Toward a Public Theology in Myanmar

Toward a Public Theology in Myanmar
Author: Lal Tin Hre and David Selvaraj
Publisher: Fortress Press
Total Pages: 291
Release: 2023-10-10
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 150649160X

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The essays in this volume reflect the journey of a team from Myanmar and India listening and learning from each other. The intention is for theologians, pastors, and public intellectuals from Southeast Asia, starting from the Association of Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA), to initiate or strengthen discussions on the theme of Public Witness. In situations where the discussion has begun, we hope this contribution will add to the process. At a fundamental level, this volume will trigger a rethinking of Mission in Myanmar in the context of re-imposed military rule. The volume is divided into three parts. The first offers an introduction, leading up to the book and to the Association of Theological Education in Myanmar (ATEM), the second a section on theology of Public Witness and broad theoretical formulations concluding with a wide array of the contemporary issues on the ground. The articles come out of the five workshops, for professional theologians from seminaries, social activists from a Christian faith background and pastors.

A Companion to Public Theology

A Companion to Public Theology
Author:
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 515
Release: 2017-01-23
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9004336060

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Winner of the 2017 Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award Public theology has emerged in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries as theologians have increasingly entered the public square to engage complex issues. This Companion to Public Theology brings a much-needed resource to this relatively new field. The essays contained here bring a robust and relevant faith perspective to a wide range of issues as well as foundational biblical and theological perspectives which equip theologians to enter into public dialogue. Public theology has never been more needed in public discourse, whether local or global. In conversation across disciplines its contribution to the construction of just policies is apparent in this volume, as scholars examine the areas of political, social and economic spheres as well as issues of ethics and civil societies, and draw on contexts from six continents. Contributors are: Chris Baker, Andrew Bradstock, Luke Bretherton, Lisa Sowle Cahill, Letitia M. Campbell, Cláudio Carvalhaes, Katie Day, Frits de Lange, Jolyon Mitchell, Elaine Graham, Paul Hanson, Nico Koopman, Sebastian Kim, Esther McIntosh, Clive Pearson, Scott Paeth, Larry L. Rasmussen, Hilary Russell, Nicholas Sagovsky, Dirk J. Smit, William Storrar, David Tombs, Rudolf von Sinner, Jenny Anne Wright, and Yvonne Zimmerman.

Towards a Dynamic Transformation of Myanmar Society

Towards a Dynamic Transformation of Myanmar Society
Author: Pa Yaw
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023
Genre: Buddhists
ISBN:

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Imagine you are living in a small village where people are fighting against each other with hate speech based on religion, ethnicity, tradition, culture, and language. How would you help build a peaceful society if you were a religious leader? Would you side with one group and fight against others, or keep silent? Is taking up arms and fighting against the legitimate government always a last resort? Is non-violent resistance always the highest ideal that people would be striving for when it comes to the illegitimate rulers? In order to address this issue, I propose that we turn to a constructive reflection on Martin Luther’s theology of two kingdoms to facilitate dialogue between socially engaged Buddhist and Christian faith communities in Myanmar today. This dissertation attempts to challenge the Myanmar Baptist understanding of a rigid dichotomy between church and state. “Religion has nothing to do with politics” is typically a secular viewpoint. People should not follow the traditional Myanmar Baptist method of keeping hands-off from the daily socio-political struggle of their people, who are longing for peace. Religious leaders should also find a more constructive combination of inclusive nationalism and religion. This does not mean, however, that a non-violent movement is the only just way to bring about transformation in society. Some situations demand revolution through violent means to bring about social change. For instance, engagement or inclusive dialogue with the Myanmar military regime has never worked in Myanmar’s history. As such, armed revolution is the only way to uproot the ruthless rule of Myanmar military regime.This dissertation also challenges violence in the name of religion, since socially engaged people of faith believe that they have a responsibility to address and reduce suffering in all of its forms, both physical and spiritual, including suffering resulting from social injustice, exploitation, and oppression. Socially engaged religion does not justify violence, but rather rejects it, instead striving to build peace through non-violent movements. Violence in the name of religion is an obscenity, a deviation from the true character of religion. Socially engaged people of faith assume something inherently peaceful and benevolent about religion. Peacebuilding comes through politics, and even more, through the kinds of “people power” – protest, ritual, narrative – that build trust.To support the common efforts of socially engaged Buddhist and Christian faith communities, when acts of violence are committed by members of one religious/ethnic group against others, their religious/ethnic leaders should promptly and publicly denounce such actions. It is sinful to look on with folded arms when you see your fellow human beings suffering under violence. If you keep supporting such actions, you are throwing gasoline, instead of water, over a burning house, and will turn the whole village to ashes. The world will suffer from an everlasting pain. Religions exist not to destroy human life, but to value and enrich human life in society. The mission of the Christian church, especially, is to promote human dignity in the public sphere. My strong theological position as a well-trained Christian scholar is that religion can play a key role in transforming society through the common efforts of interfaith communities in Myanmar. After the Myanmar military’s coup on February 1, 2021, which dragged Myanmar’s promising young democracy back to the dark old days of military rule, people in and outside the country expect the intervention of international community like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations to bring peace and restore democracy in the country. Unfortunately, things have not gone as the majority of the population expected. Therefore, it is the people of Myanmar who will bring dynamic transformation in the country. In other words, change will come to Myanmar, as the Buddhist belief anicca reminds us that nothing is permanent, and it will come from within the country, not from outside.

Religion and Peace

Religion and Peace
Author: Nukhet A. Sandal
Publisher: Ohio University Press
Total Pages: 341
Release: 2022-08-30
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0821447769

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Can religion help societies achieve peace and stability? What actions can religious leaders take to facilitate conflict resolution? This book addresses these critical questions in terms of numerous contemporary conflicts within and between countries. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, public attention to religion shifted away from its relationship to politics and toward its connection to violence in civil conflicts, wars, and terrorism. Religion’s role in sowing discord became more prominent than its ability to unify. Only recently have discussions turned toward the positive impact of religion and spirituality in the public sphere and to the role of faith in resolving diplomatic, political, and social problems. The essays in this book contribute to this discourse by examining past, present, and future opportunities to promote peace through religion and spirituality. The contributors to this volume explore topics such as humanitarianism, philosophy, counterextremism, human rights, rituals, populism, foreign policy, and environmentalism. Some of the chapters approach these topics from a transnational perspective, while others focus on specific countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Contributors: Jonathan C. Agensky Slavica Jakelić Afra Jalabi Brandon Kendhammer Loren D. Lybarger Cecelia Lynch Peter Mandaville Jeremy Rinker Margaret M. Scull Amy Erica Smith

Political Authority, Social Control and Public Policy

Political Authority, Social Control and Public Policy
Author: Cara E. Rabe-Hemp
Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing
Total Pages: 304
Release: 2019-07-04
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1787560481

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This edited collection examines the intersections of social control, political authority and public policy, providing an insight into the key elements needed to understand the role of governance in establishing and maintaining social control through law and public policy making.

Towards a Ludu Theology

Towards a Ludu Theology
Author: Khin Maung Yee Khawsiama
Publisher: Peter Lang Gmbh, Internationaler Verlag Der Wissenschaften
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2013
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9783034314169

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The people in Myanmar have faced socio-politico-economic crises under the military civil-turned regime since 1962. This book attempts to develop a theological response to the suffering (dukkha) of people (Ludu). By transferring the Korean Minjung Theology into the Myanmar context a «Ludu Theology» is evolved.

Resisting Exclusion

Resisting Exclusion
Author: Eva Harasta
Publisher: Evangelische Verlagsanstalt
Total Pages: 342
Release: 2019-11-30
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 3374061761

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As societies live with diversity and yet struggle with both social fragmentation and increasing economic inequalities, populism is once again rising. Populist ethno-nationalist discourse seeks to ignite fear and hate, promote marginalization and exclusion of those who are regarded as not belonging to "the people". What is the role and responsibility of theology and the churches in the midst of these developments? Church leaders and teaching theologians from eighteen different countries offer analyses, trace emerging global trends and outline some country-specific developing situations. Examples are given of how churches take up the challenge to resist exclusion and advocate for strengthening participatory processes and people's agency. Widerstand gegen Ausgrenzung. Globale theologische Antworten auf den Populismus In Zeiten, in denen Gesellschaften mit der Vielfalt leben und dennoch mit sozialer Fragmentierung und zunehmenden wirtschaftlichen Ungleichheiten zu kämpfen haben, nimmt der Populismus wieder zu. Der populistische ethno-nationalistische Diskurs zielt darauf ab, Angst und Hass zu schüren und die Marginalisierung und Ausgrenzung derjenigen zu fördern, die als nicht zum "Volk" gehörend betrachtet werden. Welche Rolle und Verantwortung haben die Theologie und die Kirchen angesichts dieser Entwicklungen? Kirchenleitende und Theologen aus achtzehn verschiedenen Ländern erstellen Analysen, verfolgen neue globale Tendenzen und beschreiben einige länderspezifische Entwicklungssituationen. Anhand von Beispielen wird gezeigt, wie Kirchen die Herausforderung annehmen, der Ausgrenzung zu widerstehen und sich für die Stärkung von partizipativen Prozessen und der Handlungskompetenz der Menschen einzusetzen.

Practical Theology and Majority World Epistemologies

Practical Theology and Majority World Epistemologies
Author: Alfred Brunsdon
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 196
Release: 2024-11-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1040182887

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This book offers insights into the thinking of majority world practical theologians and introduces the reader to faith realities previously unknown in a quest to create a more inclusive and welcoming practical theological network. Practical theologians are situated in all corners of the globe attempting to make sense of their lived experiences and of those around them from a faith perspective. Historically, practical theology tended to be constructed from academics situated in the West and indirectly marginalized those in and from the majority world. Against this backdrop, this book is a deliberate attempt to empower practical theological voices from the further corners of the global village, based upon the conviction that sharing epistemologies creates an opportunity not only to learn about others and the contexts in which they live, but from them, enhancing the meaning making of practical theology in the present. Cognisant that epistemology as a formal discipline does not always centre lived experience, practical theology has historically prioritised the importance of wisdom, worldview, and a way of life for individual and collective knowing. The diverse issues addressed in this work offers insights into the thinking of mainly Asian and African practical theologians and introduces readers to the faith realities previously unknown to create a more inclusive and welcoming practical theological network. This book was originally published as a special issue of the journal Practical Theology.