" 84CD6F076EBF75325F380D8209373AE1 Definitions of Key terms: Tribal, Indigenous, Tribal Theology, Contextual Theology Tribal

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Definitions of Key terms: Tribal, Indigenous, Tribal Theology, Contextual Theology Tribal

 


The term tribe is derived from the Latin word tribus: tri means three, bhuour or bu means to be; thus literally "to be three". This category was used to identify three divisions of the Roman people – Tintienses, Ramnenses and Luceres. It was a political and administrative category used in the Roman Empire for its citizens, used for taxation, military levies and censuses without a pejorative meaning. This category or term tribe or tribe has been used by anthropologists as "a group of people speaking a common language, following uniform rules of social organization, and working together on common typical characteristics, common name, contiguous territory, relatively uniform culture or way of life, and traditions of common origin". However, some anthropologists have come to use the term tribe negatively to maintain the distinction between tribal society and modern society with the former as a people without political institution and the later with a systematic political institution. In contrast, the 20th century anthropologist understood tribal society as consisting of a relatively small number, having social, legal, and political relations as well as its own moral, religious, and worldview. Yet, despite the recognition of the political institution, the tribals were still seen in the modern category as wild and uncivilized people "they are a completely ignorant, miserable race of mortals".

 

In India, the use of the term Scheduled Tribes in the Constitution has no definitive definition but is used to designate the religious identity and economic status of people who are economically poor and socially marginalized and who do not belong to the Muslim and Hindu communities.

Indigenous

            Indigenous peoples are referred to variously as 'First Nations', 'Natives' and tribes. The term indigenous people has no universal or fixed definition.

Aboriginal communities, tribes and peoples are groups, races and peoples that have a continuous history with pre-occupation people and colonies established on their lands and are considered distinct from other peoples. that now predominate in those territories or parts of them. They currently form the non-dominant parts of society and are determined to preserve, develop and pass on to future generations the territory of their ancestors and their ethnic identity as the basis for the continuation of the state according to its cultural structure, social institutions and laws. This historical continuity may consist of the continuation of one or more of the following factors over a longer period of time to the present day:

a) Living in ancestral territory, or at least some of it;

b) common origin with the original inhabitants of these lands;

c) culture in general or in specific manifestations (such as religion, life under a tribe

system, belonging to an indigenous community, dress, livelihood, lifestyle,

etc.);

d) language (whether used as the only language, as the mother tongue, as the usual means). Communicate at home or within the family or primarily through culture, general language or language;

e) residence in certain parts of the country or in certain areas of the world;

f) other relevant factors.

 

Tribal theology

Recognizing the "differentiated liberation struggle" of various tribal and ethnic groups in the NEI, "tribal theology" can be defined as a conglomeration of identity-specific theologies of various tribes that seek to interpret the Christian faith in terms of their specific identity as well as shared identity and experience. Tribal theology can be elaborated as: 1) Contextual theology, which takes seriously the situatedness of creation, social, political, economic and religious context of people to produce relevant theology. 2) It is a theology of culture because it seeks, on the one hand, to reflect Christian faith and, on the other hand, to re-appropriate liberating and life-affirming cultural values ​​for theological articulation. 3) It is a theology of liberation that appropriates the liberating message of the gospel to the political, social, economic, religious and moral dimensions of life. 4) It is a theology of identity that seeks to restore the dignity and maintain the tribal Christian identity by adopting the tribal music, architectural style, restructuring of the worship pattern and other good cultural values ​​present in the culture and tradition. 5) It is a theology of development/social transformation that seeks to grow together in harmony with tribal community life to build a shalomic society or common good for all. 6) It is also a contextual liberation theology that deals with the liberation of men and women in tribal society.

 

Contextual theology

In 1972, Shoki Coe and Aharon Sapsezian, directors of the Theological Education Fund, coined the term "contextualization" to be applied to the areas of mission, theological approach, and educational method and structure. They defined as follows:

Contextualization is not just a fad or catchphrase, but a theological necessity demanded by the incarnational nature of the word. What does this term mean? It means all that is implied in the familiar term "indigenization," and yet it seeks to go further. Contextualization has to do with how we evaluate the distinctiveness of Third World contexts. Indigenization tends to be used to mean a response to the gospel from the perspective of a traditional culture. Contextualization does not ignore this, but takes into account the process of secularity, technology and the struggle for human justice that characterizes the historical movements of peoples in the Third World.

Stephen B. Bevans aptly defined contextual theology as: “a mode of theology in which consideration is given to: the spirit and message of the gospel; the traditions of the Christian people; the culture in which it is theologized; and social changes in that culture, whether brought about by Western technological processes or grassroots struggles for equality, justice and liberation". Contextual theology, which is also popularly referred to as liberation theology, embarked on a dissatisfaction with the classical/traditional theological enterprise that failed in emergency analyzes of the historical, political, social and religious context of the host culture for transformation. The enterprise of contextual theology is seriously concerned with context as an indispensable resource alongside the Christian heritage for illuminating Christian faith and practice. 

 


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