Having completed schooling at a Catholic high school and taught in a number of secondary and primary catholic schools, I have recently wondered why there is a very low percentage of students in the schools that are of Asian descent. What is Asian theology and how does it differ to Christian theology? Is there or could there be a link between the two?
             Koyama's (1990) aim is to explain that Asian theology should not, and can not, merely be a counter-concept to theology in the West. Asian theology needs to be concerned with the biblical proclamation of Christ, that is a God of Pathos and ethos, instead of a response to Western theology. Koyama therefore suggests that the basic orientation for Asian theologians should be a responsible contextualization of theology. He feels that God calls Asians to a new understanding of the world and humanity.
             An Asian theologian, Samartha, formulated a Christology in a multi-religious society, that is India. Samartha also attempted to contextualize Christian theology, as Koyama suggests is needed. He accomplished this by suggesting that a direct connection be formed between Indian thought and Jesus Christ. Samartha believes that for this connection to occur, Indians must accept the teachings and insights of their own philosophers and use these to gain a better understanding of Jesus Christ.
             Samartha's theological focus is his concern to affirm that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour in India today. As he states, Indians do not have to become Jews to recognise the fullness of Christ, but instead should make use of their own, Indian philosophers, especially the Vedanta philosophers. A Vedanta philosopher, Sankara, believed in an advaita view of the universe. Samartha used this perspective of advaita, which is a Sanskrit word meaning "non-duality" or the eradication of duality, to explain his views and how this Indian philosophical insight can help In
             ...