MM Thomas - Life, Legacy and Theology

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THEOLOGY OF MADATHILPARAMPIL MAMMEN THOMAS Praxis Nos. 3 – 4 1991 PERSPECTIVE THE CHANGING FACE OF SOCIALISM AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE CHURCHES Bastiaan Wielenga “Many attempts to describe a better socialism evoke the language of humanism. The forerunners of the Prague spring in 1968 spoke of "socialism with a human face". Gorbachev and Yakovlev speak of "humanistic socialism". Dr. M.M. Thomas projects a "new socialism which will have the person at its centre and as its motivation". This emphasis is an affirmation of the human subject over against repressive state socialism with its giganto-maniacal development concept. But the whole humanist tradition needs to be critically reviewed especially with its male-centeredness and its failure to overcome patriarchal bias as well as its tendency to assume control of the human over nature, which has contributed to the present ecological problem. The realm of human freedom will collapse if we fail to acknowledge our continuing dependency on nature and to take responsibility for a sustainable, durable interaction. Beneath that collectivism however is the same atomisation of modern society which underlies the individualism of capitalist society. This has its roots in one dominant strain of Marxist thought which expects everything from large-scale socialized production as the 139
THEOLOGY OF MADATHILPARAMPIL MAMMEN THOMAS base for socialist society. But human beings live and experience themselves as social beings, as "persons-in-community" (M.M. Thomas). The difficulty is that the structuring of modern society, be it capitalist or statesocial1st» suppresses the awareness of basic human needs. This applies not only to social needs, but also to ecological needs. We need viable ecosystems in order to survive. We need patterns of production and consumption which can be sustained for generations to come. Adivasis, women and peasants living in direct interaction with nature feel and perceive these needs existentially and act on them. But others, especially city-dwellers, are not confronted with these. It requires strenuous efforts to convince people that certain patterns of motorized private transport are not sustainable in the long run and still they may not act on it. It is amazing to see that people who have grown up with non-mechanized habits are unable to return to them. The same applies in the area of production. It has been proved that certain traditional fishing methods are optional in providing a sustainable pattern of production, whereas the present mechanization of boats and modernisation of gear cannot be sustained for long. People know it. But how to achieve a turning "back" and a slowing down in order to survive in the long run? It is true that we cannot simply return to the past as Mahatma Gandhi seemed to suggest when he prophetically warned that the expansionism of modern civilisation would be destructive and unsustainable. Yet the assumption that humankind can march on equally like this without end is illusionary. In his talk on the prophetic ministry of the church Dr. M.M. Thomas compares the transition of tribal Israel to the monarchical state with the process of transition from tradition to modernity which Nagaland is experiencing today. Elsewhere he raises the question how traditional values can be preserved and integrated. Probably, they cannot survive as mere values unless on a new level a material social basis is created which can sustain these values in daily praxis.” 140
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Dr. M.M.Ninan 5708 Rudy Dr. San Jos
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MM Thomas - Life, Legacy and Theology

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