Today, in the globalized world, the mission of the Church is challenged by many
external and internal forces. It faces the challenges of secularization and the
revitalization of faith. In Asia, Christianity remains a minority religion; its members
are under pressure from governments and other faiths. In some countries, Christianity,
even faces the threat of extinction. Burning, destruction and closure of churches is not
uncommon.
In order to face these emerging challenges and to be dynamic and achieve its God-given
mandate, Christian mission must rediscover its movement character for our contemporary
times. For this, Christian leaders must objectively and critically look at the present
world and analyze the logic of its predicaments and respond creatively to bring the
meaning of Christ to today's world. The researched articles in this book by renowned
scholars aim towards responding to contemporary challenges to Christian mission.
Christian ethical reflections contained in these articles can contribute to the world
of today for the shaping of its future towards a humane world. This book, therefore, is
the fruit of this Christian hope towards a better tomorrow. It may be utopian. But the
utopian hope is a good antidote against the fear of the present, which paralyzes people to
inaction. The signs of the times and the movements of the Spirit need to be embraced by
the Christian community since they respond to the challenges of our world.
Contents
Introduction
1. Emerging Challenges of Mission Today / Emeritus Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil and
Archbishop of Jowai
2. The Emerging Cultural Challenges to Christian Mission Today / S. M. Michael
3. Religious and Cultural Pluralism / Bishop Thomas Dabre
4. Part A: Emerging Trends in Christian Mission : A Feminist Perspective / M. Surekha
Lobo
4. Part B: Emerging Challenges to Christian Mission : Women's Response / Melba Lopes
4. Part C: The Emerging Challenges to Christian Mission and Women's Response / Sahaya
Mary
5. The Emergence of Political Islam and the Persecution of Christians / Khaled B.
Akasheh
6. Contemporary Islamism and Persecution of Christians Minorities : Challenges for
Christian Muslim Relations / Victor Edwin
7. The Changing Political Scenario Towards an Effective Response / Louis D'Silva
8. The Emerging Challenges to Christian Mission Today : Digital World and the Youth
Culture in Christian Mission / Joachim Fernandes
9. Emerging Biological and Medical Issues at the Beginning and End of Life Confronting
the Mission of the Church / Stephen Fernandes
10. Changing Family and Christian Mission / Shiju Joseph
11. Ecological Concerns and the Mission of the Church / Mohan Doss
12. Dynamics of the Conversion Call of St. Paul and its Implications for the Indian
Society / Wilson D'Souza
13. The Renewal of Religious Life in an Age of Increasing Secularism / Philip Pinto
14. The Vision of Pope Francis to Renew Church and Society / Francis Gonsalves
15. The Khrist Bhakta Way : A New Way of Being the Church / Prem Antony
16. The Universal Inclusiveness of the Christian Koinonia : First Moves by the Early
Church / Thomas Malipurathu
17. The Role of Pastoral Centres in the Church's Mission to Evangelize / Paul B.
Steffen
National Conference on "The Emerging Challenges to Christian Mission Today" -
Report for Reflection and Creative Action
List of Participants
Sebastian M. Michael SVD is the Director of Ishvani Kendra, a
Missiological Research Institute of the Society of the Divine Word, Pune, India and the
Coordinator of Master's Programme in Missiology at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune. He is
Professor Emeritus of Cultural Anthropology, University of Mumbai. He is a Consulter to
the Pontifical Council for Culture, Rome; and also the SVD Zonal Coordinator for Asia. He
was also the Chairman of the Bombay Archdiocesan Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue.
Among his several books, the edited volume `Dalits in Modern India: Vision and Values'
(1999) was a best-seller of Sage Publications. It has been translated into several
languages.
Jose Joseph SVD is the Programme Coordinator at Ishvani Kendra, Pune.
He has done his Licentiate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University,
Rome; and his Ph.D. on "Participation in the Life of Jesus: An Exegetical Study of 2
Cor 4:7-15" from the Catholic University of Leuven in the Faculty of Theology and
Religious Studies. He teaches subjects related to Biblical Theology at Jnana Deepa
Vidyapeeth, and at Ishvani Kendra, Pune.
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