Tom's blog

A recent series on Radio 4, 'In the Footsteps of Jesus', had as its final programme a review of the history and modern face of Christianity in India.

In the programme the presenter, Ed Stourton, went to an Ashram community in India, which began life as a psuedo-benedictine monastery. In the monastery almost all the images of Jesus are as a guru sitting in the lotus position. One of the monks described how he related to Jesus as a guru, a teacher, the greatest teacher of all. For their morning mass they also use Hindu-infused liturgy which depicts the whole of the Earth, the cosmos, also worshipping God. In the Eucharist they celebrate not only with bread and wine, but with flowers, another Hindu tradition.

The programme went on to interview an Indian theolgian about the validity of these Hindu-Christian fused disciplines. The scholar described how in the early church there were many 'Christologies' (doctrines or theories based on Jesus or Jesus's teachings) that were held simultaneously by different groups of believers. He also impotantly said that not one single 'Christology' can be universal, not one idea, theory, or depiction of Christ can be valid for all believers world-wide. However, this is very much what has happened in European history with the spread of Christendom across Europe and beyond since the time of Constantine.

Hi,

Just a quick note to any Birmingham guys, I am up house-sitting for Joe and Sarah now for 10 days (or until they come back), so let me know if anything is going on (tpbaker82@yahoo.co.uk)! Its touch and go whether I will be around for this Sunday, but let me know anyway if you are meeting or anything.

Also, What does anyone think about a peacechurch podcast? I was searching for good podcasts on radical theology and current affairs, and there doesn't seem to be much out there. Would be interesting to put some of the content discussed on here out there in a different format don't you think?

Look forward to your thoughts,

Tom.