The “Critical Asian Principle”

The way in which the Indian Samartha and the Taiwanese Song formulate their position within the Christian tradition is characteristic of what is now the central starting point in contemporary Asian theology. This starting point is called the “critical Asian principle” and represents a contextual approach to Asian theology. This principle was accepted in 1972 as a starting point by the Southeast Asia Graduate School of Theology (SEAGST) and by the Association for Theological Education in Southeast Asia (ATESEA). This principle formulates what is characteristically Asian and how it can be effective in church and theology. There are seven characteristics to be distinguished:

1. Plurality and difference in races, peoples, cultures, social institutions, religions, ideologies, etc. are characteristic of this area.

2. Most of the countries in this area have a colonial past.

3. Most of the countries are now involved in a process of nation-building, development and modernization.

4. The peoples in this region are looking for authentic self-identity and for cultural integrity in a modern context.

5. Asia is the birthplace of the great, living world religions. These religions (primarily the non-Christian) have determined the culture and consciousness of the great majority of the Asian people. They represent (with respect to the West) an alternative lifestyle and experience of reality.