EJDC 4 (2) 2011 Church's Role for a Better India

Corruption Free India: Seminar A Seminar was organized by the Chair on 7.12.2011 on "Corruption Free India and Value based Society". The Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. M. Abdul Salam inaugurated the Seminar. Prof. M.N. Karassery and Rev. Dr. Jose Palakeel led the classes. Dr Paul Pulikkan (Visiting Professor), Sri. Martin Thachil (Gov. Body member), Sri Philip Parackal (PRO of the Chair) Dr Molly Kuruvila spoke on the occasion.

Prof. Karassery

International Conference on Religion, Dialogue, Society Prof. Anwar Jahan Zuberi, the Vice Chancellor of the University, inaugurated the International Conference on Religion, Dialogue and Society, organized by the Chair for Christian Studies and Research, in connection with its silver jubilee, on 3rd December 2010. She stated that Theology of Dialogue today is being developed along 3 points: mutual openness towards each other’s experience, liberating experience of the masses, inculturation of religions and I hope the Conference will further reflect on these points: By interacting with other religions, each religion will be enriched by the mutual complementarity between two traditions. There is need for all the religions to stand up together for human rights, proclaim the demands of justice, and denounce injustice not only when their own members are victimized, but independently of the religious allegiance of the victims. Msgr. Thomas Nagaparambil, the Vicar General of the diocese of Thamarassery presided over the function. Prof. Dr. Jacob Parappilly, the President of Indian Theological Association, called for inter-hope dialogue, where religions try to instill hope among people across the religious boundaries. Buddhist scholar, Lobsang Tengyur, from the Sera Jey University in Karnataka spoke on the mental attitude that a Buddhist is expected to cultivate in order to promote religious harmony in this world. The diversity of religions that one sees in today’s world is a natural outcome of the diversity of mental dispositions and inclinations of the various people who inhabit it. One has to accept this diversity with joy. Every religion preaches sound ethical principles and is capable of promoting the development of virtuous qualities such as love, generosity, compassion and concern for others. Hence, Buddhist should respect every religion. The different spiritual traditions of humankind have articulated well the paths that lead to the respective spiritual destinations of the various faiths. Moreover, all faiths teach the practice of virtues and standards of conduct that promote spiritual development and the harmonious integration of human beings with each other and with the world. The Director of the Chair Dr Paul Pulikkan, Prof. Reid Locklin (University of Toronto, Canada), Dr. Jiphy Mekkattukulam, Mr. Martin Thachil, Philip Parackal, Dr. Johnson Thekkadayil spoke on the occasion. 120 delegates from all over India participate in the Conference. The Conference will continue its further sessions on Dec. 4-5, in Trichur

Thrissur Session Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath inaugurated the Thrissur Session of the Conference on 4.12.2010 at the Family Apostolate Centre, Thrissur. Dr Paul Collins (University of Chichester UK and Secretary of the Ecclesiological Investigations research Network), Dr Paul Pulikkan, Fr Baiju Chakkery (President, Indian Institute of Christian Studies - the Sponsor of the Chair), Sr. Annie Kuriakose CHF(Principal, St Joseph’s College, Irinjalakuda), Dr Jiphy Mekkattukulam spoke on the occasion. Different speakers who presented topics on this day: 1. Dr. K.S. Radhakrishnan (Former VC, Sri Sankara University, Kalady, Kerala) - Interreligious Dialogue and a Liberated Society. 2. Prof. Dr. Reid Locklin, (University of Toronto, Canada) - The two Nostra Aetataes, Two Interpretations of the Council. 3. Mrs. Lida Jacob IAS (Commission, Right to Education, Govt. of Kerala) - Religions for Women Empowerment. 4. Dr Paul Kalluveettil (Marymatha Major Seminary, Trichur, Kerala) - Inter-religious Dialogue: Biblical Foundations. 5. Dr Jose Kallarackal (CSIR Trichur, Kerala) - Religions for a Greener Earth. Afternoon Sessions was moderated by Rev. Dr. Tony Neelankavil. Short paper session took place at the Institute of Theology: In class no. 1,. Rev. Sr. Dr. Mercitta Kannampuzha SABS moderated the session. The speakers and the themes. 1. Dr. K.M. Francis (St Thomas College, Trichur) – Encounter of theology and culture, a post modern approach. 2. Dr. Sabu Thomas (M.G. University, Trichur) - Caesar, Where Shall I Stand?” An Enquiry into the Role of Religion In Public Sphere. 3. Swami Atmananda (Winners World Foundation) - Understanding the key problems in Inter –Religious Harmony. 4. Mrs. Jancy Paul (Institute of Theology) - Inter-Religious Dialogue and Women Empowerment 5. Mr. George Thomas (Institute of Theology)-. Concepts of Liberation and Discipline in an Inter-Religious Context. In class no. 2,. Prof. George Menacherry moderated the session. The speakers. 1. Rev. Matthew Luff (University of Chichester) - Paul as the Paradigm of a Missional Church Cultural encounters - Engaging with the World. 2. Dr. C.J. Davees (St Thomas College, Trichur) – Seeing the undeconstructible - 3. Afzal Ali.K (Winners World Foundation) -Inter Religious Dialogue – Perspective from Islam. 4. Marymol Jose K. (Institute of Theology) - Interreligious Harmony and Role of Education. 5. George AD (Institute of Theology) - Morality, A Catalyst among Contemporary World Religions. There were cultural programmes in the evening such as Margamkali, Thiruvathirakkali, Bharatha natyam and Hindustani Music.

Release of the Book on Inculturation On the third day of the Conference, the benedictory speech was given by Mar Raphael Thattil, the auxiliary bishop of Thrissur. On this day, the following were the spekars: 1. Dr. Paul M. Collins (University of Chichester, UK) - The Broken Middle’ of Dialogue. The processes of dialogue in relation to Gillian Rose’s construal of Hegelian dialectic. 2. Dr V. Kunjali (Senior Academic Fellow, ICHR & Visiting Professor, Chair for Islamic Stduies, Univ. of Calicut) - Islam’s conversation with the contemporary society. 3. Dr Vincent Kundukulam (Pontifical Institute, Aluva) - Post modernity and religion. 4. Dr Gasper K.J. (University of Calicut) - Human being as religious existence. An exposition in reference to Levinasian thinking. 5. Dr. Jiphy Mekkattukulam (Institute of Theology, Trichur, Kerala) - Interreligious Feasts in Indian Contexts: Steps to Walk together the Path of Dialogue. 6. Dr Paul Pulikkan (University of Calicut, Calicut, Kerala) - Dialogue between Religion and Public Sphere: Dignitatis Humanae of Vatican II Council and the Current Discussion. 7. Mr. Rajan Kidangan, (Institute of Theology, Trichur) - From Human Selfishness to Dialogue with the Truth: Perspectives from Caritas in Veritate. The speakers of the short papers who could not present on 4.12.2010 also presented their papers in the last session. 1. Rev. Peter Francis (University of Chichester). Models of Dialogue between Church and Society. 2. Mrs. Sheeba Sam - Religions in Women Empowerment. The sessions were moderated by Dr. Frederic Eluvathingal and Prof. Regina Mary. The concluding ceremony started at 4.00 pm. Mar Andrews Thazhath presided over the meeting. Msgr. Vincent Arackal (Vicar General, Diocese of Calicut), Dr. Paul Collins, Dr. Paul Pulikkan, Dr. Jerry spoke on the occasion. The proceedings of the 2008 conference was released by Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath. The book is edited by Dr. Paul Pulikkan and Dr. Paul Collins and titled as The Church and Culture in India, Inculturation: Theory and Praxis. It is published from ISPCK, Delhi.