A. J. Appasamy and his Reading of Rmnuja (Hardcover)

Brian Philip Dunn

ISBN 10: 0198791410 / ISBN 13: 9780198791416

Published by Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2016

About this Item

Hardcover. In this work, Brian Philip Dunn focuses on the embodiment theology of the South Indian theologian, A. J. Appasamy (1891-1975). Appasamy developed what he called a 'bhakti' (devotional) approach to Christian theology, bringing his own primary text, the Gospel of John, into comparative interaction with the writings of the Hindu philosopher and theologian, R=am=anuja. Dunn's exposition here is of Appasamy's distinctive adaptation of R=am=anuja's 'Body of God'analogy and its application to a bhakti reading of John's Gospel. He argues throughout for the need to locate and understand theological language as embedded and embodied within the narrative and praxis oftradition and, for Appasamy and R=am=anuja, in their respective Anglican and 'Srivai.s.nava settings. Responding to Appasamy, Dunn proposes that the primary Johannine referent for divine embodiment is the temple and considers recent scholarship on Johannine 'temple Christology' in light of 'Srivai.s.nava conceptions of the temple and the temple deity. He then offers a constructive reading of the text as a temple procession, a heuristic device that can be newly considered in both comparative anddevotional contexts today. This study focuses on the embodiment theology of the South Indian theologian A. J. Appasamy (1891-1975). It argues for the distinctive theological voice of Appasamy, whose sacramental reading of the Gospel of John, influenced by R=am=anuja (1017-1137), opens up new Christological and comparative possibilities. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780198791416

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A. J. Appasamy and his Reading of Rmnuja (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, Oxford
• Publication Date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198791410
• ISBN 13: 9780198791416
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

In this work, Brian Philip Dunn focuses on the South Indian theologian A. J. Appaswamy's "embodiment theology." This is the first book on Appaswamy, a not insignificant Indian, Christian theologian. This study argues for the distinctive theological voice of Appaswamy who develops a theology strongly influenced by the medieval Hindu theologian (or "bhakti philosopher") Ramanuja, in particular offering a reading of the Gospel of John. Dunn shows how Appaswamy sees the Christian God in Ramanuja's theology and how his theology, particularly about the presence of God in the icon in a temple, can become a heuristic device through which to understand the fourth Gospel in the context of its own time. This allows the reader to develop a rooted Christology that otherwise would remain hidden. Through Ramanuja, Appaswamy can contribute to a constructive and important Theology that grounds the text and ideas of the incarnation in the Jewish context, particularly about priestly atonement. This reading of Ramanuja allows us to see a Christology in the Christian text that would otherwise not have been seen.

About the Author

Brian Philip Dunn is an Independent Scholar.