CHRISTOLOGY IN ASIA

MAJOR TRENDS IN CHRISTOLOGICAL REFLECTION FROM AN INDIAN CONTEXT

Resumo

Thompson’s object of study is based on his Christological reflections within the Asian context. Religious pluralism, poverty, and western colonialism have moved theologians and Asian leaders to build an Asian portrait of Jesus. One of the facets of this construction outside Christianity is to see in Jesus a political/social Messiah, in order to lead the reconstruction of social equality among the Indian castes. There are also attempts by the theologians of the enculturation, who sought to articulate the Gospel using Asian terms, symbols and spiritualities, while remaining faithful to the Christian faith. On the other hand, there were also those who forced Jesus’ connection with Indian religious elements to the point of compromising the person and work of Christ. Thompson also presents the source and trajectories of Christology in the Lutheran perspective, whose purpose is to maintain the biblical/confessional character, as well as to be relevant to people context.