ATC publishes pope’s book for anniversary

India’s most known lay-owned theology-publishing firm has marked 65 years of its existence by releasing three books including one of Pope Benedict XVI.

Some 20 archbishops, two cardinals and a large number of Religious priests and sisters attended the 65th anniversary function of Asian Trading Corporation (ATC) in Bangalore on Sept. 24.

The Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible in India and Pope Benedict XVI’s book, ‘The Spirit of the Liturgy’ were released at the function.

It also re-launched the revised version of the book “Shining Faith in Kandhamal,” by journalist Anto Akkara. The book details stories of Christians who withstood violence to protect their faith.

Full report here Cathnews

There’s a case for burning all the holy books

There’s an unintended irony about the (eventually aborted) campaign last week by Terry Jones, the pastor of a fringe church in Florida, to make a bonfire of copies of the Koran on the grounds that it was an “evil book”. Jones isn’t the first man of Christian faith who was broadcasting to the world his loathing of the Koran and, more broadly, of Islam. Since the 8th century, when Islam spread across Europe, that religion and its Holy Book have served as objects of hatred — and, on occasion, fear — for Christians.

Christian clergymen and scholars branded the Koran the “work of the devil” that was dangerous to Christian souls, and this revulsion was immortalised in popular Christian literature and hymns down the ages.

The “clash of civilisations” continued right up until the 16th century, when the Ottoman Empire, expanding through conquest, was at its apex. In the 16th century, however, German theologian Martin Luther advanced an effort to publish Latin translations of the Koran — in the belief that free dissemination of Koranic ideas among Christians would refute “the abomination of Mohammed” and do “grievous harm” to the Turks. Fighting efforts to censor and prevent the translation and dissemination of the Koran, Luther wrote: “To honour Christ, to do good for Christians, to harm the Turks, to vex the devil, set (the Koran) free…”

Full report here DNA

Maritime history of pre-modern India

Coastal Histories Society and Ecology in Premodern India
Edited by Yogesh Sharma
Primus Books
Rs. 695

Maritime India - Trade, Religion and Polity in the Indian Ocean:
Pius Malekandathil
Primus Books
Rs. 695

The two books under review complement each other in establishing the sea trade as an important driver of socioeconomic process in littoral societies that interacted primarily for trade.

They highlight the social dynamics behind the changes in the ruling and trade patterns of the coastal region. Michael N. Pearson, the well known historian of the Indian Ocean, has written the foreword for both. Sea trade was known in the South from very early times and the Sangam literature is full of references to the overseas trade and the functioning of ports, with the state acting as a facilitator of trade and as the custodian of goods landing in the harbour. Almost everyone who came from the West was referred to as Yavanas in Sangam and there was cordial relationship between the state and the foreign trader.

Effect of Christianity
A collection of articles by Pius Malekandathil, ‘Maritime India' speaks largely about Christianity in the coastal areas and its effect on trade. And the author describes the publication as a “study of the impact that the circuits in the Indian Ocean exerted on the socioeconomic and political process of India.” Significantly, Pius has dealt with the India-Sassanid (Persia) maritime trade and its impact on society, an area that has not been gone into by the earlier studies. One felt that the analysis of tributary-trade system could have drawn upon the Tamil inscriptions in Southeast Asia and China, where Indian merchant guilds had a strong presence.

Full report here Hindu

Jesus Kashmir ‘tomb’ draws tourists

Troubled Kashmir has not seen many western tourists over the past few years, but a small nondescript shrine in Rozabal locality here continues to quietly attract inquisitive visitors from abroad.

Rozabal is the shrine of medieval Muslim saint Yus Asaf, but several alternative theories floated in the West describe it as a tomb of Jesus Christ. Such was the popularity that its caretakers were forced to close the shrine for Western tourists some three years ago, lest it “hurt local sensitivities”.

Some believe Jesus survived crucifixion, travelled to Kashmir, adopted the name of Yus Asaf and is buried at Rozabal. The shrine has of late found mention in the Lonely Planet guide — a bible for most tourists — leading to renewed interest in the West.

“Some people from Europe claim it is the grave of Hazrat Issa (Jesus) and they had approached us with a request to open it and take DNA and other samples. But we have turned down their requests,” said Mohammad Amin Ringshawl, the shrine’s caretaker.

Full report here Telegraph

Jesus picture row: Meghalaya cops to question Delhi publisher

A team of the Meghalaya Police is expected to reach the national capital shortly to question the publisher of Class I cursive writing textbooks that depicted Jesus Christ in poor light and sparked off resentment among Christians who constitute 80 per cent of the state population.

An FIR against the Delhi publisher was lodged by the principal of St Joseph’s Girls Higher Secondary School after the textbooks — which carried a picture of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette and a beer can — reached her school.

DSP Vivek Syiem (Crime) told The Indian Express on Sunday: “We will send a police team to New Delhi to question Ram Mohan Jha of Skyline Publication. He will be taken into custody if we manage to get an arrest warrant against him from court.” He added that the controversial textbooks had been seized from distributors in Shillong.

Full report here Indian Express