Christian Mission among the Peoples of Asia

Transcription

1 American Society of Missiology Series, No. 50 Christian Mission among the Peoples of Asia Jonathan Y. Tan ORBIS BOOKS Maryknoll, New York 10545

2 ORBIS BOOKS Maryknoll, New York Founded in 1970, Orbis Books endeavors to publish works that enlighten the mind, nourish the spirit, and challenge the conscience. The publishing arm of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Orbis seeks to explore the global dimensions of the Christian faith and mission, to invite dialogue with diverse cultures and religious traditions, and to serve the cause of reconciliation and peace. The books published reflect the views of their authors and do not represent the official position of the Maryknoll Society. To learn more about Maryknoll and Orbis Books, please visit our website at Copyright 2014 by Jonathan Y. Tan Published by Orbis Books, Box 302, Maryknoll, NY Manufactured in the United States of America All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Queries regarding rights and permissions should be addressed to: Orbis Books, P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, NY Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Tan, Jonathan Y. Christian mission among the peoples of Asia / Jonathan Y. Tan. pages cm. (American Society of Missiology series; No. 50) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN (pbk.) 1. Missions Asia. 2. Mission Theory. I. Title. BV T dc

3 Contents Preface to the American Society of Missiology Series Abbreviations xi xiii Introduction 1 Chapter 1. Mission in Asia: Selected Historical Snapshots 11 Early Beginnings: The Assyrian Christian Mission to India and China 11 Christian Mission in the Age of European Empire Building 15 India 18 Japan 20 China 25 Vietnam 30 The Birth of Korean Christianity: Mission by and for Koreans 34 From Patronage to Propaganda Fide 37 Conflict between Padroado and Propaganda Fide 41 Ancestor Veneration and the Rites Controversy 43 The Great Protestant Missions of the Nineteenth Century 47 Chapter 2. Mission in Asia in the Face of Religious Pluralism 55 Christian Mission Meets the Postcolonial Realities of Asia 57 vii

4 viii Christian Mission among the Peoples of Asia The Christian Minority Presence in the Sea of Asian Plurireligiosity 62 The Dilemma and Challenges of Religious Pluralism 71 Stanley J. Samartha 75 Raimon Panikkar 77 Jacques Dupuis 78 Religious Pluralism at the 1998 Synod of Asian Catholic Bishops 81 Contemporary Asian Theological Responses to Religious Pluralism 89 Hwa Yung 90 Peter C. Phan 91 Amos Yong 92 Chapter 3. The Mission Theology of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences 95 The Birth of the FABC 95 The Challenges of Pluralism in the Asian Milieu 99 A Commitment and Service to Life in Pluralistic Asia 105 The Quest for Harmony in the Pluralistic Asian Milieu 109 Mission as Dialogue with the Threefold Reality of Asian Religions, Cultures, and Poverty 112 Building Up the Reign of God in Asia 120 Toward Active Integral Evangelization 124 Chapter 4. Toward a Theology of Mission among the Peoples in Asia 129 Mission among the Peoples: Four Propositions 130 Proposition Proposition Proposition 3 146

5 Contents ix Proposition Mission among the Peoples in Multicultural and Plurireligious Malaysia 159 Chapter 5. The Challenges of Contemporary Migrations in Diasporas and Cyberspace 169 Mission among the Asian Migrants 171 Migration in Asia: An Overview 171 Mission and the Challenges of Migration 174 Migration in the Documents of the FABC 176 FABC V: Journeying Together toward the Third Millennium (1990) 177 FABC-OHD: Journeying Together in Faith with the Filipino Migrant Workers in Asia (1993) 178 FABC VI: Christian Discipleship in Asia Today: Service to Life (1995) 180 FABC s Colloquium on Church in Asia in the 21st Century (1997) 181 FABC VII: A Renewed Church in Asia on a Mission of Love and Service (2000) 181 FABC VIII: The Asian Family: Toward a Culture of Integral Life (2004) 182 FEISA V: Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees: A New Way of Being Church (2002) 183 An Emerging FABC Theology of Mission among the Migrants 189 Mission among the Digital Natives of Asia: New Frontiers of Mission 191 The Rise of the Digital Natives 191 Cyberspace and the Rise of Social Media 193 Engaging the Youth and Millennials of Asia in Cyberspace 196

6 x Christian Mission among the Peoples of Asia Mission among the Youth and Millennials of Asia in Cyberspace 200 Epilogue: Imagining New Possibilities 205 Works Cited 211 Index 231 The American Society of Missiology Series 241