first century. St Thomas Cathedral, Mylapore, Madras is the standing testimony of Apostle Thomas’s martyrdom.
Legend apart, there is irrefutable proof available on the spread of Christianity in South India by 345 AD. Franciscan followed the system of “adaptation” by which converts were free to conform to their past traditions of culture, language, dress and living. Even Akbar and Jehangir ‘encouraged’ Christianity and small Christian communities were established by Roman Catholic and three Jesuits missions. They were followed by Danish Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, Protestant (Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran and Armenian Christian) and American missionaries of many diversities. Before attaining independence, the Syrian Christian Church of Kerala has reunited with the Roman Catholic seat, and all Protestant bodies have jointly formed the National Christian Council.
But the most dramatic spread of Christianity was promoted by Nehruvian policies of the 1960s in the North East. Except Assam, there is total Christianity in the North East surprisingly in the whole Mongoloid region, which is an exception. Largely, it is Baptist centered and it opposes spread of even Roman Catholicism to talk of other religions. By aggressive missionary zeal, it is expanding into Burma and even into Tirap. Moreover, its nexus with militants is real in the North East.
So, the growth process of Christianity in India is characterized by peaceful co-existence on the basis of far reaching accommodation with the other religions, Vis a Vis, confrontationist/crusading. Having suffered ignominy for centuries from the plainsmen and suffering from deprivation psyche syndrome, secularism may remain an enigma for the North Eastern tribal in a short term or even a mid-term context. “Nagaland for Christ” is the slogan of the insurgency movement. Under such conditions, the prospects of militant Christianity asserting itself politically cannot be ruled out, particularly when recurring communal clashes threaten the secular fabric of our country.
Viewed in the above context and content of developments, even Christianity is making dynamic inroads in India largely through foreign funding for promoting Churches, schools, hospitals etc in the rural areas. And, it is viewed by the Hindu organizations as a major threat in making. If so, the “Clash of Civilizations” in a long term context appears inevitable.
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