Asian Faces of Jesus

by R.S. Sugirtharajah

Although Jesus was born in the western part of Asia, it was not until fifteen hundred years later that Asia experienced the full impact of Jesus' personality and teaching. Western missionaries, the primary transmitters of Christianity, left behind a Western understanding of Jesus. Today, Asians are seeking the face of the original Jesus- his Asian face. For them, all understandings of Jesus arise out of their particular contextual needs. Enriching the Western understanding of Jesus, Asians employ new interpretative resources, cultural symbols, and thought patterns as they make sense of Jesus for their own time and place. Part I focuses on "Jesus Amid Other Asian Ways, Truths and Lights." Part II presents "Newly Emerging Profiles of Jesus Amid Asia's Poverty and Religious Plurality." Contributors include Ovey N. Mohammed, Seiichi Yagi, Aloysius Pieris, Stanley J. Samartha, Michael Amaladoss, C. S. Song, Kosuke Koyama, Michael Rodrigo, Chung Hyun Kyung, and Sebastian Kappen.

Genres: Christianity

280 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1993

About the author

R.S. Sugirtharajah, a Sri Lankan theologian and lecturer, is Professor of Biblical Hermeneutics at the University of Birmingham, England. Prior to his current appointment, he was Senior Lecturer in Third World Theologies at Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham.

Reviews

[Jeremy Tabensky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earth Shattering. It took me a long time to chew through it- definitely not a hard read. But the depth of each essay, the style of writing the theologians employ…though written in the 70s it feels as though it describes 21st century Singapore in the wake of Evangelical revivals and mega churches. Look for the Lord while He may be found. He is found in the eyes of all who behold him. This means Christologies must shift. But the one that acknowledges their suffering with the Christ’s is the one that is raised with Him. And Asian is very much alive again. While some still sleep and yet to be called forth.