This document discusses how caste discrimination entered Christianity in India despite its values of equality. It argues that Christianity was introduced into an existing caste-ridden Indian culture, so it adopted aspects of that culture rather than the other way around. The document outlines some of the challenges of overcoming deep-rooted cultural practices like the caste system. It suggests catechism should emphasize that all people have equal dignity and rights in God's eyes, and promote unity, equality and justice as outlined in Catholic teachings. Moving from devotion to radical practices, conscientizing youth, and religious and priests daring to challenge oppression could help prevent casteism within Christianity.

1. Church in india

2. How has it come about in Christianity
in spite of Christ’s values?
Caste / Class discrimination in Our Country
Could we not prevent it at the beginning?
11.raw

3. Any Religion has its Basis and Expression
on
•Divine Inspiration
•Experience
•Doctrines and Dogmas.

4. •Divinely inspired religion expresses and finds its
existence in an existing culture
•. Thus religion is an aspect or a part and parcel of a
culture.
•Culture by nature, often consists various groups/
classes/castes etc.

5. The three basic realities of India are
1. Religious Pluralism
2. Economic Imbalance
3. Casteism

6. • India is a country largely
dominated by Hindus and
caste system is the backbone of
Hinduism
•Caste and Hinduism cannot
be separated.

7. To put things clearly, it would be
better to say that Christianity
entered a caste ridden society,
rather than saying, - caste system
entered Christianity.
Christianity having born in a different culture
came to India where the predominant culture
was caste based.
Thus to question that
How caste/class complex entered Christianity?
is in fact wrong question to ask.

8. In this case caste system is like a base structure on
which religion of Christianity came to stand.
•Can a superstructure throw away the base
structure…….????
•Can religion over power culture?
For us this looks a herculean task.

9. Yet living true to Christ’s values early missionaries have tried
a to form a society of love and equality. Various methods have been
used.
e.g. Robert De Nobile and Beschi

10. To put things together, the
religious values have not largely
succeeded in over powering
basic/deep rooted cultural values
and thus the oppressive
practices like caste and class
continue to exist among
Christians.

11. Kind of catechism we need
to prevent the caste system in India?
CCC 1934
•All are equal in God’s sight
insofar as all have the same creator.
Every kind of social, racist, sexist, cultural or religious
discrimination against a person
is unacceptable and injustice.

12. Pope John Paul II
•Civilization of Love
•Open Minded
“Our life should be a gospel to others”

13. LG 16: Accept Everybody: Jn 17: 21
CCC 14 - Equal Dignity
CCC 1934 also says, “Redeemed by the sacrifice of
Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine
beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity” `
GS –Speaking about common good says hierarchy is a part of
religious institutions and that that helps to create order. yet
unlike in some other religions, church makes it clear that
hierarchy in Christianity should in no way be oppressive.

14. “Every human community needs an authority
in order to survive and develop.”
CCC - 1903
An order established by God
only when it seeks the common good..
CCC - 1920

15. Common Good
“Sum total of social conditions
which allow people, either as groups
or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment
more fully and more easily.”
CCC- 1906

16. Common Good Consists of ...
(1) Respect for and promotion of the fundamental rights of the
person.
(2) Prosperity or the development of the spiritual and
temporal goods of society.
(3) The peace and security of the group and of its members”
(CCC#1925).

17. God Shows No Partiality
CCC – 1925
Acts 10: 34
Need to stress on –Christian Love

18. Scriptural Basis
•1Cor 1:10-13
•Lk 11:17
•Ps 133:1-3
Stress on Unity and Equaltiy

19. Suggestions
•Shift from our pious devotions to radical
life practices
•Focus on the catechism of adults
•Orthodoxy to the orthopraxis
•Greater focus on conscientizing the Youth

20. •As Religious and as Priests
We need to be
Free
convinced of our value system,
Daring enough to challenge, the oppressive societal
structures.

21. Experience Based Catechism

22. Thank You