How The Bible Globalized Modernity
In my last lecture in Spain, at the beautiful Cullera beach, I discussed how God has been fulfilling his optimism inspiring promise to fill the earth with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9).
Spanish explorer, Vasco de Gama, reached India in 1498 via the Atlantic Ocean. That began India’s interaction with the west. For three centuries, until January 1800, India and the West interacted with each other primarily in terms of profit and power — trade and conflict. Then came the Bible.
In Bengal, on the banks of river Hoogly, began the Baptist mission at Serampore. One of its focus was on Bible translation, publication, and distribution. Thanks to the West, India was forced to engage with the Bible’s ideas. The Bible’s light questioned India’s cherished beliefs:
Is widow burning piety or abomination?
Is untouchablity holiness or sin of not loving your neighbous as yourself?
Is worship of idols and nature, appeasing God or infuriating the living God?
The Bible’s challenge to India’s deeply held beliefs began India’s reform and renaissance. Given that I have less than an hour, I will focus my attention on how the Bible brought to India,
(1) A biblical linguistic revolution – creating all modern Indian languages
(2) How it transformed Indian agriculture, horticulture, and milk production
(3) How the Bible changed Hindu (legal) marriage from polygamy to monogamy.
(4) How the Bible made India a nation and a free nation.
Please pray that 320 evangelical professionals who gathered for the conference will catch a vision for a biblical reformation. Spain should have been Europe’s greatest nation. But it crushed 16th century reformers. May God raise up another generation of reformers.
Prof Vishal Mangalwadi directs the Centre for Human Resource Development in a Unversity in North India. He has authored 20 books and lectured in 40 countries. His exposition of Indian philosophy and Western thought and culture In books such as “The World of Gurus”, and “The Book That Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization” are studied at university level.
Trending Now on Affluent Christian Investor
Sorry. No data so far.
Follow Us
The Affluent Mix
New Conservative Portal Makes Fighting Woke Capitalism Free And Easy... December 1, 2020 | Jerry Bowyer
As The Dow Jones Industrial Average Reaches 30,000, ‘The Fed Did It’ Narrati... December 1, 2020 | John Tamny
A Statistical Overview Of American Households: Part 3, High Income vs. Low Incom... December 1, 2020 | Jim Huntzinger
How A Failed Commune Gave Us What Is Now Thanksgiving... November 25, 2020 | Jerry Bowyer
Senate Disgracefully Stalls Trump Fed Nominee... November 25, 2020 | John Tamny
A Statistical Overview Of American Households: Part 2, The Great Recession... November 25, 2020 | Jim Huntzinger
Follow The Science To Sweden November 25, 2020 | Daniel McLaughlin
Our Move Along, Nothing-To-See-Here Media... November 25, 2020 | Frank Vernuccio
Pessimism And Your Portfolio November 25, 2020 | David Bahnsen
Profits Are A Blessing, Not A Curse November 25, 2020 | Roger McKinney
The GOP Should Embrace Its Reputation As The Party Of Financial Success... November 19, 2020 | John Tamny
Can Dog-Eat-Dog Capitalism Exist? November 19, 2020 | Roger McKinney
Look For Companies With Blockholder Investor Base... November 19, 2020 | Jerry Bowyer
A Statistical Overview Of American Households... November 19, 2020 | Jim Huntzinger
The Real Loser Of The 2020 Election Is The Polling Industry... November 10, 2020 | Charles Bowyer
Here’s The Conservative Agenda For The Next Four Years... November 10, 2020 | Frank Vernuccio
What’s Next? A Post-Election Reality Check... November 10, 2020 | David Bahnsen
They’ve Been Writing America’s Obituary Since Before It Was America... November 10, 2020 | John Tamny
Reining In The Proxies: A Letter To Secretary Of Labor Eugene Scalia... November 10, 2020 | Jerry Bowyer
What Does It Mean To Be American Poor? November 10, 2020 | Jim Huntzinger
Should Christians Follow Grudem’s Or Piper’s Advice On Voting?... November 3, 2020 | Roger McKinney
Election Week Musings November 3, 2020 | David Bahnsen
Join the conversation!
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, vulgarity, profanity, all caps, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment where we can engage in reasonable discourse.