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
Another Theologian Falls For Socialism February 17, 2021 | Roger McKinney
GDP Bounced Back, Sort Of February 17, 2021 | Jerry Bowyer
Apathy And Envy For All February 17, 2021 | Jim Huntzinger
The Global Stock Market Decompression February 17, 2021 | Jerry Bowyer
Why Things Are Bad And What You Should Do About It... February 17, 2021 | Terry Applegate
Gamestop Scandal: Who Is The Real Culprit?... February 11, 2021 | Roger McKinney
Who Has Economic Mobility? Everyone! February 11, 2021 | Jim Huntzinger
Biden Deletes China COVID Evidence February 11, 2021 | Frank Vernuccio
How Companies Pay Shareholders: High Earnings Quality Companies Do More Buybacks... February 11, 2021 | Jerry Bowyer
Volatility Vs. Capital Erosion February 11, 2021 | David Bahnsen
When Will The Party End? February 11, 2021 | Michael Pento
Back To Buybacks: Is It More About Dilution Than Concentration?... February 11, 2021 | Jerry Bowyer
Even Amnesty International Is Criticizing Facebook Censorship... February 5, 2021 | Frank Vernuccio
The War On Poverty’s Results February 5, 2021 | Jim Huntzinger
How Companies Pay Shareholders: Total Shareholder Payout A Better Approach?... February 5, 2021 | Jerry Bowyer
Interest Rate Threshold Keeps Dropping February 5, 2021 | Michael Pento
You Are What You Live Through As An Investor... February 5, 2021 | David Bahnsen
How Companies Pay Shareholders: What Do The Data Say?... February 5, 2021 | Jerry Bowyer
Stop Griping About Big Tech And Start Voting Your Shares... January 29, 2021 | Charles Bowyer
No, Rev. Warnock, The Bible Does Not Preach Socialism!... January 29, 2021 | Roger McKinney
Does The U.S. Actually Have Poor? January 29, 2021 | Jim Huntzinger
Incompetence Rules Blue States January 29, 2021 | Frank Vernuccio
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.