Panel 38: ‘Syncretism,' Christianity, and India's Religious Traditions: Squaring Texts, Practices, and Rituals with Terms, Concepts, and Cases

Exchange and interaction at this year's panel, the sixth on aspects of South Asian Christianity at EASAS conferences, were notably constructive and collegial. Seven papers were presented; around 45 minutes were devoted to each, including discussion. Audience participation exceeded expectation, with around 25 in attendance at certain points - far better than the numbers at Lund. The panel continues to enjoy solid backing from a core group - several ‘members' having attended for the whole 12 years of its existence - while an infusion of new participants has insured that the panel remains open to new ideas. As anticipated, participants agreed that the panel was productive enough to warrant continuation at the next EASAS conference.

Prior to Leiden, the panel had accepted papers on any aspect of Indian Christianity without concern for thematic unity. Despite the fine quality of the papers presented (some of which were published in a volume edited by Robert E. Frykenberg, an early organizer of the panel), it had been suggested at Lund that the panel address a specific theme. The analytical usefulness of ‘syncretism' for understanding Christianity's interactions with Indian religions was suggested as a possible topic. Adopted by the co-chairs of the panel, the proposal elicited considerable interest. Beyond the seven papers that were accepted, several others had to be turned-down. A continuing problem is that of financial assistance for South Asian participants, and in one case a fine paper - making a full cohort of 8 - could not be given for this very reason. While we understand the burden of funding more travel grants, the last-minute uncertainties make the task of organizing a panel especially difficult.

While the co-chairs have no intention of editing a volume comprised of the panel papers, all were publishable and professionally done. Though we did not break new ground on the conceptual utility of ‘syncretism,' discussion of our papers - case studies for the most part - forced us to reflect more carefully on the ways in which we employ the term and its many synonyms. Unlike previous panels, this one involved a more frank and open exchange between theology and the social sciences, not only because several participants come to the study of South Asian Christianity from a theological background, but also because the term itself, ‘syncretism,' had a distinctive theological usage before its recent rise to prominence in the social sciences. Some of the most interesting discussion therefore had to do with whether or not a non-normative usage is possible. While no consensus was evident, the day was well spent - such a conversation, involving theologians and social scientists being all too rare, though both ‘parties' share a common interest in South Asian Christianity and employ similar methodologies for the study of it.

Richard Fox Young
Selva J. Raj
August 17, 2006