Azijske kršćanske teologije

Abstract

During the last decades the Christian churches in Asia have been making efforts to discover an appropriate a mode of transforming man and his world. They are doing this through specific alternative theologies that in part rely on the ideas of the theology of liberation and the theological thought of Third World countries. Asian Christian theologies reflect the distinct living conditions of this continent and are thusly also known as »rice roots theologies«.On the examples of India and South Korea the author analyses the diversity of the Christian traditions and the different examples of the use of the gospel in the local Asian context. He concludes that the alternative theological thought in these countries develops amongst their believers a critical consciousness about the social reality.The author ascertains that Asian theological thought is seeking »The Asian face of Christ«, affiliating itself with the transformation of society as well as with the alteration of church structures and institutions. For this purpose these contemporary theologies at times and in places embrace Marxist methods, and there is no doubt that they pay special heed to class analysis and to the class struggle. It is also of significance, the author concludes, that all the Asian Christian theologies are decidely ecumenically orientated which is not only due to the fact they are in a minority position on this continent.223