South Asian Christian Diaspora
Invisible Diaspora in Europe and North America
The South Asian Christian diaspora is largely invisible in the literature about religion and migration. This is the first comprehensive study of South Asian Christians living in Europe and North America, presenting the main features of these diasporas, their community histories and their religious practices.
The South Asian Christian diaspora is pluralistic both in terms of religious adherence, cultural tradition and geographical areas of origin. This book gives justice to such pluralism and presents a multiplicity of cultures and traditions typical of the South Asian Christian diaspora.
Issues such as the institutionalization of the religious traditions in new countries, identity, the paradox of belonging both to a minority immigrant group and a majority religion, the social functions of rituals, attitudes to language, generational transfer, and marriage and family life, are all discussed.
Contents: Preface; Introduction: Making an Invisible Diaspora Visible, Knut A. Jacobsen and Selva J. Raj;
Part 1 Europe: South Asian Christians in the UK, Eleanor Nesbitt; Religion as an arena for the expression of identity. Roman Catholic Pondicherrians in France, Brigitte Sébastia; The 70th anniversary of ''John Matthew'': on ''Indian Christians in Germany, Urmila Goel; Seeking the blessing of the consolatrix afflictorum: the annual pilgrimage of Sri Lankan Tamils to the Madonna in Kevelaer (Germany), Brigitte Luchesi; Perpetuating religious and social concepts in the extended motherland: Tamil Christians in Berne (Switzerland), Damaris Lüthi; Creating Sri Lankan Tamil Catholic space in the South Asian diaspora in Norway, Knut A. Jacobsen; Goans and Damanians in Portugal: an overview of a singular diaspora, Helena Maria Mauricio C. Sant''ana; Surinamese East Indian Christians in the Netherlands, Freek L. Bakker.
Part 2 North America: The culture of Asian Indian Catholicism in North America, Elizabeth Cameron Galbraith; New land, new challenges: the role of religion in the acculturation of Syro-Malabar Catholics in Chicago, Selva J. Raj; Indian Christians and marriage patterns Farha Terniker; Doing friendship, making contacts, and building trust: Christian Indian responses to religious diversity, Nori Henk; From Hinduism to Christianity, from India to New York: bondage and exodus experiences in the lives of Indian Dalit Christians in the diaspora, Rachel Fell McDermott; Conclusion: South Asian Christians in the West, Raymond Brady Williams; Index.
About the Editor: Knut A. Jacobsen is the author or editor of 15 books and more than 60 academic articles, such as the books South Asian Religions on Display: Religious Processions in South Asia and in the Diaspora (London: Routledge 2008); Sikhismen: Historie, tradisjon og kultur (Kristiansand: Norwegian Academic Press, 2006); Theory and Practice of Yoga: Essays in Honour of Gerald James Larson (Leiden: Brill, 2005); South Asians in the Diaspora: Histories and Religious Traditions, co-edited with P. Pratap Kumar (Leiden: Brill, 2004); Hinduismen (Oslo: Pax, 2003); and Prakrti in Samkhya-Yoga: Material Principle, Religious Experience, Ethical Implications (New York: Peter Lang, 1999). He has a Ph. D. from the Department of Religious Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) from 1994. His professional interests include Hinduism, Yoga, Sikhism, Diaspora Studies, Religious Pluralism and Pilgrimage Studies.
Selva J. Raj has edited two books, Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, co-edited with William P. Harman (Albany, NY: Suny Press, 2006); and Popular Christianity In India: Riting Between The Lines, co-edited with Corinne G. Dempsey (Albany, NY: Suny Press, 2002). Miracle As Modern Conundrum In South Asian Religious Traditions, co-edited with Corinne G. Dempsey, is forthcoming (Suny Press). He has published a number of articles. His Ph.D. is from The University of Chicago in the History of Religion from 1994. Professional interests include Hinduism, Buddhism, The Feminine in World Religions and Global Christianities. He has been given a number of academic honours and awards. Sadly Selva Raj died in March 2008.
Reviews: 'The need for this book on South Asian Christians in the diaspora is long overdue. This is a very valuable source of information for anyone who wishes to draw some general conclusions about Indian Christians in the diaspora.' - Paul Younger, McMaster University, Canada
The editors have produced a landmark study on a neglected but important subject. A new trend has been set on the basis of impressive scholarship that will create deeper understanding of social, religious and cultural diasporic identity.
Julius Lipner, University of Cambridge, UK
‘Jacobsen and Raj’s volume is certainly a timely and very welcome contribution to the increasingly diversified scene of contemporary diasporic studies. The book abounds with well researched and thoroughly reflected insights into the diversity of South Asian Christian ways of life in the Western diaspora.’ South Asian Diaspora
This title is also available as an eBook, ISBN 978-0-7546-9254-6
Imprint: Ashgate
Illustrations: Includes 14 b&w illustrations
Published: December 2008
Format: 234 x 156 mm
Extent: 284 pages
Binding: Hardback
ISBN: 978-0-7546-6261-7
Price : £55.00 » Online: £49.50
BL Reference: 270.8'3'089914
LoC Control No: 2008015399
South Asian Christian Diaspora
Invisible Diaspora in Europe and North America
- Edited by Knut A. Jacobsen, University of Bergen, Norway and Selva J. Raj, formerly Albion College, USA
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