RLMgB254 Contemporary Indian Christianity

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Ivona Vrzalová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
each even Thursday 12:00–13:40 J.509
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! RLB254 Indian Christianity
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course presents the state of Christianity in India today, on the institutional, geographical and demographical levels. In the first part of the course, attention is paid to the development of Christian communities in particular regions of India with a special focus on the impact of colonialism. The second part of the course deals with particular groups and issues in contemporary India, especially with regard to other religious communities.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students will be able to:
  • understand the basic outline of the history of particular Christian churches in India;
  • critically analyze the influence of colonialism on the situation of Indian Chritians;
  • analyse the main issues of Indian Christians with regard to social and political situation, namelly the impact of Hindu nationalism;
  • understand the Dalit movement and spread of Christianity among the tribal population.
    • Syllabus
    • 0. Introductory lecture;
    • 1. Historio-geographical overview of Christians in India I - Thomas Christians and Indian Catholics;
    • 2. Historio-geographical overview of Christians in India II - Protestant missions and HIndu reformism;
    • 3. Christianity and Indian religions - theology and everyday life, cult of saints, pilgrimages, rituals;
    • 4. Christianity among indigenous tribes;
    • 5. Dalit movement and Dalit theology;
    • 6. Indian Christians and Hindu nationalism;
    • 7. "Indianization" and inculturation among Indian Christians;
    • 8. Main issues of contemporary Indian theology, Indian Christology;
    • 9. Indian Christianity as presented in the media and film;
    • 10. Presentations of students works;
    • 11. Presentation of students works;
    • 12. Presentation of students works, concluding discussion.
    Literature
      required literature
    • ROBINSON, Rowena. Christians of India. 1st published. New Delhi: Sage Publications, 2003, 234 s. ISBN 8178292939. info
      recommended literature
    • PUTHER, Bosco. Inculturation and the Syro-Malabar Church. 1st Ed. Kochi: L.R.C. Publications, 2005, x, 305. ISBN 8188979031. info
    • Religious conversion in India : modes, motivations, and meanings. Edited by Rowena Robinson - Santhianthan Clarke. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003, xv, 420. ISBN 0195663292. URL info
    • Popular Christianity in India : riting between the lines. Edited by Selva J. Raj - Corinne G. Dempsey. New York: State University of New York Press, 2002, xix, 284. ISBN 0791455203. info
    • DEMPSEY, Corinne G. Kerala Christian sainthood : collisions of culture and worldview in South India. 1st pub. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2001, xii, 213. ISBN 0195653599. info
    • WEBSTER, John C. B. The dalit Christians : a history. 1st pub. Delhi: ISPCK, 1992, xiii, 275. ISBN 8172141602. info
    Teaching methods
    Lectures, discussions, reading.
    Assessment methods
    Contents of the semester:
    Lectures, class discussions, student presentations.
    Requirements:
    (a) active participation in seminars (20%); written commentary to two selected texts (30 %);
    (b) presentation of a seminar work and its written form (50 %).
    See Study materials for detailed information.
    Language of instruction
    Czech
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    Study Materials
    The course is taught each semester.
    The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2022.
    • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2020, recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2020/RLMgB254