No.3, September - December 2003

Editorial

As Christmas approaches, I bring you a sincere greeting on behalf of the WSCF-AP region. 

We are living in the era of uncertainties created by war, terror, violence and conflicts.  In this time of uncertainties, as a community of Christian students, we have been challenged to discern the signs of time in order to bring hope for peace to the world and to transform our society into a more justpeace oriented community.   I would like to encourage you to reflect all these challenges from the vision and hope as Jesus did so throughout his whole life. 

In Perspective I of this issue, we include Dr. George Mathew Nalunnakkal ‘s article, ”Reading the Signs of Our Time: Theological Perspective”.  To search for a new society, George introduces a concept of the Trinitarian God that provides a model of a community being.  He spells out that the Trinitarian concept in the Asian context is very critical as the concept essentially contains a pluralistic connotation in it.   In understanding Jesus, he emphasizes that the whole Christ-event was Jesus’ act of living out the divine manifesto of the liberation of the poor and the oppressed.  George also highlights non-violence as Jesus’ way of love in action.  He concludes, “So long as the exilic experiences of poverty, racism, sexism, globalisation and other forms of exploitation and violence continue to haunt us, we need to hold on to a vision of continual eschatology, a realised eschatology of overcoming exilic states of violence through the non-violent, exodusic way of the cross.”

In Perspective II, we invite Dr. Hope Antone again to articulate “Peace Education” from the pluralistic context in which the Asia is situated.  As education is being commercialised to serve the sole interest of the market, it is imperative to re-affirm that one critical goal of education is to bring peace and justice in the society.

In the Solidarity page, Mr. Mak Chung Lai reflected on his Human Rights and Peace Internship in the Philippines, particularly with poor communities in Manila.   In Women’s Space, Ms. Norma Dollaga presented a bible study on women’s struggle, courage and hope for the women’s programme, Women Doing Theology 2003.

May God’s blessing and peace be always with you.

Shin Seung Min
Regional Secretary