عنوان

Ethnic Identity and the Gospel of Reconciliation

Number

LA120962

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

Ethnic Identity and the Gospel of Reconciliation

General Material Designation

[Article]

First Statement of Responsibility

Lalsangkima Pachuau

Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.

Leiden

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Brill

Text of Note

"Closer proximity through powerful communication systems seems to have made people more assertive of their identities, especially their cultural or ethnic identities. The consciousness of the cultural self and the cultural other has become one of the most important political tools in the societal life. Ethnic identity assertions have been blamed as the cause of much dissensions and violence. In dealing with ethnic relations, scholars have found that the proximate other is the most difficult other to deal with. Is identity assertion then the enemy of reconciliation? This article argues that it need not be. By arguing that identity is a relational entity formed in the consciousness of the self in relation to the other (non-self), a healthy and respectful way of perceiving the other can be cultivated. A truthful recognition of the otherness of the other leads to what theologian Miroslav Volf calls "double vision" (the ability to view not only "from here" but also "from there") which is the essential step to "embrace" the other. Christian mission is about crossing the boundary between the self and the other, and the challenge is to love the neighbor (proximate other) as oneself. Self-privileging through self-consciousness of being the elect of God withheld the Christian sense of its missionary nature for a long time. The Church's missionary calling of being other-centered rather than being self-centered is the theological foundation for a conciliatory existence. Closer proximity through powerful communication systems seems to have made people more assertive of their identities, especially their cultural or ethnic identities. The consciousness of the cultural self and the cultural other has become one of the most important political tools in the societal life. Ethnic identity assertions have been blamed as the cause of much dissensions and violence. In dealing with ethnic relations, scholars have found that the proximate other is the most difficult other to deal with. Is identity assertion then the enemy of reconciliation? This article argues that it need not be. By arguing that identity is a relational entity formed in the consciousness of the self in relation to the other (non-self), a healthy and respectful way of perceiving the other can be cultivated. A truthful recognition of the otherness of the other leads to what theologian Miroslav Volf calls "double vision" (the ability to view not only "from here" but also "from there") which is the essential step to "embrace" the other. Christian mission is about crossing the boundary between the self and the other, and the challenge is to love the neighbor (proximate other) as oneself. Self-privileging through self-consciousness of being the elect of God withheld the Christian sense of its missionary nature for a long time. The Church's missionary calling of being other-centered rather than being self-centered is the theological foundation for a conciliatory existence."

Date of Publication

2009

Physical description

49-63

Title

Mission Studies

Volume Number

26/1

International Standard Serial Number

1573-3831

Subject Term

CONCILIATORY EXISTENCE

Subject Term

EMBRACE

Subject Term

ETHNICITY

Subject Term

IDENTITY

Subject Term

OTHERNESS

Lalsangkima Pachuau

Call Number

10.1163/157338309X442290

Electronic name

p

[Article]

275578

a

Y