India is probably the world's oldest and the most remarkable `living laboratory' of
religious pluralism. Our context is such that Christianity among other religious
ideologies is a lived-in reality in India. Down the corridors of time the Church has
grappled with the question of how to present the uniqueness and the `Finality of Christ'
in the context where Christians rub shoulders with people of other religious faith in
daily life? As numerous approaches evolved through the last several decades, an evaluation
of the Christian theology of religions is the need of the hour. Our approach should be
biblically valid, theologically credible and contextually sustainable. It is there the
Christological insights of Bishop Lesslie Newbigin attracts our attention. This book
investigates into the all time relevant and the praxis oriented approach of Newbigin in
doing Christian mission in India's pluralistic context.
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Preface
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
1. The Theological Expedition of Lesslie Newbigin
1.1 The Early Years
1.2 Newbigin's Missionary
Enterprises - Indian and Global
1.3 Factors that Influenced
Newbigin's Understanding of the `Finality of Christ'
2. The Interpretation of `Finality of Christ' According to Lesslie Newbigin
2.1 The Context of the Claim for
the `Finality of Christ - The Place of the Gospel in a Secular Society
2.2 Jesus Christ : The Clue to
Human Life and History-The Finality of Christ Interpreted
2.3 A Pertinent Christology
3. The Interpretation of the Finality of Christ in the Religiously Pluralistic Context
- The Major-Christian Approaches
3.1 Towards a Christian Theology
of Religions - Major Christian Approaches
4. An Evaluation of the Christian Theology of Religions and the Implications of
Newbigin's Christology for the Praxis of Mission in the Pluralistic Context of India
4.1 Towards an Authentic
Christology : An Evaluation of the Christian Theology of Religions
4.2 Mission Theology of Lesslie
Newbigin
4.3 The Relevance of Newbigin's
Insight on the `Finality of Christ' for the Praxis Mission in India
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Sijo Jacob obtained his MA from the University of Madras. He holds and
M. Th. in Missiology from Believers Church Theological Seminary, Thiruvalla, India; where
he was also awarded for the highest proficiency in academic excellence. He has traveled
across the length and breadth of the mission fields of India and taught in many Bible
Colleges including the Believers Church Theological Seminary where he served as the
Chaplin and taught Christian Mission and Apologetics. He is currently the Director of
Academics and teaching in the Department of Christian Mission and Ministry at Logos
College of Theology, Trivandrum, India.
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