Dalit Theology2

RETURN and
REUNION.
EMERGENCE OF DALIT THEOLOGY : M. M. NINAN
Sins are forgiven and every one in the community is given another start.
This is exactly what the Dalits wants today.
This is just a foretaste of the ultimate redemption of the cosmos as a whole.
But this starts here and now. It appears that when the initial commune experiments under the power of
the Holy Spirit failed due to sinfulness of one or more persons within the community, the hermeneutics of
the verse was changed. These words were reinterpreted as liberation after death. Everything was
spiritualized. It appears we have grossly misunderstood Jesus. In that process we have reintroduced
caste system and slavery. We missed the reality that life goes on and death is only a interim period until
even death will be conquerred. Just as the Israelites refused to proclaim liberty, the church refused to
proclaim the liberty here and now and postponed it to the life to come. God may have to restart all over
again.
Early Christian leaders such as Gregory of Nyssa and John Chrysostom called for good treatment for
slaves and condemned slavery, while others supported it in an attempt to live within the given context
without disruption of the social system suddenly. However within the earlyChristian Churches in Rome,
they gave slaves an equal place within the religion, allowing them to participate in the liturgy. After all
Christianity was then the religion of the Slaves. They often worshipped underground in caves. According
to tradition, Pope Clement I (term c. 92–99), Pope Pius I (158–167) and Pope Callixtus I (c. 217–222)
were former slaves. (See Catholic Encyclopaedia) So we see two distinct approaches to the problem of
caste within the early Christian Period. One group condemned it and wanter equality at least in treatment
and within the Church. Others condoned the slavery for the sake of stability of the existing society. But
both groups demanded equality within the Church which was not always easy. James points this out
clearly:
For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a
poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit
thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye
not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
(Jas 2:2-4)
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