Notes from 3/31

Review from 3/29 Speaker

3 general movements in Christianity in India

• Thomas tradition
• Jesuits

-Francis Xavier--> Portuguese and Pandavars (lower caste/fishers)

-Robert de Nobili (17th century)--> Brahman

*If there's no such thing as caste in India, why do we continue using the language?

• Scholarly explanation?
• Accessible spectrum?
• Form of translation?

Background

Paul in Galatians

• Tension towards maintaining social categories and radically changing social categories simultaneously (Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, etc)

19th-20th century

• Protestants and Pentecostals come into India

-Embrace of breakdown of traditional social structures

-Impetus of change because of their emphasis on individualism

-Pentecostals- believe individuals can contact Divine directly (speaking in tongues, other filling with the Spirit)

*Catholics and Pentecostals deal with exorcisms more than any other Catholic tradition especially in late 20th century

Saint in the Banyan Tree Discussion

Exorcisms and Possessions

• People who are more naïve may be more vulnerable
• "Not your personal sin" as a determinant, but an external force that makes the person somehow open to exorcism (porosity)
• Mosse argues that with the Jesuits there's tension towards trying to create some boundaries and limits between indigenous religious practice and Catholic practice

-Emphasizing the importance of maintaining right Christian practice> indigenous

• Mosse says physical impurity or the evil eye might be related

How can they get rid of demons? In South Indian indigenous Christianity

-Cut the hair after calling the demon out

*also what Hindu exorcists do

…But in the Jesuit tradition

-Emphasis instead on confession

Does it happen (possession that is) ?

-Yes, because people BELIEVE it happens and act in ways that shape the experience

Religion Spreading

• Blending of popular indigenous religious practices and what's taken from Catholic Christianity
• Spread beyond Jesuits (French)
• Catholic tradition is material oriented (medium of communicating the Divine)

-Imminent (Eucharist doctrine)- God chooses to make himself present in things (Rosary beads)

-Emphasized in the Counter-Reformation

• Proliferation of Christian shrines, statues and other materials in India and makes that a characteristic of Christianity in Southern India

*Connects to possession because there's a possibility that evil can enter through these same materials; same things that fuel Christian belief are related to possession

Banyan Tree itself

• Knarly, prolific growth, roots and canopies, vines
• Becomes a metaphor for Divine growth

-How Christianity grows in South India

-Not one direction

-Multiple trunks that blend and intertwine (religion and culture in South India)

Why a saint in the tree?

-St. James is associated with a particular tree in that town which is why is becomes a pilgrimage site

Religious Anthropology

• How do people relate to the Divine?

-Possession is often a way of talking about how the person is understood and thinking about how social relates to individual

• Group norms
• Other peoples anxieties

-With the importance of confession and simplicity of the soul

ISIS Kidnaps Indian Catholic Priest

Over the break, I heard rumors about this news story and was disturbed that this could even be true.  Apparently, ISIS troops broke into Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity, a refuge for elders in Yemen.  They killed four Indian nuns, two Yemeni female staff members, eight elderly residents, a guard, and kidnapped Father Tom Uzhunnalil.  He was kept in captive by ISIS until Good Friday, when it is rumored that they crucified him.  Recently, however, the ISIS troops released a ransom video demanding millions of dollars in which Father Tom still seems to be alive.  It saddens me that this type of evil is present in our world today.  Just wanted to let everyone know and raise awareness about the story.  I'll definitely be keeping him and all those affected in my thoughts and prayers.

Link

John Walkowski

St. Anthony's at Puliampatti

This is a Catholic pilgrimage site in Tamil Nadu associated with St. Anthony. It is associated with many miracles. You can watch a live feed from the shrine. Go HERE for the site, which includes a description of miracles performed.

A Tamil Devotional Song

There is a rich tradition of Tamil devotional songs, Hindu and, as in this case, Christian. The artist is Preethi Emmanuel and the lyrics are translated below. As you listen, how does this song relate to what you read about Tamil Christianity?

Nee Unakku Sontham Allave
Your life is not your own 
Meetka patta pavi-2
O Redeemed Sinner 

Nee unakku sontham allave
Your life is not your own for 
Nimalan Kirustu Nadhar Ke Sontham
It belongs to your Lord Christ forever 

Siluvai Marathil Thongi Marithare
 For your Lord hung on the wretched tree for you
Thiru Ratham Ratham Thiruvilavil Vadiyudhu Pare
Behold His pure blood bleed through his sides 
Valiya Parisathal Kondare
A great price has He paid
Vana Magimai Unakkivare
To bestow you heavenly glory 

Indha Nandriyai Maranthu Ponayo? Yesuvai Vittu
Have you forgotten this love, my soul? Leaving your Lord
Engeyokilum Maraindhu Thirivayo
Have you lived a life of wandering and hiding 
Santhatham unathithayang Kayamum
 Your body, soul and life
Sami Kiristinudaya Thallavo
Belongs to your Lord Christ 

Pazhaya Pavathaasai Varugudo? Pasasinmele
Do desires of your past sin return? Does evil 
Patcham Unakku Thirumba Varugudho
Beckon and tempt you with past pleasures 
Azhiyum Nimishath Thasai Kattiye 
For Satan tempts you at the last moment 
Akkinikadal Thalluvanen?
To push you into the eternal furnace of hell 

Pizhaikinum Avarke Pizhaippaye; Ulakaivittu
When you are saved, live for Him 
Piriyinum Avarke Marippaye,
When you leave, leave for Him 
Uzhaithu Marithum Uyirtha Nadhanin,
And you will rest by the side 
Uyarpadaviyil Endrum Nilaippay.
Of your dear Lord who died and rose just for you. 

Expectation Vs. Reality

After reading the assigned chapters in The Saint in the Banyan Tree, I noticed a common theme in the attempts of Jesuits to pursue their missionary work in India, which was paradoxical. These Catholic Jesuits despised any practice that was pagan, contrary to their religion. In order to emphasize the stark separation between religion and pagan, these Jesuits tried to explain sole Catholic beliefs, such as with saints, to the Tamil individuals in such a way so that they would abandon any heretical practices. However, the irony in this is that the way in which the saints were explained actually confirmed and justified the existence of pagan gods since the Tamil parishioners noticed a parallel between the two groups. The Jesuits devoted much time and effort to teaching the Indians about saints so that they would avoid paganism, but the paradox is that they created a larger division between the Christian faith and anything that contradicted it. These Jesuits should have explained Christian beliefs in a clearer and more comprehendible way so that their argument would have been more effective and sensible for the Indians. This way, the Indians would have noticed the evil in paganism in a more distinct and apparent way. Doing this would have prevented irony in the Jesuits' attempts since they expected the Indians to believe them, but in reality, the Indians were persuaded in the exact opposite way. In another example, the Jesuits taught about exorcisms so that their presence could decrease, but in doing so, they frightened the Indians and made them more vulnerable to possession. Since the Jesuits seemed to use strict and alarming tones rather than reassuring the Indians, they caused these people to be more paranoid and uncertain, which might have generated the false notion that they were occupied by the devil. This paradox created a larger distinction between possession and confession. These Jesuits tried to bridge gaps in religion, but in doing so, they exacerbated them, which demonstrates that humans cannot control everything. Every time they tried to control the outcome of something so that it would turn out in a way that aligned with their expectations, their mission backfired. To increase the prevalence of Catholicism and witness success, these Jesuits should have thought about following their own religion's teachings of compassion and patience so that the Indians would have been persuaded. Maybe they could have benefitted from others teaching them instead of the Jesuits teaching others.

Chariots of Fire

I watched Chariots of Fire over break. Maybe I was primed because of the Midterm essay that I was thinking about, but Liddell’s situation and dilemma seemed to be about devotion. In my essay I talked about how devotion involves a sacrifice of resources in order to further God’s plan. Liddell believed that in running and in winning, he could further the spreading of the Gospel. People pay attention to the Olympics and so when someone is so vocal about their faith during the Olympics, people notice. Like when Tim Tebow played a game with the verse John 3:16 written on his eye black, people paid attention. Apparently, that verse was the top thing googled in the US that day and the next. People pay attention and learn about the God that they worship. When Liddell refused to run in the qualifiers that were on Sunday, he attracted even more attention. This was a form of devotion to God. Liddell loved to run, but he sacrificed his change to earn a gold medal in order to do something that he thought would honor God. In a way, this decision brought God even more attention, but people couldn’t talk about Liddell and his situation without talking about the God to whom he was so devoted. I don’t think that I would have made the same decision. Honestly, I probably would have made some excuse, saying that because my running was for God in the first place, running on Sunday would mean that I was doing something for God on God’s day. That makes sense, right? But at the same time, I truly honor and respect the decision that Liddell made. The movie is made in such a way that it would have the audience believe that because of that decision, God provided for Liddell and helped him win. The odds were against him because he was running in an event that he had not planned to run and it was something that was completely different from what he was used to. Before the race, though, he received a note that said something along the lines of “Because you have honored Me, I will honor you.” Meaning that because Liddell chose to rest on the Sabbath, God would help him to win the race in which he did compete. What do you think? Can running be a form of devotion? What would you have told Liddell if he had told you that he would not compete because the heats were on a Sunday?

Notes 03/29/1

Christianity in India: Contextualizing The Saint in the Banyan Tree

with Brian Pennington

Caste

·      Concept came out of the European colonial cxt when they encountered this unfamiliar social system

·      **There is no such “system” in India—no monolithic social tradition that corresponds to what we think about when we thing about caste

1. Varna (covering, color): emerges out of Sanskrit texts, about 2000 years old

-Skin tone? Clothing?

-text that describes sacrifice of cosmic person purusha as founding the physical, material, and social order of the universe

a) mouth: Brahman = priests

b) forearms: Ksatriya = warriors

c) thighs: Vaishyas = farmers, merchants

d) feet: Shudras = servants

*ideal image of order according to male Brahmin authority

**this is virtually irrelevant for the ways that caste is practiced

2. Jati (kind, sort, genus)

-birth groups, about 3,000 in India today

-governs marriage(endogamous groups) *still critically important through arranged marriage: widespread preference across age and education today

-traditionally governed occupation

--Brahmans who do particular things: cook, ritual, memorize texts

--blacksmiths, leather workers, etc. 

**hardly linked to occupation anymore

-commensality (who you eat with and rules about food)

àonly eat food that is prepared by and for the group itself—lower caste people can take food from higher caste people, but it doesn’t work the other way around if they’re observant

*food is one of the ways in which purity and pollution are communicated

-ranked hierarchically according to perceived purity and pollution

*not fixed in text or tradition (©Mary Douglas Purity and Danger)

*pollution = state of being ≠ sin (©Jewish conceptions of purity & the mikvah)

àone goes in and out of impurity: touch a dead body, give birth to a baby, etc.

--dirty work=low caste: anything that involves death or bodily substances (ie: barber, leather worker)

--practices that rank you low: drinking alcohol, eating meat

--polluting occupation=low ranking (ie: pig herding)

**SO YOU SEE these things can change over time, they are fluid states of being and today highly political states of being

-in some ways you “can’t escape” your jati because it is your family and your people

-you can definitely dispute the placement of your jati

*it is a ridiculous truism to see jatis as a doom n gloom sort of thing

Colonial period:

·      caste became more fixed thanks to Europeans

·      now we’ve got politicized caste identities (50+ parties in India)

Independence: 1947 after WWII

Christianity in India

·      Distributions: 79% Hindu, 14% Muslim, 2.5-3% Xian

·      Xians are visible and prominent part of Indian social life

·      Uneven distribution across country

o   Northeast states: not culturally or linguistically similar to much of India but act as a sort of buffer, these concentrations were the product of American evangelizing

o   Southern 2 states: Kerala and Tamil Nadu

o   Malabar coast to the left: Vasco Da Gama slides into their DM (Portuguese, Catholic)

·      Today:

o   17 mil, Roman Catholic—conversions in early days of Euro colonialism

o   3.8 mil, Church of South India (protestant)

o   1.9 mil, St. Thomas Xians

§  Thomas arrived in Kerala 52 CE (apostle Thomas of Xian gospels)

§  Some oral trads say he came w/ apostle Bartholomew

§  Converted Brahmins and Jews who had migrated/taken refuge from 500ish BCE-1948 when State of Israel was formed

§  St. Thomas in India until martyred in year 72 in Chennai

§  Graves, martyrdom site, footprints

§  First historical mentions of Thomas tradition: mid 3^rd century

o   1.25 mil, Church of N. India (protestant)

§  *various protestants (like Methodists and others) banded together forming the 2 protestant churches

o   Less than 1mil, but growing Pentacostals (very visible and audible)

·      St. Thomas tradition continued

o   St. Thome Basilica, Channai

§  Diorama depicting martyrdom at St. Thomas Mount

§  Tomb of St. Thomas—has become a place of pilgrimage for Indians of many religious backgrounds—porosity of religious identity in India

§  i.e. pray to St. Thomas for healing a very sick baby

§  this drives religious authorities crazy

o   Xians who trace their Hx to travels of St. Thomas

o   Texts in syriac (some ppl use this as evidence against the tradition)

Modern History:

European images predating contact w India 12^th-15^th c.

=artists in Europe visually interpreting travelers’ writing

·      Italian Ganesh in contrapasto

·      Shiva image

·      Primary trope used dealt with demonic or monstrous

·      Euro point of view: this all looked like chaos

Thomas Xians in Kerala were typically high-rank Brahmins—important: earliest xians in India definitely practiced caste

Portuguese Church=oldest in India

·      Tomb of Vasco da Gamma

Francis Xavier 1506-1552

·      Cofounder of Jesuit order

·      Chastity and poverty

·      One of the first Catholic declarations that there was a responsibility to convert the heathen

·      Boundaries and xianity

·      Missionary to Christian soldiers who kept running off marrying Indian women

·      It simply didn’t go well for him

·      Successful conversion of Paravars, a {low} fishing caste

o   Huge saint in S. India

o   *probably most responsible for Xianity becoming associated w Xianity and low-caste groups

o   xians historically have experienced the most success among the most marginalized groups

Robert de Nobili 1577-1656

·      recognized that Xianity wasn’t going to work if it was assoc. with lower castes

·      foreign=no caste=anomalous=implicitly impure bc you don’t fit in

·      Europeans would have had improper bathing practices and eucharist eating body and blood “what the heck,” they said

·      Accommodationist strategy: lived and dressed as a Brahmin

·      Went to Madurai, Tamil Nadu

o   Refused to meet w Catholic hierarchy

o   Called himself as a Brahmin—even had Italian documents that said so (fake ids back in the day am I right)

o   Brought the 5^th Veda, the Jesus veda

·      Had to convince Rome that caste was not implicitly religious but social àpaved the way for caste to be incorporated and preserved in xian communities

Lowest Castes: Untouchables

·      Most polluting and impure

·      Deal w dead bodies and dead animals, sweep streets

·      Very marginalized: living outside main area, shadows are polluting,

·      Harijan (“children of God”)

o   Ghandi’s strategy: attack discrimination on the basis of caste and dignify communities and humanity; many low-caste people saw this as patronizing

·      Dalit (“broken, oppressed”)

o   Used by in-group activists

o   Political claim

·      Scheduled Castes (SC)

o   British gov’t’s way of locating the “most backwards classes”

o   Benefits: government education at colleges and government jobs

·      *de Nobili ignored them and thereby let them be marginalized in Catholic cxt

A (Protestant) Missionary Age

·      bible=v important for protestants

·      goal: get people to accept the message

·      first Euros to learn Indian languages well

William Carey

·      Baptist: 1^st to call for the “conversion of the heathens”

·      Protestants saw their mission to low-caste peoples as a liberating mission

Images

·      Religious cruelties

·      Idolatry

·      Illicit sexual behavior

·      Distributed among European readers to get them into missionizing

·      Potential “after” images of all the good that could be done

Tamil context:

Self-Respect Movement

·      Important distinction: Brahmin and non-brahmin—attacking hegemony of Brahmins

·      founder Perriyar

·      all people are equal

Anti-Brahmanism

·      B.R. Ambedkar: founder of contemporary dalit liberation movements

o   Believed caste was fundamentally tied to Hinduism—led a move to Buddhism

o   Major voice of dalit-activism