1. Contextual Theologies: An Introduction Module 1 Dalit theology: method and themes of a contextual theology in India By Vinod John

5. A few old and new terms and their meanings
Local
Global
“Glocal”
Globalization
Its impact on Christianity and theologies
Challenge and opportunity
Local—Christianity is present in almost all places of the world today. That means, it has a local context.
Global—Christianity is also a global or world religion, i.e., it is one universal religion expressed in various forms locally.
Glocal—Thus, it is both global and local at the same time and has to be both by its very nature.
Globalization—The world is shrinking, becoming a global village due to advances in transportation, communication, migration, urbanization, etc.
These facts are impacting Christianity and the way its lived today around the world.

6. Theology or theologies?
Is theology normative? Theology and context
Even as global Christianity becomes local around the world, is there one normative theology, namely western systematic theology relevant everywhere?
What is the role of local context in the articulation of Christian theology in various parts of the world?
What happens when the context interacts with various local contexts? It usually results in contextual theology.
It is imperative to do theology. There is no normative theology applicable everywhere. Because western systematic theology too is contextual!

7. Indian context of the Church
Perhaps the oldest living civilization of the world The largest democracy of the world with 1.3 billion people Majority of the population—Hindus (over 80%) Caste system—A hierarchical, graded, four-tier society

8. Climbing up the ladder is impossible!
Brahman
Kshatriya
Vaisya
Dalit
Shudra

9. Dalit and dalitness defined
The people group is outside the four-tier caste system
Dalit etymology
Sanskrit – dal –i.e. broken, crushed, oppressed, exploited
Hebrew Bible –dal- Striking parallels Means broken, oppressed
Literally untouchable, polluting to the other caste-Hindus

10. Who are the Dalits?

11. Dalit Christians Majority of the church in India is Dalit (about 80%)
Their socio-economic situation has not changed since conversion to Christianity
They face discrimination within the church and outside it

12. Dalit theology : A rationale
Why Dalit theology?
How about Indian Christian theology?
Brahmanical
Does not address the issues of Dalits
From above
A detached God
Knows nothing of the sufferings of Dalits
Why should there be a particularly a Dalit theology? Is there no Indian Christian theology in India?
Yes! But it is………………………

13. Dalit theology: methodological issues
Reaction to Indian theology
Critiques classical western theologies
Borrows from and is inspired by the Latin American liberation theology
Inspired by Black theology of America
Theologizing from below, taking the subaltern context of Dalits seriously
So how do the Dalits do theology?
How is it different from other theologies?
What is their method?

14. Dalit theology: major themes
A Suffering God - Pathos
The Crucified Messiah as a Dalit Jesus
An Empowering Spirit for the powerless
Church as a just community for witness
Pathos, or suffering, from Greek original is very important to Dalits. They find God as a suffering God as well as one who is present in their sufferings. He is with them, the poorest of the poor, the oppressed, rather than with the rich, powerful and oppressors.
Jesus is the Dalit Messiah, he is the epitomee of Dalit and dalitness as the one who was treated as an untouchable, rejected, persecuted, oppressed, spat upon, and crucified on a tree outside the city.
Holy Spirit – as a spirit of power for the powerless Dalit, he empowers them and raises them up with Christ.
Church- as a koinonia of all God’s people, just community, without caste discrimination, all treated equally

15. Other signposts in a Dalit theology
Dalit anthropology: A new humanity in God’s image
Dalit realized eschatology: change here and now!
A political theology for bargaining power in the society and church 
In Dalit theology, the concept of imago Dei is what makes the Bible relevant.
Paul’s doctrine of new creation in Christ is what appeals to them, because it gives them dignity and equality in the eyes of God and their fellow beings.
They don’t believe in a theology that promises bye-and-bye-pie-in-the-sky. They want change here and now out of their sufferings and into a new humanity in Christ.
They believe Jesus Christ’s kingdom is a new social order in which the Dalits share power, where the rich go empty handed and the poor are fed!

16. Dalit theology: a critique
Methodology: positive aspects
Context as the point of departure
Suffering and vulnerable aspect of God
God as immanent
Dignity and hope for Dalits
Positive aspects

17. Dalit theology: a critique
Methodology: negative aspects
Needs to use Dalit resources such as stories, songs, etc.
Write more commentaries on the Bible from a Dalit subaltern perspective

18. Dalit theology: a critique
Methodology: negative aspects
Exclusivity -only by Dalits and for Dalits
Elitism – lacking grassroots theologization
Needs more interplay of local and global