The annual inter-faculty
seminar of the department of Biblical studies was held at the United Theological
College Bangalore, yesterday. The theme for this year
was “Biblical Response to Ecological Challenges”. The participants were from the St.Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Dharmaram
Vidyakshetram and the United Theological College.
Inaugural Session
The inter faculty seminar was held under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Dexter Maben, the acting chairperson of the Biblical
Studies Department at the UTC. The postgraduate and doctoral students of UTC
(Biblical Studies) helped in the conduct of the programme. Rev. Rengbi Rangthang (D.Th III, NewTestament) was the coordinator
for this seminar. The seminar began with praise and worship led by Mayang and
team. Rev.Dr. Dexter Maben gave the introduction after which Rev.Dr. C.I.David
Joy welcomed the participants. The
inaugural worship began with the lighting of the lamp by the heads of the institutions and the worship led by the doctoral students under the
coordination of Ms. Sushana Pramanik. Rev.Dr. John Samuel Raj, the principal of
UTC, gave the inaugural address based on Psalm.104:24-31. He challenged the
participants to come out of the narrow anthropocentric approach to a wider
hermeneutics, reading the Bible afresh in the light of the earth crisis. Since
the Bible begins with the creation, it should be given paramount place in our
theological and hermeneutical endeavours, he said.
Papers Presented
Six papers, three from Old
Testament and three from New Testament, were presented in the seminar. Fr.
Jomon Thomas (St. Peter’s) presented the first paper titled “Ecological
Concerns in the Law Codes of Pentateuch”. The presenter pointed out the need to
go back to the scripture to understand how ecological concerns were central to
the Law codes in Pentateuch and to see the progression of thought with regard
to the ecological concerns in these law codes, namely, covenant codes, deuteronomic
codes and holiness code. Three constituent parts of the created world is
emphasised in all these codes, such as land, vegetative world and animal world.
Rev.Dr.John Samuel Raj, the principal of UTC, moderated this session and the
response was given by Sr.Rekha Rose. The participants suggested the need for
taking into consideration the Ancient West Asian context and the practical
applicability of these things in the present scenario. There is a need to
address the issue of power, theology of justice and re-reading of cross-breeding.
The second paper was on “Paul
and Ecology” presented by Sr. Hazel Alexander (DVK). Fr. Dr. Alfred Joseph of
St.Peter’s moderated this session. This was responded by Fr. Suresh Mathew. The
paper anchored on two main passages in the Pauline letters, Rom. 8:19-23; Colo.
1:15-20. This was explained in the light of other passages dealing with
issues like understanding of creation in Pauline writings, the state of
creation, new creation and restoration. The transformation is possible only in
and through Jesus Christ. The paper saw Paul as an ecological prophet. The
paper also gave the implications in the present context and urged the participants to acknowledge the ecological crisis as a spiritual crisis, to develop a new lifestyle with simplicity and coherent with the order of nature and to reconsider the
meaning of well-being in relation to the wider context of society and holistic
harmony with the cosmos. The discussions
from the floor suggested to see Paul and Greco-Roman context on ecology and to
delineate the role of the church, if ecological crisis is a spiritual issue, in
the present scenario. There is a need to bring the implications of new creation
to present ecological crisis, though further clarity is required as to how to
do it.
Ms.Lahtaw Nang Dim Pri (UTC)
presented the paper titled “Wisdom Literature and its Response to Ecological
Crisis”. This session was moderated by Fr.Dr.Joseph Titus (St.Peter’s). The
response was given by Fr. Walter D’Souza. This paper dealt with issues like the
roots of ecological crisis, the major ecological crisis' and the understanding of
creation in wisdom literature. The paper suggested certain theological
implications, especially from a tribal perspective. The questions from the floor
were basically regarding the practical applicability and logical application of this in
the light of the present scenario of development and the need to consider Qoheleth
(for example, in chapter three equality of animal and human is mentioned) in
making a response from the wisdom literature.
The fourth paper titled
“Prophetic concern on Ecology” was presented by Fr.S.Nicholas (DVK). This was
moderated by Rev. Dr. Daniel Jones Muthunayagom (UTC). Mr.Liiduo Lanah B (UTC)
gave the response. The paper considered prophetic concern in general and
Hosea.2:18-23 in particular. The important points of discussion from the floor
were covenant between God and earth, the logic of God punishing nature
whenever humans commit sins, the eschatology and ecological crises, the animal
killing (sacrifice) and ecology.
Fr. Bijeesh Chacko(St.Peter’s)
presented the fifth paper titled “Biblical Response to Ecological Crisis: Synoptic View Point”. Rev. Dr. C.I.David Joy (UTC) moderated this session and
Rev.Saju Mathew(UTC) responded to the paper. The punch line of the paper was
the urge for a change from anthropocentric to life-centred hermeneutics. The
paper has argued that Bible is eco-friendly and the use of the term ‘ochlos’ in
the synoptic gospels can be read as nature from the perspective of marginalisation. The discussion from the floor suggested that it is not only
anthropocentric to bio-centric, but now the shift is to read it from a cosmo centric frame work. Jesus was responding to the Greco-Roman colonisation
on the land of Palestine and its people. Therefore impact of globalisation needs to be addressed. The birth, death and resurrection of Jesus and its connection
with ecology needs further consideration.
The sixth paper titled “In Him
We Live and Move and Have Our Being (Acts.17:28): A Biblical Response to
Ecological Crisis” was presented by Rev.I Limatemsu Ao (UTC). This session was
moderated by Fr.Dr.Sebastian Mullooparambil (DVK). Sr.Hazel Alexander responded
to the paper. The paper was finding out the ecological concerns in the Acts,
especially in the early Christian Kerygma. Discussions regarding the paper were
mainly on the title and its link with ecology.
Concluding session
The concluding session was moderated by
Rev.Dr.Daniel Jones Muthunayagom. The main agenda was regarding the theme for the next meeting at St.Peter’s Pontifical Institute, which will be held on 22nd
November, 2014. Out of the several suggestions, “Economics and Ethics from
Inter-Scriptural Perspective” was proposed as the theme for the next meeting.
This was followed by remarks from representing institutions. Fr. Dr. Joseph
Titus (St.Peter’s) informed the participants regarding the publication of these
paper of the Inter faculty series. Fr. Dr. Sebastian Mullooparambil (DVK) challenged
the participants to become ambassadors of the message (discussions on ecology)
and Rev. Dr. C.I. David Joy (UTC) pointed out the need for more interaction
between seminaries. The commitment song
by Jeviholi Swu and Mayang added colour to the closing ceremony and during this
time representatives from participating institutions poured water on plants as
a symbol of commitment to ecological concerns.
Rev.Dr. Dexter Maben proposed the vote of thanks. There were also
announcements regarding the “BIBLE DARSHAN” the international seminar which is going to be held at the UTC, on January 30-February 1, 2014. The meeting was
concluded with prayer and benediction by Rev. Dr. Daniel Jones Muthunayagom.
Reported by Rev. Biju C.
JK
