Thursday, January 7, 2010
Tea time
This has been quite the experience so far. I have been amazed at the beauty of God's creation half a world away from home in Alburtis, PA. Time here seems to be moving so fast, with trips around the area, study in lectures and library. Even daily Tea overlaps other endeavors. As a pastor in a small Pennsylvania rural congregation, Bangalore is an extremely different setting. I am in information and sensory overload, so I shall not belabor the post. I must say that study in the library, which I am attempting now, is pretty much the same worldwide. I find here even the same books. With that, I sign off until later.
On Liturgy in India
So today is Thursday, and I am tired already and we have only been here for 3 days? or is it 4....they all seem to congeal together. We have had many very interesting lectures and have gone on a few adventures off campus as well. Latter this afternoon we will be heading out to do some more sightseeing and I am looking forward to that.
I know we all have been experiencing and thinking about a lot. I have decided to write my paper when we get back on liturgy in India, both Christian and Hindu. Today was a good lecture day for me because we heard a lecture on the Inculturation of liturgy presented by Dr. Santhosh Kumar. He spoke a lot about how in the past people who came to south India to proclaim the gospel did not just bring in the gospel but they also important a good deal of their own cultural worship as well. What this means, he said, was that in most places that we would go to worship the worship would seem very western. Only now is there a movement with in the Church of South India to bring in more Indian culture into the worship. This leads me to question what exactly is necessary symbolism and practice to be a Christan? What should be important and what can be retained and kept from previously existing culture? I know in the intro to Liturgy class at LTSP we talked about the importance of the care of the central symbols. However, that care is important because it is through those symbols that we experience things of God that we cannot explain or experience in any other way. What is it that we can do when the things we talk about don't make sense in a particular culture? (see previous post by Alexis) It must be possible to present the gospel in other ways. I am so interested in what this new movement within the CSI will come up with in their inculturation effort. I find it exciting and think that as an American I can learn from this idea of inculturaltion. I in general just love liturgy and the way that the love of Gos is expressed through it. I am also excited to start looking at Hindu worship structure and to see how that worship portrays love to those present as well.
I know that was a lot of stuff but I am just really excited and am asking so many questions of myself right now. I felt the need to share. We are off shortly to experience another new thing. I am sure that someone will post about it later. Thanks for reading and peace to you as always.
Steve
I know we all have been experiencing and thinking about a lot. I have decided to write my paper when we get back on liturgy in India, both Christian and Hindu. Today was a good lecture day for me because we heard a lecture on the Inculturation of liturgy presented by Dr. Santhosh Kumar. He spoke a lot about how in the past people who came to south India to proclaim the gospel did not just bring in the gospel but they also important a good deal of their own cultural worship as well. What this means, he said, was that in most places that we would go to worship the worship would seem very western. Only now is there a movement with in the Church of South India to bring in more Indian culture into the worship. This leads me to question what exactly is necessary symbolism and practice to be a Christan? What should be important and what can be retained and kept from previously existing culture? I know in the intro to Liturgy class at LTSP we talked about the importance of the care of the central symbols. However, that care is important because it is through those symbols that we experience things of God that we cannot explain or experience in any other way. What is it that we can do when the things we talk about don't make sense in a particular culture? (see previous post by Alexis) It must be possible to present the gospel in other ways. I am so interested in what this new movement within the CSI will come up with in their inculturation effort. I find it exciting and think that as an American I can learn from this idea of inculturaltion. I in general just love liturgy and the way that the love of Gos is expressed through it. I am also excited to start looking at Hindu worship structure and to see how that worship portrays love to those present as well.
I know that was a lot of stuff but I am just really excited and am asking so many questions of myself right now. I felt the need to share. We are off shortly to experience another new thing. I am sure that someone will post about it later. Thanks for reading and peace to you as always.
Steve
Adventure!
Hello friends! I've slacked so far on a blog post, so I figured I better get my act together. I've taken 374 pictures so far on the trip. I'll share two with you in this post.
There is so much to share, but I'll try to share a few stories that have been unique to my own experience so far. I've been fortunate enough to have several little adventures, while small, packed full of excitement. On the first day here, a few of us took a small car to Commercial Street. My first experiences of Bangalore in the daylight were sitting in the hatchback of the car because there was no room in the front. To experience the crowded streets of Bangalore from that position was very exciting! Commercial Street
itself was also an adventure. I'll show you:
Yesterday, we took a group trip back to Commercial Street. On that trip there was an incident in which someone needed to get their money back from a purchase, so I and one of our gracious guides stayed behind from the group to argue for the money back. I listened to a whirlwind of arguing in Hindi, but finally we were able to get the money back. Then, we took an auto-rickshaw that was under the payroll of a store. He offered a trip for only 10 rupees back to the seminary but then stopped halfway to take us to the store. We ended up finding a different auto, but the whole thing was very exciting. Just zipping around the city in the auto is fun.
This afternoon we went on a little adventure for soda. The train station across the street has a little shop that sells it. Once we got back to the seminary, I set up my own shop to re-sell the soda for 2x the rupees! (of course I'm kidding)
On several occasions we have had beggars approaching us on the street. The poverty is heart breaking but perhaps most heart breaking is the children.
I'm very glad I've had opportunities to get out and about. So far, everything has been wonderful here, and a whole ton of fun. Everyone we meet is very friendly and welcoming.
Dr. Sebastian promised me monkeys tonight, so stay tuned!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Meat-eaters in a Vegetarian World...
Today during a lecture by Dr. P.T. George (professor of missiology here at UTC), he shared some of the practical challenges for Christian mission in India. Some of these challenges had to do with interfacing with the legacies of [ancient] Syrian Christians, Catholic and Protestant missionaries throughout India's history, "competing" with active Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist missions, and being culturally sensitive while doing contextual ministry. One comment that he said struck me...
He used the example of Christian missionaries introducing the Eucharist, among other things, to the native, mostly Hindu (and therefore vegetarian) peoples. He said, imagine you're being given education and health care and being told about a loving God, and then you hear that you are supposed to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus... How offensive for a vegetarian, who seeks to preserve all life! He said that Gandhi once said, 'I don't want your salvation if it comes at the cost of the life of another!' Wow! Talk about a vivid example, one that had never occured to me, of how important it is to be aware of our local ministry contexts!
Can't wait to see what other ways this trip will open me up to new thoughts, ideas, and ways of seeing the world...
~Alexis
He used the example of Christian missionaries introducing the Eucharist, among other things, to the native, mostly Hindu (and therefore vegetarian) peoples. He said, imagine you're being given education and health care and being told about a loving God, and then you hear that you are supposed to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus... How offensive for a vegetarian, who seeks to preserve all life! He said that Gandhi once said, 'I don't want your salvation if it comes at the cost of the life of another!' Wow! Talk about a vivid example, one that had never occured to me, of how important it is to be aware of our local ministry contexts!
Can't wait to see what other ways this trip will open me up to new thoughts, ideas, and ways of seeing the world...
~Alexis
Monday, January 4, 2010
Spices in the Air
What is the spice of Life? Waking this morning, evening, or mid morning, (Jet lag has taken over), well we're on " Dr. Sebastian time", Marsha and I were greeted with pleasantly scented air. Even more enticing was the warm smiles and greetings bestowed by all. Together, warm liquid smiles and scents create a seductive drink to consume.
As guests in a strange land, the scent of the welcoming spirit quickly dissolves the Vail of intimidation. Once open, we anticipate the hiddeness of God working here! May the scent's presence be the ever elusive One?
Peace, Scott & Marsha
As guests in a strange land, the scent of the welcoming spirit quickly dissolves the Vail of intimidation. Once open, we anticipate the hiddeness of God working here! May the scent's presence be the ever elusive One?
Peace, Scott & Marsha
Introduction and early first day
Hi, folks. Someone said we should each introduce ourselves.
Just to let you know, I'm Becky Howell, a doctoral student in Historical Theology working on theological controversies about usury in 16th century Germany. Which has nothing to do with being in India, but I started falling in love with India about two years ago when I realized I needed to learn more if I was going to teach Great World Religions responsibly, which is one of a number of things I am likely to do with my Ph.D. once I manage to earn it. The stories of Hinduism, Indian history, Indian movies, and a number of other things have become a great fascination of mine, and this is my first chance to actually see the country.
What have I actually seen so far? A few random glimpses of what struck me:
Dr. Sebastian greeting everybody from the people who clean the rooms to the professors (and everybody delighted to see him, which is no surprise).
Wonderful library archives that include books written on narrow strips of palm (wood I think). These are etched into the wood. They look a little bit like a pile of rulers strung together with string to keep them in order. Very fine handwriting. They have some of these in 9 different languages. We also saw a letter written by Gandhi, and Dr. Sebastian's Bachelor thesis, on the Heart of God in the Old Testament. I think most of us were as excited to see Dr. Sebastian's work as to see Gandhi's letter. Not perhaps as historic, but we have more personal connection.
There is an amazing sculpture on the lawn of the seminary commemorating a historic meeting of Indians and Pakistanis. I missed the year that this happened. The sculpture is a bunch of heads, piled into a wall. There are faces on both sides, in a sense both sides of the wall are the same, though different. While the sculpture is about partition, it also made me think about how we are living stones.
--Becky
Just to let you know, I'm Becky Howell, a doctoral student in Historical Theology working on theological controversies about usury in 16th century Germany. Which has nothing to do with being in India, but I started falling in love with India about two years ago when I realized I needed to learn more if I was going to teach Great World Religions responsibly, which is one of a number of things I am likely to do with my Ph.D. once I manage to earn it. The stories of Hinduism, Indian history, Indian movies, and a number of other things have become a great fascination of mine, and this is my first chance to actually see the country.
What have I actually seen so far? A few random glimpses of what struck me:
Dr. Sebastian greeting everybody from the people who clean the rooms to the professors (and everybody delighted to see him, which is no surprise).
Wonderful library archives that include books written on narrow strips of palm (wood I think). These are etched into the wood. They look a little bit like a pile of rulers strung together with string to keep them in order. Very fine handwriting. They have some of these in 9 different languages. We also saw a letter written by Gandhi, and Dr. Sebastian's Bachelor thesis, on the Heart of God in the Old Testament. I think most of us were as excited to see Dr. Sebastian's work as to see Gandhi's letter. Not perhaps as historic, but we have more personal connection.
There is an amazing sculpture on the lawn of the seminary commemorating a historic meeting of Indians and Pakistanis. I missed the year that this happened. The sculpture is a bunch of heads, piled into a wall. There are faces on both sides, in a sense both sides of the wall are the same, though different. While the sculpture is about partition, it also made me think about how we are living stones.
--Becky
Where am I?
Here is a post lacking significantly in substance. :)
The experience of traveling to the other side of the world (economy class) is the first of our new experiences! Highlights of our journey: Comparing Lufthansa airline food with LTSP Refectory food, Built-in tv monitors with on-demand movies on the first flight, German chocolate, the bus ride from the Bangalore airport ;) oh and the cute doggies at the airport that we could not touch! I'm not expecting to know what day it is or time it is for another day or so. It's fascinating that we can hop into a big machine and wake up on the other side of the world. Mind boggling, really.
The experience of traveling to the other side of the world (economy class) is the first of our new experiences! Highlights of our journey: Comparing Lufthansa airline food with LTSP Refectory food, Built-in tv monitors with on-demand movies on the first flight, German chocolate, the bus ride from the Bangalore airport ;) oh and the cute doggies at the airport that we could not touch! I'm not expecting to know what day it is or time it is for another day or so. It's fascinating that we can hop into a big machine and wake up on the other side of the world. Mind boggling, really.
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