South Asia's Christians: Between Hindu and Muslim

South Asia is home to a billion Hindus, half a billion Muslims, and substantial Christian communities, dating almost to the earliest days of the faith. Chandra Mallampalli's overview of South Asian Christianity shows how the faith has been shaped by its location between Hindus and Muslims, with the greatest response to Christianity coming from poor and oppressed Dalit and tribal communities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

South Asia is a vibrant and diverse region, home to over a billion Hindus and half a billion Muslims, as well as substantial Christian communities that have a rich history dating back to the earliest days of the faith. These Christian communities play a crucial role in understanding the evolving landscape of World Christianity, particularly due to their historical interactions with members of other religious traditions. In this comprehensive overview of South Asian Christianity, Chandra Mallampalli explores how the faith has been shaped by its unique location between Hindus and Muslims.

Mallampalli begins by delving into the ancient Thomas Christian tradition of South India, which interacted with West Asia's Persian Christians and thrived alongside their Hindu and Muslim neighbors for centuries. He highlights the efforts of Roman Catholic and Protestant missionaries who sought to understand South Asian societies with the aim of conversion. These missionaries employed various strategies, including the publication of books and tracts about other religions, interreligious debates, and aggressive preaching. However, their efforts often yielded limited success in converting individuals to Christianity. Instead, they played a significant role in fostering a climate of religious competition, which marginalized Christians in Hindu-, Muslim-, and Buddhist-majority countries of post-colonial South Asia.

Ironically, the greatest response to Christianity in South Asia came from poor and oppressed Dalit (formerly untouchable) and tribal communities who were largely indifferent to missionary rhetoric. These communities experienced profound conversions, expressed their faith through poetry and theology, and embraced Pentecostalism, which brought a renewed sense of spirituality and community. Their mass conversions, unique cultural expressions, and theological insights have contributed to the rich tapestry of South Asian Christianity and its place within the broader context of World Christianity today.

In conclusion, the stories of South Asia's Christians are vital for understanding the shifting contours of World Christianity. Their historical interactions with other religious traditions, as well as their responses to missionary efforts, have shaped the faith in unique and profound ways. The mass conversions, cultural expressions, and theological insights of these communities have contributed to the rich diversity and vitality of South Asian Christianity, making it an important part of the global Christian community.

Weight: 526g
Dimension: 155 x 236 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190608910