CONFERENCE
PROFILE
The Bible Darshan – An International Conference,
hosted by the Department of Biblical Studies at the United Theological College, Bangalore is a
unique experiment to be cherished, in the long history of the College. This is particularly
because of the distinguished guests and participants, who represented eight
different nations (Australia,
Germany, Kuwait, Myanmar,
Nigeria, UK, Sweden
and the host – India).
Participants from India represented twelve states (Andra Pradesh, Araunachal Pradesh,
Bihar, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tamilnadu, Uttar
Pradhesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal) and one Union territory (Delhi), thus covering North to South and
East to West of India.
Under the
theme Exploring the New Frontiers for
Post-Western Biblical Studies, the conference attempted to challenge biblical scholars
in India and in the West to engage with one another, share insights with each
other and evolve new frontiers for further research in India/Asia, thereby
seeking to engage with texts and contexts for future engagement in the country
and beyond.
INAUGURAL REPORT
The long awaited Bible Darshan, an international conference, hosted by the
Biblical Studies Department of the United
Theological College,
deliberating the theme, Exploring New
Frontiers for Post-Western Biblical Studies from 30th to Feb.1,
2014 was inaugurated on Jan 30th at 10:00 A.M. in the Ecemenical Resource Centre of the UTC. The “Lighting of the Lamp”, a
symbol of Invitation and Life was initiated through Dr. J. R. John Samuel Raj,
Principal, UTC, Dr. Mohan Larbeer, Secretary, BTESSC, Dr. Monica Jyotsna
Melanchton, Professor of Old Testament and Secretary, Society of Biblical
Studies in Asia (SABS), Dr. Vasanth Rao,
Principal ACTC and President Society for Biblical Studies in Asia (SBSI)
and Dr. David J. Chalcraft, Professor of
Old Testament, University of Sheffield, UK. Dr. Dexter S. Maben, Coordinator,
Bible Darshan welcomed and introduced the distinguished participants from home
and abroad.
Dr.
J. R. John Samuel Raj in his inaugural address, extended his greetings and made clear the college's happiness in hosting the conference here. He expressed, “UTC is a
meeting point of God’s people.” He added, it is the first ecumenical college in
Asia that has journeyed for 104 years till
date. It is the place where Shudra Theology and Dalit Theology emerged. It also
has an advanced post-graduate and doctoral program under the Serampore University. By the 1970s, UTC became a place for inter-religious studies and
dialogue and a very important India-Pakistan dialogue took place in the campus.
Reflecting
from 2 Timothy 4: 1-5, the principal talked on perseverance in life. Teachers
from around the globe who taught at UTC have always encouraged the students to persevere
and carry out the ministry and responsibilities throughout the world.
Instrumental
Fusion by the students of UTC brought about a mood of worship and lifted the floor to praise God. The commitment song “God Bless the child”was very powerful.
CONFERENCE SUMMARY
Under
the promising theme Exploring New
Frontiers for Post-Western Biblical Studies, there were altogether twenty presentations – six thematic and fourteen papers. The topics were:
·
Sociology and the
Study of Cultural Context in Global Biblical Interpretation
· ‘The Other Side of the
Coin’: Some Reflections on Post-Western Re-awakening
· The Parables of Two
Rich Men and a Beggar (Luke 12:16-20 and 16:19-31): Their Relevance for
Interpreting the Bible in India
Today
·
The Politics of
“Invasion” of Greek and the “Demise” of Hebrew of Late Antiquity
· Holiness
School’s
Response to economic Injustice in Leviticus 25: It’s Relevance to
Multi-religious and Cultural Context of India Today
·
Ephesians Through a
Postcolonial Lens
·
Pluralistic
Hermeneutics
·
Reading Amos 6:1-7 in
the Light of Mizo Values and Ethos
·
Can Anything Come Out
of India
for New Testament Background?
·
Biblical Concepts and
Religious “Other” in India
Today
·
The Theme of
Ordination in the Pastoral Epistles
·
Nation and Text: Britain, Germany,
India
and the Bible
·
A Postcolonial
Christology Shift in India:
Converging Possibilities
·
Biblical Prophets as
Transformative Leaders
·
Living in the Perilous
Times: An African Reading
of 2 Timothy 3:1-5
·
Reading Rizpah Across
Borders, Cultures, Belongings
·
Creation and Human
Movement: Prolegomena for a Biblical Migrant Hermeneutics
·
A Dialogue between
‘the Eastern’ and ‘the Western’ in New Testament Scholarship: A Proposal
·
“Text, Textures of
Life and Diaspora” – A Search for Theoretical Connections
·
Marcan Apocalypse
(Collaparian Mark 13) as Jesus; Prescience: A Post-Western Critic
All
the presentations and deliberations fulfilled the required objective of
the Conference. The need for contextual interpretation of the biblical text, in
relation to East and West depicted possibilities for venturing into new
dimensions of interpretation without bias. The existential biblical and
non-biblical issues including textual, traditional, sociological, theological,
exegetical and the like led to conceptualizing, visualizing, realistic,
context oriented hermeneutics in a pluralistic reality. All the presentations
were moderated by the Faculty members of the UTC.
On the sidelines…
During
the conference, a public reception in honour of all the delegates was organized
on the 31st evening, which was set apart especially for visitors to
experience and explore the rich and colorful India with varied traditional
performances, depicting regional culture through folk songs, dances, and plays.
Various individuals and groups represented different regions of the country
with their excelling and captivating performances. It was presided over by Rt.
Rev. Dr. G. Devakadasham, President, UTC Society and Bishop in the CSI Kanyakumari
Diocese. The main address was delivered by Rt. Rev. Dr. J.S. Sadananda, Bishop CSI Karnataka Southern
Diocese and Master, Serampore
College (University). The
visitors were provided with an opportunity to have a glimpse of the garden
city of Bangalore, with a Bangalore City tour, which was arranged for visitors
after the Conference, as part of experiencing a part of India.
One of the
salient features of the conference, is the fact, that is was organized and
supported by local resources, once again challenging us all to rethink the notion of
dependency and to explore the potential capacity of local resources. The other feature was the outstanding and exceptional participation of all post-graduate
students of biblical studies at UTC, who through their creativity, discipline
and hard work, contributed immensely to the hosting of the conference.
It is hoped
that this dialogical process of scholarship and engagement will foster new
frontiers and provide new vistas in the future. The Department is working
towards the publication of the papers and thanks one and all.
