|
|
|
|
||
|
Using Caste to Define Peoples in South Asia
What are castes? The caste system is the rigid Hindu structure of hereditary social classes. Caste and social status are determined at birth and cannot be changed. Marriage is restricted to members of one's own caste. The caste system originally consisted of four levels: Brahman - seers (priests, teachers), Kshatriya - administrators (military leaders, business owners), Vaisya - producers (skilled craftspersons), and Shoodra - servants (unskilled laborers). Each caste is split into countless sub-castes. Today there are four general caste levels in South Asia:
A better word for caste The word "caste" is actually a corrupted Portuguese word, and the more useful term for sociological groupings is Jati. "Jati" as used in India is a very close fit to the Lausanne / USCWM definition for "people group" which states:"For evangelization purposes, a people group is the largest group within which the Gospel can spread as a church planting movement without encountering barriers of understanding or acceptance." Language not involved in determining caste Top A language criterion is not used to define the Jati, because so many individuals are multi-lingual and because most South Asian people do not define themselves by language groupings. Using language to define a people while the people themselves do not use language for self-definition can lead to destroying something sacred about the peoples who lie outside the Kingdom. Language belongs generally to the people of the jati / communities, whose language varies by geographical location. However, it is also important to provide lists by language for language-based outreaches such as video / radio / literature distributions, and so forth. Two lists offering two perspectives are needed by the missions community serving in South Asia. The "discipling into the Kingdom" focus requires the Jati list, which is consistent with how the people define themselves. The development and use of language-based communication resources requires the language list. Both perspectives are needed, and both are important. Costly ministry lessons related to ignoring caste If the language focus is used for church planting / discipleship we are promoting something that for two centuries in India has been a failure or reduced significantly the number of people responding, that is, churches based on common language, not common community. The writings of Donald McGavran, Bishop Pickett and others on this topic have largely been ignored. There were costly lessons learned in the period 1870 - 1920, and one hundred years ago many agencies were getting it right. But language-based thinking had again solidly permeated missions efforts by the 1930s, and continues today. Language lists were what well-meaning workers saw and worked from, and low caste workers naturally wished to de-emphasize a caste focus. It will require a total re-education for pastors and national workers to again think in community terms. Response has been according to caste Top Over 90% of Indian Christians are traceable to mass movements, which occur along community lines, not language lines. A number of these mass movements are labeled incorrectly by language. The Telugu Movement was actually a movement within the Mala and Madiga communities almost exclusively. The Bhojpuri Movement was of the Bhangi / Balmika communities, and to a lesser extent the Chamar community. The Punjabi Movement was of one community, the Chuhra, and several others trying to respond, the Megh, Sansoi, Sansi, and others, but who were repelled by defiling contact with the Chuhra. A significant movement never happened in Maharashtra because the Mahar and Matang communities were placed in common churches. We can go state by state in India, Pakistan, and Nepal and show communities that responded and others who started to respond but were repelled. Even the tribal groups in India do not have majorities that speak the language named after the tribe. The Santal comes closest, but have less than 50% of their numbers speaking the language. If something as culturally / socially homogeneous as a tribe cannot fit the language-dominant model, there is no chance the wider communities will. The language model actually divides, not brings together. In summary, one single (language-focused) list will not work for South Asia if we want to truly represent people in their social groupings as they see themselves. We have to fit in with them, not squeeze them to fit us. Provided by: Omid - South Asia Researcher |
Unreached People Profile
Mission Question
How many Muslim people groups in China are unreached?
Answer ... Missions Scripture
"And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations."
Unreached Peoples Fact
The largest Least-Reached group in Southeast Asia without Scripture, Jesus film, gospel radio or audio recordings is the Creole of the Philippines, with 1,344,000 people. Stories from the Field
"Ten Tharu men and women gave their life to the Lord on 31 of May morning service time after watching the GS Tharu on 30th night. Two men out of them are ..." Continue
Source: God's Story |
Return to top  |
| Home
| Sitemap
| Terms of Use
| Privacy
| Donate
| Contact Us
|
|
 |
||
 |
||
Search powered by  |
 |
|
| Viewable Data Last Updated: 03-Jul-2008 | Download Data Last Updated: 09-Jun-2008 | Page Last Modified: 22-Jul-2008 |
