Brahmin and his Bible: Rammohun Roy's Precepts of Jesus 200 Years On

Raja Rammohun Roy's Precepts of Jesus was published on the bicentenary of its publication, and R. S. Sugirtharajah situates it in its social, cultural, and political context and analyses the hermeneutical issues it generated. He documents the exegetical exchanges between Roy and the missionaries, their differing hermeneutical suppositions and strategies, their contradictory consturals of Jesus, and disputes about translations. Sugirtharajah also demonstrates how Roy's work was a precursor to de-mythologization, and how his identification of Jesus as an Asiatic and his idea of a moral union between Father and Son were reused by later Indian writers. This volume also includes Roy's Precepts in full.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 160 pages
\n Publication date: 09 September 2021
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
\n

On the occasion of the bicentenary of the publication of Raja Rammohun Roy's Precepts of Jesus, R. S. Sugirtharajah provides a comprehensive analysis of Roy's compilation of Jesus' moral teachings within the social, cultural, and political context of his time. He delves into the hermeneutical issues that arose from Roy's interpretation and explores the often contentious exegetical exchanges between Roy and the missionaries. Sugirtharajah documents their differing hermeneutical suppositions, strategies, and contradictory construals of Jesus. He also discusses disputes about translations and the place of the Precepts among earlier Gospel Harmonies.

Sugirtharajah examines Roy's use of the Improved Version, a highly contentious Unitarian Bible, and sheds light on his motives for translating his own Hindu texts. He demonstrates how Roy's work laid the groundwork for de-mythologization, a concept that later gained prominence in the West. Additionally, Sugirtharajah highlights how Roy's identification of Jesus as an Asiatic and his concept of a moral union between Father and Son were routinely reused by later Indian writers.

Furthermore, this volume includes Roy's Precepts in full, allowing readers to engage with his original writings. It challenges popular perceptions of Roy as someone who strongly disapproved of various Christian doctrines and was highly rationalistic in his outlook. Sugirtharajah reveals that Roy was much more complex in his writings, displaying a blend of initial rationalistic energy and passion that gave way to something more intuitively and emotionally based. This approach, paradoxically, strengthened the foundations of Christianity rather than disturbing them.

Sugirtharajah's work brings to light a forgotten aspect of Raja Rammohun Roy's legacy, shedding light on his intricate and nuanced interpretation of Jesus' teachings. His analysis provides valuable insights into the historical and cultural context of Roy's time, as well as the broader hermeneutical debates surrounding the Bible and its interpretation. This book is a valuable contribution to the study of religion, history, and philosophy, and will interest scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the complexities of religious discourse and its impact on society.

\n Weight: 256g\n
Dimension: 155 x 235 x 15 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780567701992\n \n