Growth of Contemporary Christianity - Report Example

Growth of Contemporary Christianity Module Module ID: Introduction Christianity serves as the most popular religion of the world at large, not only because of the majority of its followers in respect of number and proportion, but also the presence of the Christian community in all parts, areas and regions of the globe. According to the Pew Research Center, total Christian population is estimated to be 2.18 billion, out of 6.9 billion world population.i Although the faith is considered to be a new advent in comparison with Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Judaism, yet the religion got popularity in all corners within few centuries of its advent. The credit certainly goes to the saints, preachers and the dedicated adherents of the faith, which turned out to be supportive in spreading its noble teachings. Although the founder of Christian faith belonged to Nazareth, the present day Asian state of Israel, yet it is very popular in Europe, America, Australia, Africa and remote areas of Asia. Growth of Christianity in India Although there is a misconception about the advent of the Christian faith in the aftermath of the European invasions on the sub-continent and colonization era, yet the belief has been introduced in the region during the apostolic age. Historical evidence reveals the very fact that Christianity got its way to the Indian sub-continent during the first century A.D., where St. Judas Thomas, one of the most dynamic pupils of Jesus Christ, was instructed to reach the northern parts of the country in order to spread the message of Christ and Scripture to the indigenous Indian population during the era of Indo-Parthian Kingdom of Takhshashila (Ninan, 2004: 5). ii The Acts of Thomasiii demonstrates that Thomas was successful in communicating the religious belief system to the monarch and subjects as well. Consequently, the king, his family and significant number of courtiers embraced Christianity. Kerala is stated to be the first region to accept Christianity by 3rd century A.D. Missickiv (2002) notices the existence of an ancient Christian people living along the coast of Malabar in southern India whose origins extend back over one thousand years before they were discovered by European explorers. This is the same community that is claimed to be established by St. Thomas. Taken after the name of St. Thomas, this Mar-Thoma Christian community followed the Assyrian traditions of the faith, which actually consisted of the same conventions, language and teachings that had been attributed to Jesus Christ and his followers belonging to the areas situated in the present day Middle East. With the passage of time, Assyrian faith got popularity in the neighboring parts of the country, and the Indians suppressed under the nefarious clutches of caste and class Hindu system, sought relief in a religion that used to advocate equality, justice and respect of every citizen without discrimination. Consequently, the eastern and southern parts of the sub-continent also started welcoming Christianity with open arms. Ninan also observes the arrival of Apostle Barthemew by 55 A.D. near Bombay, (present day coastal cosmopolitan city of Mumbai), who taught Gospel and other religious teachings to the local people, and played very important role in convincing different strata of the then Indian population. As a result, the members from the religious Brahman, warriors and peasant communities embraced new faith quite willingly.v However, it does not mean that the apostles and saints did not undergo trials and oppositions altogether in India. On the contrary, they had to face chains of difficulties and mountains of hardships during the course of introducing a religion that appeared to be quite opposite to the prevailing idol-worshipping teachings of the indigenous Hinduism. Thus, the apostles determined to spread Christianity in India had to meet with the same fate the African saints including St. Perpetua, St. Monica, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine of Hippo and others had to experience during the course of dedicating their lives for the uplift of Christianity. As a result, Apostle Barthemew was brutally martyred during his stay in India in 61 A.D.vi The extremist idolater Hindus strived hard to suppress and crush Christianity, and inflicted pains and sufferings upon the hapless apostles and followers. Being a narrow-minded and narrow-sighted community, the Hindus would not tolerate the spread of any foreigner religion in their motherland. Consequently, they did not hesitate in killing the innocent Christians in cold blood whenever the got an opportunity for the same. Nevertheless, the trials and persecutions could not impose impediments on the way to the growth and progress of the spiritual faith in the country, and the future generations carried on holding the flag of spreading Christianity with more fervor and enthusiasm. The conquest of the Sindh province by the Arabs by 712 A.D. also served as a remarkable blow to the age-old discriminatory socio-cultural set up of India. The establishment of the Muslim rule from 1293 A.D. after the defeat of Prithvi Raj at the hands of Sultan Muhammad Ghori also eclipsed the Hindu domination from the region and the Christianity flourished in the country to a great extent.vii Since Islam is the third of the Abrahamic faiths, it shares almost the same mythology and teachings attributed to Judaism and Christianity. The concept of God, angels, heaven and hell, the prophets, Scripture, Resurrection Day and other beliefs are common among them. It is therefore the Muslims considered the Christians in close affinity with them. Consequently, they practiced harshness towards the Hindus, but remained amicable and congenial towards the Indian Christian subjects. It was the time when the great early missionary of the Jesuit Order, Francis Xavier, converted fishing communities all along the southwestern coast of India, and they remain as Christians to this day.viii Hence, the mission of preaching the religion and construction of churches successfully carried on under the early Muslim rule, and the Christians were granted respectable place in the royal courts of the Sultanates of Delhi. The future emperors also dealt with the Indian Christians with respect and care. It was particularly the case with Akbar the Great, whose court was imperatively tolerant towards all communities without discrimination. Actually, Akbar had least interest in religion, and declared it entirely a personal matter. It is therefore, his reign was the most favorable one in respect of religious tolerance. It is therefore, famous Roman Catholic missionaries, included Roberto de Nobili, proceeded to India for preaching. Nobili presented himself as a Christian Brahmin in the 17th century and taught among the priestly castes around Madurai and its ancient temple. ix With the passage of time, the religion started spreading fast in all regions of the sub-continent including Punjab, Bengal, Rajhistan, Gujarat and central and Northern provinces of the country. Somehow, the history reveals that the Hindus belonging to the high caste also began converting to Christianity. It was particularly the case with the eastern and western regions of Bengal. The credit goes to the Danish priests and bishops. The Christianity was largely under the aegis of missionaries from Denmark. They came and settled down in and around Serampore on the Hooghly. Large number of natives became converting to Christianity. A century later, other missionaries, mostly from England had, continued more extensively the work of preaching their faith and converting the native citizens into Christianity.x It also turned out fruitful in respect of spreading the religion in the neighboring countries outside India including China, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and other countries. Consequently, it were the preachers and bishops that sacrificed their comforts and luxuries in order to enlighten the world with the light of Christianity. The arrival of the Europeans in the region was the turning point for the Indian Christian community, which witnessed profound growth and development in respect of fast conversion of the Hindus, Sikhs into the Christian faith from 18th century onward. Some of the local communities adopted the faith because of the admirable behavior of the European Christians, while a large proportion of them also embraced the belief in order to enjoy the privileges out of the favors from the Christian rulers of India. Additionally, the slogan of equality also had influence on the downtrodden Hindu communities, which sought relief in Christianity. Now, almost 2.6% of the present Indian population belongs to Christianity, which makes up almost 28000000. Somehow, the Indian Christians do not find them secured and protected under the Hindu raj, and always had threats on life and honor due to the cruel and atrocious behavior of the extremist Hindu subjects and organizations. They undergo the denial of food supplies, intimidation of customers of Christian traders, failure of local police to assist victimized Christians, organized harassment, vandalization and destruction of church buildings, to false charges and biased judicial systems.xi Somehow, the Christians are taking an active part by offering their services in all fields and professions while living in India, and have obtained liberty of celebrating their religious festivals and obligations with enthusiasm and fervor even in the face of hardships. Read More