Leave the Temple: Indian Paths to Human Liberation

How can India—a land of intense poverty as well as unparalled spirituality—be liberated? Where do the sources for its liberation lie?Leave the Temple brings together writings that weigh the practical and theoretical problems of hermeneutic "pre-understandings" of the socio-political situation in South Asia. Is the challenge of social transformation and human liberation one in which people must "leave the temple" to embrace the freeing insights of secularization? Or does leaving the temple—to find God in the world of suffering humanity—provide a richness and empowerment that secular models of the human future cannot replace?Contributors include Walter Fernandes, on a socio-historical perspective for liberation theology in India and on bhakti; Yvon Ambroise on oppression and liberation in Indian society; Ignatius Puthiadam on trends in Hindu thought; T. K. John on liberation theology and Gandhian praxis; George M. Soares-Prabhu on the liberative pedagogy of Jesus; Xavier Irudayaraj on interiority and liberation; Samuel Rayan on caste; Sebastian Kappen on social crisis and liberation; Michael Amaladoss on liberation as an interreligious project; and Felix Wilfred on the Catholic Church's participation in the liberation of India.

How can India-a land of intense poverty as well as unparalled spirituality-be liberated? Where do the sources for its liberation lie?

Leave the Temple brings together writings that weigh the practical and theoretical problems of hermeneutic "pre-understandings' of the socio-political situation in South Asia. Is the challenge of social transformation and human liberation one in which people must "leave the temple" to embrace the freeing insights of secularization? Or does leaving the temple-to find God in the world of suffering humanity-provide a richness and empowerment that secular models of the human future cannot replace?

Felix Wilfred is professor of theology at St. Paul's Seminary in Tiruchirapalli, member of the Vatican's International Theological Commission, and an advisor to the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.