A Foreign Culture Baptised: Roberto de Nobili and the Jesuits
Roberto de Nobili (1577-1656) was a key figure in the history of Christian missions in India. Based in Madurai, capital of a Hindu kingdom, he tried to reach the local Brahmins by accommodating completely to their way of life. He mastered Indian languages and studied the holy scriptures of Hinduism...
Main Author: | |
---|---|
Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Brill
2018
|
In: |
Exchange
Year: 2018, Volume: 47, Issue: 2, Pages: 183-198 |
IxTheo Classification: | BK Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism CC Christianity and Non-Christian religion; Inter-religious relations CD Christianity and Culture KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history KBM Asia KDB Roman Catholic Church RJ Mission; missiology |
Further subjects: | B
Missiology
Nobili
Hinduism
India
Madurai mission
Malabar Rites Controversy
accommodation
caste
Dalit theology
|
Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
Summary: | Roberto de Nobili (1577-1656) was a key figure in the history of Christian missions in India. Based in Madurai, capital of a Hindu kingdom, he tried to reach the local Brahmins by accommodating completely to their way of life. He mastered Indian languages and studied the holy scriptures of Hinduism thoroughly. In many writings, he testified to a remarkable acquaintanceship of Hindu thinking and spirituality. His dialogical attitude brought him into conflict with both conservative Hindus and the leaders of his own Jesuit order. Later generations admired ‘the Christian sannyāsī’ for his phenomenal knowledge of languages and scriptures and his daring attempts to design Indian means of expression for the gospel. However, during the last quarter of a century, De Nobili has been criticized by Dalit theologians because of his complete adjustment to caste relations, including discrimination against low-caste people. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 1572-543X |
Contains: | In: Exchange
|
Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/1572543X-12341477 |