The Non-Western Jesus: Jesus as Bodhisattva, Avatara, Guru, Prophet, Ancestor or Healer? (Cross Cultural Theologies)

The centre of gravity of contemporary Christianity has shifted to the southern hemisphere where, with the exception of Latin America, almost all Christians are minorities in their home countries. Christians in Asia live amongst Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Shamanist or Taoist majorities and this context shapes the local Christian theology. The same is true in Africa where traditional religions and beliefs influence African Christians. Central to this change in both Africa and Asia is the creation of a new Jesus, one who accretes local beliefs and concerns and who, in that process, is transformed. 'The Non-Western Jesus' reveals how a new theology - with its own images and concepts - is coming into being. A wide range of embodiments of Jesus is examined: Jesus as 'Avatara' and 'Guru' in the Indian context; as 'Bodhisattva' in the Buddhist context; and Jesus within Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, African and Indonesian religious contexts. Where is Jesus at home? The cultural embedding of the Gospel Must Jesus always remain Greek? The remembered Jesus Who decides? Something new about Jesus? Double transformation Methodology No transmission without solidarity Inculturation : between confirmation and denial How do they help us? The Asian religious context Sources of Asian theology The Bible and other Asian holy books (Samartha) From Israel to Asia : a theological leap (song) Overwhelming poverty as a theological source (pieris) The unique nature of Asian theology The critical Asian principle Asian theology in the whole of world Christianity The interwovenness of the divine and the human The Chinese Jesus The Chinese context The image of Jesus among the first Christians in China Mediation in Confucianism Mediation in Taoism Mediation in Chinese Buddhism The current theological state of affairs in China Jesus as Bodhisattva Jesus in a Buddhist context A historical comparison A contemporary comparison An external mediator of salvation? The freedom of the Bodhisattvas and of Jesus How personal is the relationship? The nature of the mediation Double transformation The Japanese and Korean Jesus The Japanese Jesus The attitude of Japanese Christians towards the state The Kakure Christians A Jesus for the Japanese The pain of God Endo's Japanese theology In dialogue with Buddhism The Korean Jesus The Confucian veneration of ancestors The shamanistic veneration of ancestors Theological implications Minjung theology Yin and Yang Karl Barth and Asian theology The Indian Jesus Historical encounters The Thomas Christians in India Hindu voices on Jesus The di-unity of Jesus and God Examples of reflection on Jesus Raimundo Panikkar's cosmotheandrism Stanley Samartha's unbound Christ Jesus as Avatara and Guru Jesus as Avatara Jesus as Guru The Indonesian Jesus The Indonesian religious context The political-cultural context Tawhid and Jesus divine sonship Indonesian images of Jesus Two approaches The dialogue approach The contextual approach Contextual theology as interreligious dialogue Further Indonesian interpretations of Jesus The Agama Jawa A Javaanse crucifix Yesus Sang Guru Jesus as the Javanese prophet The African Jesus The African religious context Missions in Africa Characteristics of African theology The relationship with the Supreme God The new African theology The cross and suffering in Africa African images of Jesus Jesus as ancestor Jesus as healer Methodical conclusions Too western Double transformation as liminality The nature of the mediation Substantial conclusions Jesus as Bodhisattva Jesus as Avatara Jesus as Guru Jesus as Prophet Jesus as Ancestor Jesus as Healer Was Jesus already in Asia and Africa before the missionaries came? Where Is Jesus At Home? -- The Cultural Embedding Of The Gospel -- Something New About Jesus? -- The Asian Religious Context -- Sources Of Asian Theology -- The Unique Nature Of Asian Theology -- The Chinese Jesus -- The Chinese Context -- Jesus As Bodhisattva -- Jesus In A Buddhist Context -- The Japanese And Korean Jesus -- The Japanese Jesus -- The Korean Jesus -- The Indian Jesus -- Historical Encounters -- Examples Of Reflection On Jesus -- Jesus As Avatara And Guru -- The Indonesian Jesus -- The Indonesian Religious Context -- Indonesian Images Of Jesus -- Other Indonesian Interpretations Of Jesus -- The African Jesus -- The African Religious Context -- African Images Of Jesus -- Conclusions -- Methodical Conclusions -- Substantial Conclusions -- Was Jesus Already In Asia And Africa Before The Missionaries Came? Martien E. Brinkman ; Translated By Henry And Lucy Jansen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [263]-322) And Indexes.