Indigenous Theology in its Latin American Setting

This article explores the emergence of Indian theology at the Latin American level. Indian theology appeared in the church of Latin America over the last 20 years. This branch of theology is a rethinking or reshaping of what existed there during the pre‐Columbian period and incorporating the most valuable contributions of the Christian faith. These were brought to the people during the first 50 years of the evangelism. ‘Indian theology’ therefore comes down to us from the distant past, a collective movement by the indigenous grassroots, indigenous leaders, and supporters of the indigenous cause within the church. Indian theology has taken different forms in Latin America: within the churches; within the people's own traditions, independently of the churches; and within indigenous social movements. Building bridges between people of diverse views through dialogue is leading to increased understanding and respect.     

Resources for Indigenous Theology from a Sami Perspective

By looking at resources for indigenous theology, this article focuses on some key concepts in Sami tradition and how they are linked to a native understanding of the Christian concept of creation. An important aspect is the reciprocity between human beings and other beings or “creations”. The article takes the biblical injunction to love one's neighbour as challenged through Sami spirituality and theology to apply also to how one should behave towards other beings.     

The Sources and Resources of Our Indigenous Theology

In this article I describe the sources of my indigenous theology out of my own experiences, my worldview, and as a woman. In the first part, I mention our struggles of resistance as the source from which we draw our strength and hopes to resist oppression and dream of a different society, as our ancestors dreamed and acted. I then speak of our living for the day as an act of ideological resistance. It is possible that many readers do not yet understand it, but this involves a worldview different from that of Western capitalism. Some communities in the Amazon still practise this other worldview and take it as their guide. They live day by day, concerned not for the morrow but for the present day; they attempt to live a life of quality, justice and honesty, as if it were the last day of their lives. The source from which our theological enterprise springs is also our wise men and women, who still survive in our communities. They are the guardians of our ancestral wisdom on life, the cosmos and our relations with the created world and its creatures. Moreover, our lifestyle is based on caring for and protecting Pachamama as one of the joint creators with God, who offers us life and enables us to live in the world as brothers and sisters, because we come into being in Pachamama and return to her.     

From Mission Theology Towards an Intercultural Theology—The German Way

The rather young theological discipline of missiology is in a process of transition. Against the backdrop of a shift in gravity of the global church's geographical centre, and considering the rising number of contextual theologies and Christianities, as well as a continuously bad reputation of mission in the Western world, the discourse has shifted and is focusing on the term “intercultural theology.” Will “intercultural theology” replace “missiology,” and how important is the issue of mission in this debate?     

Norms,Rules and Steadfast Love: Towards an Inclusive Theology of Intimacy

Abstract

This article argues that defenders of the traditional view that marriage is the necessary condition for sexual experience generally make two important mistakes. First, they underestimate how open to emergent forms marriage actually is. And second, they confuse marriage as a norm for sexual expression with marriage as a rule. This article attempts a simple clarification of this basic distinction and, in so doing, is able to throw considerable fresh light on the place of marriage in the Christian understanding of sexuality. First, there will be some reminders about how adaptable the institution of marriage has actually been and may continue to be. Second, attempts will be made to explain the differences between a norm and a rule. Finally some possibilities and consequences arising from this distinction will be explored. These will provide some promptings towards what is called here ‘an inclusive theology of intimacy’. Radical Christians are cautioned regarding their peremptory search for alternatives to marriage. People inside and outside the churches who reject marriage may be rejecting versions of it which, while undoubtedly historical, simply do not bring to light the possibilities released by what might be called ‘the marital norm’.     

Indigenous Theology: Sources and Resources Perspectives from the Philippines

This article proposes an approach to doing theology with and for the indigenous communities in the Philippines, specifically the Ygollotes/Igorots of the Cordillera region, in their struggle for identity and self‐determination. It proceeds from a protest ritual that is representative and celebrative of the culture and identity; the religious and spiritual resources; the emancipatory stories; the vision, hopes and struggles of these northern Philippines indigenous communities. The article focuses on rereading the land‐centred culture, spirituality, and life of indigenous communities in the context of their struggles for fullness of life, with the perspective of identifying several sources and resources for a liberative, ecumenical, and indigenous peoples' theology of struggle.     

Suicide among American Indian adolescents: an overview

Suicide has become a major concern of many Indian tribes and pueblos, as the rates in these tribes have increased dramatically in the last decade. One of the critical research questions is how to explain the vastly different rates of adolescent suicide among tribes. Research has identified some common patterns in experience and behavior among Indian adolescent suicides; these patterns are similar in many ways to those found in Los Angeles suicide research of Teicher (1979). Chronic versus acute stress factors in suicide are examined. Recent research has also identified a number of factors characterizing tribes with high suicide rates; these include failure to adhere to traditional ways of living, to traditional religion, and to clans and societies, and the resulting chaotic family structure and adult alcoholism. The roles of adoption of Indian children, boarding schools, and high unemployment in many tribes are also discussed. Suicide prevention and intervention programs are briefly described.     

Towards a New Religious Dialogue: Buddhism and Postmodern Theology

This paper proffers an example of a new form of religious dialogue. It subverts, rather than assumes the philosophical tradition of universal reason, upon which religious dialogue has traditionally proceeded. To this end, I call into question the frequently perceived affinity between Buddhism and radical postmodern a/theology. Whereas the latter works within a framework of oppositions inherited from the modern philosophical tradition, Buddhism is innocent of such a framework, and jettisons its 'either-or' antinomies. In this respect, I argue that there is a striking 'coincidence in outlook' between Buddhism and conservative postmodern theology, which also seeks to subvert the modern philosophical framework which it regards as being essentially secular. I suggest that this 'coincidence in outlook', which contrasts with the modern outlook, opens the way for a religious dialogue based on a mutual affirmation of difference, rather than on the distorting universalist quest for affinity at all costs.