Course Code: BHC02

History of Christianity in India

BDII, Semester II, 4 Credit Hours, Senate Paper

Course Objectives

1. To enable students to have a comprehensive understanding of the development of Christianity as a whole.
2. To enable students to understand the development of Christianity in different regions of India.
3. To enable students to understand the history of Christianity in India within the context of the social, cultural, and political history of India.

Course Requirements

• Final Examination: 100%

Course Outline

1. Beginning of Christianity in India:

• a. Traditions (St. Thomas, St. Bartholomew); sources both Indian and non-Indian.
• b. The Syrian connection – Immigrations, Thomas of Cana, and Morwan Sabrisho with Mor Sabor and Mor Aphroth, the Copper Plates, the stone crosses, etc.
• c. The social status of Malabar Christians; aspects of indigenization.
• d. Christianity in India and contact through visitors such as friars, travelers (Marco Polo and the like).

2. Advent of Roman Catholic Christianity in India:

• a. Portuguese colonialism and their colonial and religious policies.
• b. Francis Xavier and his missionary methods – use of political power.
• c. Robert de Nobili and the Madurai Mission – Indigenization, and the Rites controversy.
• d. The Jesuits and the Mogul Mission – interaction of Gospel and Culture – impact of and on Christianity.
• e. Roman Catholic Christianity and the Malabar St. Thomas Christians during the Sixteenth and Seventeenth centuries with special reference to the Synod of Diamper and the Coonen Cross incident – Consequences.

3. Protestant Christianity in India:

• a. The Tranquebar Mission.
• b. The Serampore Mission.
• c. Impact of Protestant Mission on St. Thomas Christians.

4. The Spread of Protestant Christianity in Different Regions in India:

• Development of Christianity in different regions of India (Dalits, Tribals, Adivasis and Subaltern Groups):
  • a. South India.
  • b. North India.
  • c. North East India.

5. Colonialism and Protestant Christian Mission:

• a. The colonial and religious policy of the Danish, Dutch, French, and the British.
• b. An evaluation of Colonialism and Protestant Mission.

6. Christianity and Nation Building in India:

• a. Christianity and the National Independence Movement.
• b. Christianity and the Bengal Renaissance.
• c. Christianity and Social Transformation: educational ministry, literature, medical work, and social change.
• d. Christianity and the empowerment of women.
• e. Caste and Christianity.
• f. Communalism and Christianity.

7. Indigenous Missions/Movements and the Emergence of Indian Church:

• a. Development and the quest for Indian identity – Devolution: Self-support, Self-propagation, and Self-government. NMS, IMS, FMPB and the like.
• b. Indigenization including the emergence of Independent movements such as that of Bhakt Singh, Subba Rao, the Hindu Church of Lord Jesus at Mookupeeri, Tirunelveli Dist., National Church of Madras (Parani Andy), Bengal Christo Samaj; Ashram Movement – theology, worship, etc.

8. Development of Christianity in Neighboring Countries:

• Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and Myanmar.

9. Emergence of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements and their Impact on the Indian Churches.

• Impact on worship practices and church dynamics.

10. Post Independent India and Christian Movements:

• a. The rise of Religious Fundamentalism and the issue of conversion and Baptism.
• b. Minority Rights.
• c. Reservation (Dalit Christians).
• d. Ashram Movements.
• e. Theological Institutions.

Bibliography

Required Readings:

• Jeyakumar, D. Arthur. History of Christianity in India: Selected Themes. Madurai, 2007.
• Kuriakose, M.K. History of Christianity in India: Source Materials. Delhi: ISPCK.
• CHAI Series vol. I-V.

Suggested Readings:

• Arangadan, A.J. Church Union in South India. Mangalore: B.M. Press, 1947.
• Baago, Kaj. Pioneers of Indigenous Christianity. Madras: CLS, 1969.
• Brown, L. W. The Indian Christians of St. Thomas. Cambridge: University Press, 1956.
• Boyd, Robin. Church History of Gujarat. Madras: CLS, 1981.
• Cronin, Vincent. A Pearl to India: The Life of Robert de Nobili. London: Rupert Hart, Davis, 1959.
• Daniel, David. The Orthodox Church in India. New Delhi: Ms. Rachael David, 1986.
• Das, Christu D. Tranquebar to Travancore. Delhi: ISPCK, 2008.
• Das, Sisir Kumar. The Shadow of the Cross: Christianity and Hinduism in a Colonial Situation. Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 1973.
• Firth, C.B. An Introduction to Indian Church History. Delhi: ISPCK.
• Forrester, Duncan B. Caste and Christianity: Attitudes and Policies on caste of Anglo-Saxon Protestant Missions in India. London: Curzon, 1980.
• Gaikaolung, Dangmei. Historiography of Christianity in India: A Tribal Perspective. Master’s Journal of Theology 3, no. 2 & 4, no. 1 (December, 2013 & June, 2014): 17-33.
• George, Samuel H. Joseph Lalfakmawia and Ajungla Jamir, eds. Ekklesia: Indian Conversations. CWI & MCT: New Delhi, 2014.
• Gladstone, J.W. Protestant Christianity and People’s Movements in Kerala 1850-1936. Trivandrum: KUTS, 1984.
• Geevarghese, P.T. Were the Syrian Christians Nestorians? Kottayam, 1907.
• Gine, Pratap Chandra. “William Carey and the Serampore College,” Annual Magazine, Eastern Theological College, 1993, 21-23.
• Haidar, Dipankar. William Carey the Father of Modern Missionaries. Raghabpur-West Bengal: Raghabpur Seva Niketan, 2011.
• Iha, P., ed. Christianity in India: Search for Liberation and Identity. Delhi: ISPCK, 1991.
• Ingham, K. Reformers in India: An Account of the work of Christian Missionaries on Behalf of Social Reform 1793- . Z&H Cambridge: CUP, 1956.
• Ipe, Kochupallikunel. Pentecostal Churches in Kerala and Indigenous Leadership. Delhi: ISPCK, 2011.
• James, Woba. Major Issues in the History of Christianity in India: A Post Colonial Reading. Jorhat: TDCC, 2013.
• Jayakumar, N. History of Christianity in India. Kolkata: SCEPTRE, 2013.
• Jeyakumar, D. Arthur. Christians and the National Movement (The Memoranda of 1919 and the National Movements with special reference to Protestant Christians in Tamil Nadu: 1919-1939). Calcutta: Punthi P ustak, 1999.
• Joseph, Ipe. Pentecostal Movement in Kerala.
• Mar Thoma, Juhanon. Christianity in India and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church. Madras: Diocesan Press, 1952.
• K.L. Richardson. The Missions of the Serampore Trio: An Ecumenical Perspective in Indian Journal of Theology, Vol. 35, No. 1, 1993, pp. 29-34.
• Kellock, James. Breakthrough for Church Union in North India and Pakistan. Madras: CLS, 1965.
• Kooiman, Dick. Conversion and Social Equality in India. Delhi: Manohar, 1989.
• Koshy, Ninan. Caste in the Kerala Churches. Bangalore: CISRS, 1968.
• Kurnvilla, K.K. A History of the Mar Thoma Church and its Doctrines. Madras: CLS, 1951.
• Laird, M.A. Missionaries and Education in Bengal 1793-1837. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972.
• Lehman, E.A. It Began at Tranquebar. Madras: CLS, 1954.
• Mathew, C.P. and M.M. Thomas. The Indian Churches of St. Thomas. Delhi: ISPCK, 1967.
• Mathew, P.N. Acta Indica. Cochin: The Author, 1986.
• Manickam, Sundararaj. The Social Setting of Christian Conversion in South India. Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1977.
• Mundadan, A.M. Traditions of St. Thomas Christians. Bangalore: Dharmaram College, 1970.
• Mundadan, A.M. Indian Christians Search for Identity and Struggle for Autonomy. Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 1984.
• Neill, Stephen. A History of Christianity in India; the beginnings to A.D. 1707. Cambridge: CUP, 1984.
• Neill, Stephen. A History of Christianity in India: 1707-1858. Cambridge: CUP, 1985.
• Oddie, Geoff A., ed. Social Protest in India: British Protestant Missionaries and Social Reforms 1850-1900. Columbia: South Asia Books, 1978.
• Oddie, Geoff A., ed. Religion in South Asia: Religious Conversion and Revival Movements in South Asia in Medieval and Modern Times. Delhi: Manohar, 1977.
• Paul, R.D. The First Decade. Madras: CLS, 1958.
• Paul, R.D. The Crossover India. London: SCM, 1952.
• Paul, R.D. Chosen Vessels. Madras: CLS, 1961.
• Paul, R.D. Triumphs of His Grace. Madras: CLS, 1967.
• Paul, R.D. Changed Lives. Lucknow: Lucknow Publishing House, 1968.
• Paul, R.D. They Kept the Faith. Lucknow: L.P.H., 1968.
• Paulose, P. The Establishment of Catholicate in India. Mannathoor: SOC Publications, 2012.
• Perumali, H.C. and E.R. Lambye, eds. Christianity in India: An Ecumenical Perspective. Alleppy, 1972.
• Picket, J.W. Christian Mass Movements in India. New York: 1933.
• Philip, E.M. The Indian Church of St. Thomas, Changanacherry: Mor Adai Study Centre, 2004.
• Potts, Daniel E. British Baptist Missionaries in India 1793-1837: The History of Serampore and its Missions. Cambridge: CUP, 1967.
• Richter, Julius. A History of Missions in India. New York: Flemming Revall, 1908.
• Sa, Fidelis De. Crz5z57M CAotaZVag/wr. Bangalore: Redemptorist, 1975.
• Sahu, D.K. United and Uniting: A Story of the Church of North India. Delhi: ISPCK, 2001.
• Sengupta, Padmavati. Pandita Ramabai Saraswati: Her Life and Work. New York: Asia Publishing House, 1970.
• Sundkler, Bengt. Church of South India: 1900-1947. London: Lutterworth, 1954.
• Thomas, George. Christian Indians and Indian Nationalism 1885-1950. Frankfurt a.m.: Verlag Peter D. Lang, 1979.
• Thomas, P.J. 100 Indian Witnesses to Jesus Christ. Bombay: The Bombay Tract and Book Society, 1974.
• Thomas, V.V. Dalit Pentecostalism: Spirituality of the Empowered Poor. Bangalore: ATC, 2008.
• Conciliar Ecumenism: The Beginning of the Former CSI-CNI-MTC Joint Council. Bangalore: 2009.
• Van Tücher, Paul H. Nationalism: Case and Crisis in Missions – German Missions in British India 1939-1946. Erlanger: 1980.
• Walls, Andrew. The Missionary Movement in Christian History: Studies in the Transmission of Faith. New York: Orbis, 1996.
• Webster, John C.B. The Christian Community and Change in Nineteenth Century North India. Delhi: Macmillan, 1976.
• Zeliang, Elun. The History of Manipur Baptist Convention.

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