Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Nationhood can
be further strengthened by adding standing army to it. Nationhood of Israel is a gradually
development, their understanding....
Modern Nationalistic Movement in Israel
Zionism
It means for support for a Jews return to sovereignty in their ancient home land with a majority
of Jews Culture
Zionism and Hindutva have many similarities:
1. Both intertwine religion with particular region. 2. Both are militant in culture. 3. Botha re
fighting for the cultural dominion in their own homeland. 4. Both are considered by others as
outsiders, means they were not the original inhabitants of the land. For example, For both,
Islam is an enemy. India we can see the continuous conflict between the RSS and Islam
regarding the Babri Mosjid. In Israel, they are the centre of conflict between two religions
regarding the Dom of Rock in temple mount area.
Deference between them:
The difference is that Zionism says that whoever stands against Israel stands against God.
Whereas Hindutva asserts that whoever stands against Hindus stands against India.
***** Our responsibility is to witness the nations, not to convert them into Christianity. The
Bible says that in the book of Acts 2: 40-42 that God was adding the peoples to the Church. It
is the act of God n not of the Human being. Our responsibility is to experience Christ with
heart, mind, and soul to witness among the nations.
Questions: In your opinion, what is the stand of OT as far as the Cultural Nationalism is
concerned? Do you agree with presentation of Cultural Nationalism in OT?
In Jesus time there was nationalistic movements like Zealots, they opposed vehemently the
dominion of Romans. Religious Nationalism derived in Jesus time from the Roman dominion
and opposition to the heavy taxation. However, the writers of the Gospels reject the idea of Jesus
being nationalists. His value was egalitarian in perspective. The Parochial nationalism of the
Jews became a spiritual nationalism with their home being Promised Land New Jerusalem. Jesus
and the Nation called New Jerusalem transcended the culture. This was not restricted to a
particular ethnic group and its culture. Lk. 7: 33-34; 15:1-2 can be taken as the evidence of Jesus
disapproval of Zealots. It was because the tax-collectors were collaborators of Romans. Jesus
word love the enemies (Lk. 6:27-36, Mt. 5:38-48) in the context Roman dominion also shows
that He was not supporting the Jewish nationalistic movements of His time. Spreading hatred and
distrust are the main two characteristics of nationalists. He relates with people without
discrimination on the basis of caste, class and birth. He promoted the values of the kingdom of
God: Justice, peace, love, compassion and equality.
The goal of nationalism has ever been power, prosperity and authority; Christ definitely set aside
the power as the goal of life. Jesus advocated an open society based on just relationships where
there is no hierarchy. He emphasized for an alternative community of solidarity and sharing. He
calls for co-operation, love and equality among the individuals, societies and nations. So His
kingdom values were absolutely opposite the modern cultural nationalism. He always educated
His disciples of justice. But, there may be administrative hierarchy. But He did not oppose it. His
opposition was against the social hierarchy in relation to the any social discrimination. His
intention was to abolish the any social hierarchy from the Jewish society. So we have good
material to support against any kind of social hierarchy.
Our approach should be very strategic in a given contexts. We have to walk with pace
what they are running. We should not tell them about any foreign culture and customs
including Jews cultures and customs. I cannot go with my tradition to impose others
traditions.
The Mission Challenge of Hindutva and Christian Ministry Today
Only one hour of the day they do some physical exercise changing their dress and western
tradition RSS dress for that allotted time. Physical exercise they practice. They do road march.
RSS has their branches in UK. They change their dress system. January 2009, total numbers of
branches 43,905in 30,015 places. They have education system. 1. Ekal Vidyalaya2. Sankar
Varga2. Balwadi, Bala gwauka...Villege Health Guide, mobile dispensary.
Youth Wings: such as Bajrang Daal, Durga Avhini and host of others indstuties. ZThe VHP
oinvolves the youth in their wirks throygh various organizations.
Vidya Bharathi (1967): Under the umbrella of VNB, ther are 210000 educational instutuons
inIndai under these 105000 teachers to teach them.
1. Most Hindu admires Christ and ethical teachings. His simple and sacrificial life style
attracts them. His historicity does not matter to them; they interpret Christian as the non dualistic
Advatic Vedantic framework. Thus they try to separate them from the western interpretation of
Christ. They see that the creator and the creator are same. They are the part of the Brahma i.e.
God. The universe one and they are part of the creation in other way. They reject the systematic
understating and interpretation of The Bible. Normally non intense t is being shown in OT and
Pauline letters but the Gospels are admired. They perceive Christ as one of the gods.
2. Traditional Christian approaches were based largely on Christina attitudes toward
Hinduism. The Christian assumption that Jesus is the only way if way salvation was the basis of
most of approaches. This lead them to that all other religions or ways for false even demonic and
evil. Protestant missionaries from the western were individualistic. That exalted individual
conscience. They believed that human character could be totally transformed by the direct assault
on the mind. This requires an educated process which led them to develop approaches that were
more individualistic, educational and highly intellectual in its appeal. This suited most for
reaching the upper class.
Modern Approaches to Hindu Context
Our content calls for grater credibility. Our methods call for far greater witness .Then the result
would surely redemptive. Our approaches call for grater accountability.
Key areas: No compromise with the core of the gospel. Centrality of Christ should be generated.
Understand the RSS world views. Avoid Christian terminologies. Reveal your Christian identity
in the beginning itself. Make genuine friendship, conversion belongs to God. Use terms like
Barat instead of India .Namaste instead of English terminologies such as good morning and good
evening as part of the rapport i.e. relationship building. Talk high about the Indian Culture as
tradition as a starting point and suggest humanistic nationalism as an alternative. Make
friendship with individuals, not as a group. Tell about Christ, not about Christianity. Let our lives
speak to him/her about Jesus. Be ready to sacrifice our lives if it demands.
The Importance of Gaining the insight into the world view of Hindutva
Go to his thesis in the Library by NAIR