Book Review
Mission
from the Underside: Transforming Theological Education in Asia.
Authored by Huang Po Ho and Published by Program for Theology and Cultures in
Asia (PTCA). South Asia Theological Research Institute (SATHRI), Bangalore, and
Senate of Serampore Centre for Extension and Pastoral Theological Research
(SCEPTRE), Kolkata, Page 1-248.
If the
readers are interested in understanding mission from underside and reshaping
theological education in Asia and have any doubts on the significance of the
book, Mission from the Underside, they should flip the pages to the
end. The book has an exhaustive index, a
rarity for Indian publications! This is an indication of the scholarship and
methodological approach of doing theology of both the subject and this great
scholar-Dr. Huang Po Ho – as well as the editors. Unlike other publications,
the introduction of this book is written by another author, Dr. Augustine
Chingwala Musopole, an Associate Professor, Chang Jung Christian University,
Tainan, Taiwan.
The book is
divided into three parts, which hold on each other. The first part is called “Naming and
Transforming”, the second, “Contextual Engagement and Theological Reformation”,
and the third part includes two “Biblical Reflections.” The first part deals
with the problem areas in theological education in Asia in the last 50 years-
indicates Po Ho’s long and wide experience on theological journey in Taiwan and
Asia. Six scholarly articles that cover trends in shaping Christian Identity
through renaming God in a particular context and relevant models for higher
theological education may have to be considered to come up with a holistic view
of theological education at all levels. The second part focuses on the contextual
engagement and theological reformulation which is composed of six articles delivered
in different theological conferences or published in different journals. Of
special significance on this part is the article on “Doing Mission from the
Underside: Beyond Edinburgh 1910-A Critical Christian Perspective.” Part 3
consists of two biblical reflections on the topic “Rebuilding the Household of
God in Asia” based on Genesis 11:1-9 and Acts 2:1-15 and “Buy Us and Our Land to Become Slaves of
Pharaoh: A Theological Reflection on Depeasantisation Under the Impact of
Globalization” based on Genesis 47:13-26. These reflections throw light on the impacts
made by globalization to the whole of humanity extending to the totality of
creation on earth and particularly affecting so much on the agricultural
society of the farmers, men and women in Asia.
Huang Po Ho
and Chingwala Musopole deserve all credit for writing this book. As theological
teachers themselves, their analytical introduction contains the areas of
thoughts discussed in the book vividly and the rationale for the various parts
and the topics included in the book. This book is special because it has not
only academic value but has great impact on the mission of the church. As Dr. Wati Longchar has rightly stated, “Po
Ho argues that unless we take the perspective of the margin and do theology
from the underside of history, theological education will make very little
impact on the life of the church.” This book represents all that Dr. Po Ho
cherishes and of his hard work. I am sure it will be of great asset to
academicians and church leaders in Asia today.
Reviewed by
Solomon Rongpi