Sebastian Kappen - Revision history

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			{{Short description\|Indian priest and theologian}}
	{{more citations needed\|date=September 2012}}		{{more citations needed\|date=September 2012}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=October 2015}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=October 2015}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=~~October 2015~~}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2025}}
	[[File:Sebastian Kappen.jpg\|thumb\|Kappen]]		[[File:Sebastian Kappen.jpg\|thumb\|Kappen]]

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	==Formation and studies==		==Formation and studies==
	Born into a traditional [[Saint Thomas Christians\|Nasrani]] family in [[Kodikulam]], [[Travancore]], during the [[British Raj]], Kappen entered the [[Society of Jesus]] at the age of 20 (in 1944), and was ordained a [[Catholic priest\|priest]] on 24 March 1957. He pursued studies at the [[Gregorian University]] ([[Rome]]), obtaining a doctorate in [[Theology]] (1961) with a thesis on ''Religious Alienation and Praxis according to Marx's [[Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844]]''. This was a time when [[Marxism]] was growing in influence in his home state of [[Kerala]], in India.		Born into a traditional [[Saint Thomas Christians\|Nasrani]] family in [[Kodikulam]], [[Travancore]], during the [[British Raj]], Kappen entered the [[Society of Jesus]] at the age of 20 (in 1944), and was ordained a [[Catholic priest\|priest]] on 24 March 1957. He pursued studies at the [[Gregorian University]] (Rome), obtaining a doctorate in [[Theology]] (1961) with a thesis on ''Religious Alienation and Praxis according to Marx's [[Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844]]''. This was a time when [[Marxism]] was growing in influence in his home state of [[Kerala]], in India.

	Away from [[scholasticism]] and its [[essentialism]], he found in Marxian tools of [[social analysis]] effective instruments to understand the people's [[Marx's theory of alienation\|alienation]] from freedom and loss of ability to contribute to the wellbeing of society.		Away from [[scholasticism]] and its [[essentialism]], he found in Marxian tools of [[social analysis]] effective instruments to understand the people's [[Marx's theory of alienation\|alienation]] from freedom and loss of ability to contribute to the wellbeing of society.

	==Evolving thought and action==		==Evolving thought and action==
	Henceforth, [[Sigmund Freud\|Freud]], [[Karl Marx\|Marx]] and the [[gospel of Mark]] became the dialectical poles of Kappen's thought and life, in view of liberating the human person from hidden oppressive psychological and social forces. Healing and wholeness are found in the person of [[Jesus of Nazareth\|Jesus]], the Son of God.		Henceforth, [[Sigmund Freud\|Freud]], [[Karl Marx\|Marx]] and the [[gospel of Mark]] became the dialectical poles of Kappen's thought and life, in view of liberating the human person from hidden oppressive psychological and social forces. Healing and wholeness are found in the person of [[Jesus of Nazareth\|Jesus]], the Son of God.

	His theological stances evoked strong criticism in traditional circles of the Church. In 1972 Kappen moved out of Jesuit large institutions and started living among the poor wherever he was posted: in [[Cochin]], and later in [[Trivandrum]], [[Madras]] and [[Bangalore]] as well. Despite regular attempts to bring him back into regular Jesuit community life, his superiors ultimately consented to let him adopt a lifestyle more conducive to his creative writing. His ''locus theologicus'' was the people, and particularly the poor.		His theological stances evoked strong criticism in traditional circles of the Church. In 1972 Kappen moved out of Jesuit large institutions and started living among the poor wherever he was posted: in [[Cochin]], and later in [[Trivandrum]], [[Madras]] and Bangalore as well. Despite regular attempts to bring him back into regular Jesuit community life, his superiors ultimately consented to let him adopt a lifestyle more conducive to his creative writing. His ''locus theologicus'' was the people, and particularly the poor.

	His studies were geared towards transformative [[social action]] in India. This led him to a study of the liberating and humanizing potential of the original teachings of [[Jesus]], with a strong preference for the [[Gospel of Mark]]. He also drew on Indian traditions, particularly that of religious dissent represented by the [[Buddha]] and the medieval [[Bhakti Movement]]. He wrote and lectured extensively on the cultural restructuring of Indian society.		His studies were geared towards transformative [[social action]] in India. This led him to a study of the liberating and humanizing potential of the original teachings of Jesus, with a strong preference for the [[Gospel of Mark]]. He also drew on Indian traditions, particularly that of religious dissent represented by the [[Buddha]] and the medieval [[Bhakti Movement]]. He wrote and lectured extensively on the cultural restructuring of Indian society.

	Ever critical of systems, structures and institutions, Kappen felt his search was leading him beyond denominational and religious affiliations as well as political ideology. In Kappen's view, No political, religious or economic system was absolute, but were all to be valued only insofar as they serve the people. Thus, he felt that party and their ideologies, even of religious ones, could act as spiritual prisons, which he did not want to be confined in, while Jesus offered freedom.		Ever critical of systems, structures and institutions, Kappen felt his search was leading him beyond denominational and religious affiliations as well as political ideology. In Kappen's view, No political, religious or economic system was absolute, but were all to be valued only insofar as they serve the people. Thus, he felt that party and their ideologies, even of religious ones, could act as spiritual prisons, which he did not want to be confined in, while Jesus offered freedom.

	This stance in particular brought him into conflict with Rome. In 1977, he published ''Jesus and Freedom'', with an introduction by the Belgian priest and professor at the [[Université catholique de Louvain\|Louvain University]] [[François Houtart]]. The book came under official Church scrutiny. Kappen responded with a pamphlet entitled ''Censorship and the Future of Asian Theology''. He wrote: <blockquote>“I write with responsibility. There can be defects or errors in my work. I am not infallible. Responsible thinkers and scholars the world over could judge and sift my work. In public discussions we can help each other and learn from one another. That is how truth grows in history: through a social process, and not through secret ~~censorship”~~.		This stance in particular brought him into conflict with Rome. In 1977, he published ''Jesus and Freedom'', with an introduction by the Belgian priest and professor at the [[Université catholique de Louvain\|Louvain University]] [[François Houtart]]. The book came under official Church scrutiny. Kappen responded with a pamphlet entitled ''Censorship and the Future of Asian Theology''. He wrote: <blockquote>I write with responsibility. There can be defects or errors in my work. I am not infallible. Responsible thinkers and scholars the world over could judge and sift my work. In public discussions we can help each other and learn from one another. That is how truth grows in history: through a social process, and not through secret censorship.
	</blockquote> Kappen was censured for the publication.		</blockquote> Kappen was censured for the publication.

	Kappen had been visiting professor to the [[Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth\|Pontifical Faculty of Theology]] (Pune), [[Vidyajyoti College of Theology]] (Delhi), The [[Université catholique de Louvain\|Catholic University of Louvain]] ([[Belgium]]) and [[Maryknoll]] Seminary (~~[[New York (state)\|~~New York]]).		Kappen had been visiting professor to the [[Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth\|Pontifical Faculty of Theology]] (Pune), [[Vidyajyoti College of Theology]] (Delhi), The [[Université catholique de Louvain\|Catholic University of Louvain]] (Belgium) and [[Maryknoll]] Seminary (New York).

	Kappen began experiencing heart problems in the 1980s. He first quit smoking, then began slowing his intellectual pursuits. Nonetheless, he was particularly incensed by the bombing of Iraq in the [[~~gulf war~~]] of ~~1990-1991~~. It is possible that this heightened emotional state contributed to a fatal [[heart attack]] on 30 November 1993. Kappen died in [[Bangalore]]; his body was returned to [[Kozhikode]], where he is buried.		Kappen began experiencing heart problems in the 1980s. He first quit smoking, then began slowing his intellectual pursuits. Nonetheless, he was particularly incensed by the bombing of Iraq in the [[Gulf War]] of 1990–1991. It is possible that this heightened emotional state contributed to a fatal [[heart attack]] on 30 November 1993. Kappen died in Bangalore; his body was returned to [[Kozhikode]], where he is buried.

	==Writings in English==		==Writings in English==
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	* ''Liberation Theology and Marxism'', 1986.		* ''Liberation Theology and Marxism'', 1986.
	* ''The Future of Socialism and Socialism of the Future'', Bangalore, 1992.		* ''The Future of Socialism and Socialism of the Future'', Bangalore, 1992.
			* '' Jesus Today'', AICUF, 1985
			* '' Tradition Modernity Counterculture'', Visthar, Bangalore, 1994
			* ''Hindutva and Indian Religious Traditions'', Manusham, Ettumanoor, 2000
			* '' Divine Challenge and Human Response'', C S S, Tiruvalla, 2001
			* '' Jesus and Culture'', ISPCK, 2002
			* '' Jesus and Society'' , ISPCK, 2002
			* '' Towards a Holistic Cultural Paradigm'', C S S, Tiruvalla, 2003
			* '' Marx beyond Marxism'', Voice Books, 2012
			* '' Ingathering'', Jeevan Books, Bharananganam, Kottayam, 2013
			* '' What the Thunder Says'', Jeevan Books, Bharananganam, Kottayam, 2013
			* '' Collected Works of Sebastian Kappen'', ISPCK, Delhi, 2021 19
			''I: Jesus and Freedom and Related Essays''
			''Volume II: Marxian Atheism and Related Essays''
			''Volume III: Jesus and Cultural Revolution and Related Essays''
			''Volume IV: Liberation Theology and Marxism and Related Essays''
			''Volume V: Hindutva and Indian Religious Traditions and Related Essays''
			''Volume VI: Tradition Modernity Counterculture and Related Essays''

	==Writings in Malayalam==		==Writings in Malayalam==

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← Older revision		Revision as of 05:34, 18 March 2022
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	[[File:Sebastian Kappen.jpg\|thumb\|Kappen]]		[[File:Sebastian Kappen.jpg\|thumb\|Kappen]]

	'''Sebastian Kappen''' (4 January 1924 – 30 November 1993) was an ~~[[India]]n~~ [[Jesuit]] priest and [[liberation theology\|liberation theologian]].		'''Sebastian Kappen''' (4 January 1924 – 30 November 1993) was an Indian [[Jesuit]] priest and [[liberation theology\|liberation theologian]].

	==Formation and studies==		==Formation and studies==
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	[[Category:Liberation theologians]]		[[Category:Liberation theologians]]
	[[Category:Syro-Malabar priests]]		[[Category:Syro-Malabar priests]]
	[[Category:Indian Jesuits]]		[[Category:20th-century Indian Jesuits]]
	[[Category:Malayali people]]		[[Category:Malayali people]]
	[[Category:People from Idukki district]]		[[Category:People from Idukki district]]
	[[Category:20th-century Indian Roman Catholic theologians]]		[[Category:20th-century Indian Roman Catholic theologians]]
	~~[[Category:20th-century Indian Roman Catholic priests]]~~

>Rathfelder: ± 2 categories using HotCat

2021-05-25T18:13:52Z

± 2 categories using HotCat

New page

{{more citations needed|date=September 2012}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
[[File:Sebastian Kappen.jpg|thumb|Kappen]]

'''Sebastian Kappen''' (4 January 1924 – 30 November 1993) was an [[India]]n [[Jesuit]] priest and [[liberation theology|liberation theologian]].

==Formation and studies==
Born into a traditional [[Saint Thomas Christians|Nasrani]] family in [[Kodikulam]], [[Travancore]], during the [[British Raj]], Kappen entered the [[Society of Jesus]] at the age of 20 (in 1944), and was ordained a [[Catholic priest|priest]] on 24 March 1957. He pursued studies at the [[Gregorian University]] ([[Rome]]), obtaining a doctorate in [[Theology]] (1961) with a thesis on ''Religious Alienation and Praxis according to Marx's [[Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844]]''. This was a time when [[Marxism]] was growing in influence in his home state of [[Kerala]], in India.

Away from [[scholasticism]] and its [[essentialism]], he found in Marxian tools of [[social analysis]] effective instruments to understand the people's [[Marx's theory of alienation|alienation]] from freedom and loss of ability to contribute to the wellbeing of society.

==Evolving thought and action==
Henceforth, [[Sigmund Freud|Freud]], [[Karl Marx|Marx]] and the [[gospel of Mark]] became the dialectical poles of Kappen's thought and life, in view of liberating the human person from hidden oppressive psychological and social forces. Healing and wholeness are found in the person of [[Jesus of Nazareth|Jesus]], the Son of God.

His theological stances evoked strong criticism in traditional circles of the Church. In 1972 Kappen moved out of Jesuit large institutions and started living among the poor wherever he was posted: in [[Cochin]], and later in [[Trivandrum]], [[Madras]] and [[Bangalore]] as well. Despite regular attempts to bring him back into regular Jesuit community life, his superiors ultimately consented to let him adopt a lifestyle more conducive to his creative writing. His ''locus theologicus'' was the people, and particularly the poor.

His studies were geared towards transformative [[social action]] in India. This led him to a study of the liberating and humanizing potential of the original teachings of [[Jesus]], with a strong preference for the [[Gospel of Mark]]. He also drew on Indian traditions, particularly that of religious dissent represented by the [[Buddha]] and the medieval [[Bhakti Movement]]. He wrote and lectured extensively on the cultural restructuring of Indian society.

Ever critical of systems, structures and institutions, Kappen felt his search was leading him beyond denominational and religious affiliations as well as political ideology. In Kappen's view, No political, religious or economic system was absolute, but were all to be valued only insofar as they serve the people. Thus, he felt that party and their ideologies, even of religious ones, could act as spiritual prisons, which he did not want to be confined in, while Jesus offered freedom.

This stance in particular brought him into conflict with Rome. In 1977, he published ''Jesus and Freedom'', with an introduction by the Belgian priest and professor at the [[Université catholique de Louvain|Louvain University]] [[François Houtart]]. The book came under official Church scrutiny. Kappen responded with a pamphlet entitled ''Censorship and the Future of Asian Theology''. He wrote: <blockquote>“I write with responsibility. There can be defects or errors in my work. I am not infallible. Responsible thinkers and scholars the world over could judge and sift my work. In public discussions we can help each other and learn from one another. That is how truth grows in history: through a social process, and not through secret censorship”.
</blockquote> Kappen was censured for the publication.

Kappen had been visiting professor to the [[Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth|Pontifical Faculty of Theology]] (Pune), [[Vidyajyoti College of Theology]] (Delhi), The [[Université catholique de Louvain|Catholic University of Louvain]] ([[Belgium]]) and [[Maryknoll]] Seminary ([[New York (state)|New York]]).

Kappen began experiencing heart problems in the 1980s. He first quit smoking, then began slowing his intellectual pursuits. Nonetheless, he was particularly incensed by the bombing of Iraq in the [[gulf war]] of 1990-1991. It is possible that this heightened emotional state contributed to a fatal [[heart attack]] on 30 November 1993. Kappen died in [[Bangalore]]; his body was returned to [[Kozhikode]], where he is buried.

==Writings in English==
* ''Jesus and Freedom'', Orbis Books, New York, 1977.
* ''Marxian Atheism'', 1983.
* ''Jesus and Cultural Revolution; an Asian Perspective'', 1983.
* ''Liberation Theology and Marxism'', 1986.
* ''The Future of Socialism and Socialism of the Future'', Bangalore, 1992.

==Writings in Malayalam==
* ''Vswäsathilninnu Viplavathilèkku'' (From Faith to Revolution),1972.
* ''Marxian Darsśnathinu Orämukham'' (An Introduction to the Philosophy of Marx), 1989
* ''Pravachanam Prathisamskruthi'' (Prophecy and Counterculture),1992.
* ''Akraistavanäya Yèśuviné Thèdi'' (In Search of the Non-Christian Jesus), 1999 (posthumous).

==Posthumous publications==
* ''Tradition Modernity Counterculture'', 1994.
* ''Hindutva and Indian Religious Traditions'', 2000.
* ''Divine Challenge and Human Response'', 2001.
* ''Jesus and Society'', ISPCK, Delhi, 2002.
* ''Jesus and Culture'', ISPCK, Delhi, 2002.
* ''Towards a Holistic Cultural Paradigm'', 2003.

==Bibliography==
=== in English ===
*Philip Mathew and Ajit Murickan (ed), ''Religion, Ideology and counterculture; Essays in honour of S.Kappen'', Bangalore, 1987.

===in Malayalam===
* ''Prathi-samskruthiyilekku'' (Counterculture Thoughts of Fr. Sebastian Kappen), Manusham Publications, Ettumanoor, 2008.

==External links==
*[http://www.sebastiankappen.net/ Sebastian Kappen]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kappen, Sebastian}}
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:1993 deaths]]
[[Category:Liberation theologians]]
[[Category:Syro-Malabar priests]]
[[Category:Indian Jesuits]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:People from Idukki district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Roman Catholic theologians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Roman Catholic priests]]