Towards A Theology of Universality - John Wesley's Socio-Economic, Political & Moral Insights On British Class & Indian Case Distinctions

Theology is a Universal phenomenon, which can be developed by anyone, from anywhere to explore relationships with God and fellow beings, in order to address any issue relating to human rights and dignity. Theology of Universality is a power, a power for those who have been politically oppressed, economically exploited and socially discriminated since ages in the past, to enable them to see a common ground for a common humanity. It is to empower the powerless, to be united for a common cause irrespective of their caste/class, colour, creed and religion.

The Book examines Theology of Universality from a Christian perspective in general, with a special focus on John Wesley's Theology. It is an attempt to unfold his theological convictions, which inspired him to develop his theological response to the Class Distinctions in Society and the slave trade in particular during the Eighteenth Century. Further, it unfolds Wesley's Theology in Indian context, to see how it can be put to action to confront the evils like Status-quo, Caste Discrimination in Social, Economic, Political and Religious chains of Hinduism.

Therefore, Universal implications are drawn from Wesley's Theology of justice, love, compassion, equality, human dignity and image of God to the Indian context. Thus, the Author presents a broad solution to have a common humanity so that everyone can live with dignity. It is also a Universal torch that projects a light that will enshrine any sensible person in India to be a positive voice to talk about God. It encourages them to understand that human dignity is the right of all to be "Liberated HARI-JANAS" transformed children of God in the modern Indian society.

Rev. Dr. Joseph Basappa Suray received his theological degrees: B.Theo (1984), B.D (1985), M.Th (1993) from Senate of Serampore College, India. He gained a CLAIT (1996) from Manchester, a Ph.D. degree (1998) from Manchester University, U.K.

He has an experience of Christian ministry both nationally and internationally. Presently, he is teaching at The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, Birmingham, UK. Also, he is the Founder and Chairman of Cross Roads for Human Development Charity, both in India & UK.

I welcome this book from the hand and scholarship of an Indian Methodist. This is a courageous, commendable, insightful and important piece of work. I hope it will inspire similar scholarship from others.

Joseph Suray has developed "Towards a Theology of Universality" on the teachings of John Wesley. He has shown the disgraces of Caste Discrimination in Indian Societies, Class Discrimination in British societies, the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, and Bonded Labour System; in the light of John Wesley's Doctrine of "Prevenient Grace". The Author, though also acknowledges that Wesley never visited India.

For Wesley, "Prevenient Grace" is the insistence that God blesses all people with the gift of grace. It is prevenient in the sense that no one brings grace to anyone. Grace is the initiative and gift of God, and prevenient grace is a sign of the "light which enlightens everyone" [John 1:9]. This is a special Methodist reflection on religious experience, and an important eighteenth century contribution to interfaith dialogue and theology relevant today. The concept of prevenient grace challenges us all to acknowledge the presence and work of God beyond the Christian Faith, and to examine what evangelism means in a world of many religions. Sri Lankan Methodist theologian Wesley Ariarajah suggests that the evangelistic task is to help all people to move "from grace to grace".

My attention to this subject, as a field of considerable interest and importance, was drawn when I was teaching in South India Biblical Seminary in Bangarapet and Union Biblical Seminary in Pune, both in India.

The interest for the topic comes from my own upbringing, having come from a Dalit backgound in a Caste-Dominated society. Along with millions of other out-castes, I have continuously been subject to the oppression of the Higher Castes both in Politics and Church. I have been grappling with how to achieve basic human rights and equality for all. Because of this, I began looking into other societies where there was a near parallel system, and how those in authority dealt with it and those who were subject to this oppression.

It was at this point that I saw the relevance of my situation with that of Eighteenth Century England. My interest for this topic was fired up as I realised that John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, to which I belong had not come from a "Higher Caste" and was not brought up in the same environment as myself. Therefore, this Doctoral Research is a response to my own situation applying John Wesley's attitude and actions against Eighteenth Century Class Distinctions in English Society, focusing primarily on the Slave Trade.