ONE OF the other visions of UST by the time of its quadricentennial is to transform itself into a Center for Contextualized Theology in Asia. The University took a step closer in achieving this goal when it created a Center for Contextualized Theology and Ethics (CCTE) in 2001.
And to further speed up the plan, UST Rector Rev. Fr. Tamerlane Lana, O.P., plans to separate the CCTE into a Center for Contextual Theology (CCT) and Center for Applied Ethics. The former would be renamed as the “John Paul Research Center for the Sacred Sciences” while the latter would retain its old name.
According to Lana, this would allow the University to focus on the two fields, particularly Contextual Theology.
“The center would only be a Center for Contextualized Theology in Asia if it can reach out to the neighboring countries of the Philippines,” Lana said. “Aside from focusing on Ecumenical Theology, Theology of Social Transformation and Inculturation, the center will engage in dialogues with other Asian religions.”
He explained that reaching out to well-established religions in Asia such as Buddhism, Confucianism, and Islam, is necessary for contextual theology.
Lana also said that the CCT would also be in line with UST extension campuses both, particularly in Mindanao and Sri Lanka.
Vehicles of faith
Social Research Center (SRC) Director Dr. Ernesto Gonzales, head of the General Santos extension project, said the campus would be “strategically” located in Mindanao as it is right in the hub of the conflict between Christians and Muslims.
“Once the research center there has been established, we can begin engaging in dialogues with the Muslims in the area,” Gonzales said, adding that there are several Muslims in the area who are willing engage in interfaith dialogue.
“This would give us a better understanding of their religion and could be an avenue for peace between the two religions which, in the long run, could be beneficial to our country,” he said.
Gonzales added that international institutions in the USA have intentions to put up research networks in the area to have a better understanding of the Muslim culture.
Also, according to Gonzales, the SRC is working out a memorandum of agreement with the Archbishop of Indonesia, to allow exchange researchers between UST and Indonesia.
Graduate School Dean Dr. Lilian Sison, head of the committee managing the Sri Lanka extension campus, said that UST Sri Lanka would provide inter-faith dialogue through education.
At present, 70 per cent of the population are Buddhists, 15 per cent are Hindi, seven per cent are Moslems, and eight percent or about 1.5 million are Christians.
She also added that inter-faith dialogues would also be a “tool for peace” as the religions in the area have conflicts with each other.
Last year, the anti-conversion act, a controversial bill was pushed by some Buddhists and Hindis in the Sri Lankan Parliament, seeking to restrict any conversions to other religions, but was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court as it violated freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
The creation of the CCTE was pursuant to a mandate given by the Dominican General Chapter, the highest legislative body of the Dominican Order.
“Contextualized theology is a relatively new field. So we have to develop expertise on that,” the Rector said. “We can only be a true Center for Contextualized Theology if we are able to dialogue with other religions and draw theological reflections out of those dialogues,” Lana said.
