Radhakrishnan at MCC

DR SARVEPALLI RADHAKRISHNAN
(1888-1975)
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AND CAREER

Tiruttani 1892-96 Tirupati 1896-1900 Voorhees 1900-1904 Madras Christian College 1904-1908 Presidency College Mysore Maharaja College Calcutta University Oxford University Vice President (1952-62) and President (1962-1967)

INITIATION INTO APOLOGETICS

What is Apologetics? Apologetics is a study of theology which defends faith against
attacks It is a defense of faith against perceived misunderstanding, criticism or discrimination.
RADHAKRISHNAN AS AN APOLOGIST Study at Madras Christian College Scholarships, Teachers, MCCM MA Dissertation (1908) The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore (1918) Reign of Religion in Contemporary Philosophy (1920) Eastern Religions and Western Thought (1939)

THE PERSON AND MISSION OF CHRIST

Jesus was a God-man

To an educated Hindu, Jesus is a supreme illustration of the growth from human origins to divine destiny (PSR p.807) In Jesus the false antithesis between man and God is undermined. No one can say where his manhood ends, and his divinity begins (HH p.100)

Response: Jesus was very God and Very man. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jn 1:1, 3:16

What is possible for Jesus is possible for all

No Hindu can accept that what is possible with Christ is impossible with other men (PRT p.114) Christ enables us to become not merely Christians, but Christs (EWSR. P.75)

Response: Christians can not be Christs. It is the Satanic temptation in Eden. Thou shall be like God

Is Christ is an Avatara?
An Avatara is not so much the contraction of the Divine majesty into the limits of the human frame as the exaltation of the human nature to the level of Godhood by its union with the Divine (BG p.32)

Incarnation is not a historical event which occurred two thousand years ago.
It is an event which is renewed in the life of every one who is on the way to the fulfillment of his destiny (RF p.117)

Incarnation is not an so much an event which took place at one stage in history, but is something continually taking place. God is forever becoming incarnate in the world (PSR p.800)

Response: a) Incarnation is not avatara (Gita) b) It is once and for all c) God came to save, not destroy d) history is a problematic

Salvation and Saviours

Salvation is an inner Transformation. We are saved not by creeds, but by Gnosis or spiritual wisdom. There are no mechanical escalators. Each Religion provides only ladders (HH p.10Salvation is to be earned. God can not thrust on us (BS p.98) We should admit the possibility of salvation through other names. Truth wears many vestures and speaks in many tongues (PSR p811) Universal salvation is inevitable. If every soul is precious to God, then universal salvation is a certainty (IVL p.227)

Response: a) Salvation is not Liberation b) Work out you salvation Phil.3:12,13 c) There is no other name Acts 4:12 d) Universal Salvation raises several problems

Atonement is an obstacle
It can not be contended that it is impossible to reach heaven unless it
be through the mediatorship of Jesus (HH p.104) Guilt can not be transferred to a substitute It is doubtful whether Jesus incurred the suffering of the cross voluntarilyHis dreadful cry on the cross shows that crucifixion was an appalling surprise to him (ERWT p.169 fn)
Response: a) We can not save ourselves, unlike in Hinduism b) Lamb of God took the sins upon Himself c) Radhakrishnan distorts the Gospel, when he says Christs death was not voluntary

Resurrection is a symbolic Act

Asato ma sat gamaya. Tama so ma jyotir gamaya. Mrtyorma Amrtam gamaya. Resurrection is not the rise of the dead from their tombs, but the passage from the death of self absorption to the life of unselfish love Jesus Resurrection after three days is probably suggested by Matthew (ERWT p.175) Christ is born in the depth of the spirit. His resurrection is not so much a historical which occurred once upon a time as universal process of spiritual life, which is being continually accomplished in our souls. (PSR p.79)

Response: a) Resurrection has many evidences b) It is not Reincarnation

Radhakrishnans Christology
ADVAITIC CHRIST When Christ said I and My Father are one, he makes out an identification between the individual human and the divine Reality (OSW p.159)
TRUTH IS INCLUSIVE? The Buddhist parable. Ravi Zacharias, Hans Kung COMPARATIVE METHOD OR METHOD OF SELECTIVE CONTRAST ? APOLOGETICS : Costly and Cheap

The Challenge of Radhakrishnan

Life of success against all odds
Courage of Conviction in his writings Contribution to Inter-religious dialogue and understanding Christianity against Indian background Reverence for Christ as a Teacher Conclusion You Christians seem to us ordinary people, making extra-ordinary claims.

Response: Radhakrishnan looked at and not into Christianity (Hendrik Kraemer)

Christianity and Other Faiths

1. Jesus Christ is the only Savior of the world. Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. 2. Two Kinds of Revelation General: Nature, history, science, arts etc., Special: The Word of God 2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is God breathed. 3. All humans are created in the image of God. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 4. God uses both believers and non-believers for his purposes. Eg. Job, Cornelius Rom. 2:215 Gods Law is written in their hearts. Conscience bears witness.

5. Need for Apologetics 1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to every one who ask you to give the reason for the hope you have, but do this with gentleness and respect.
6. Biblical Models for engaging people in a Pluralist context. (ACTS chapter 17)