Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2026
Degree Name
Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL)
Director
Eduardo Fernandez
Abstract
Casteism remains one of the most persistent social realities in India. Although Christianity proclaims equality and fraternity, caste divisions have also entered Christian communities, weakening the Church’s witness to the reign of God proclaimed by Jesus Christ. Dalit Christians often face discrimination both within the Church and in wider society. This study examines the persistence of casteism within the Catholic context of the Archdiocese of Madurai and explores how Christian theology and social praxis can respond to this challenge. The research combines theological reflection, sociological analysis, and empirical investigation through a primary survey, interviews with clergy, and insights from Dalit activists, including those documented by Nivedita Louis.
It also engages social theories of consciousness and social transformation from Karl Marx, Doug McAdam, Ziad Munson, Antonio Gramsci, and Walter Brueggemann. These frameworks explain how dominant social narratives sustain caste hierarchies and how critical awareness can generate countercultural change.
The study argues that caste identities are reproduced through everyday social and ecclesial practices but can be disrupted through conscious counter-praxis. Drawing on Catholic Social Teaching and the theological significance of Baptism and the Eucharist, it proposes countercultural practices at family, parish, diocesan, and societal levels. A faith and justice-based social and moral awakening that acknowledges the evil of casteism in the light of God's reign is essential for transforming Catholic Christian communities of the Archdiocese of Madurai. Combined with practices that affirm human dignity, prioritize the marginalized, encourage equal participation, and promote solidarity and justice, such an awakening can help build a casteless and genuinely egalitarian society.
Recommended Citation
Titus, Antony Pushparaj Sebastian, "Toward a Casteless Church: Dismantling Caste to Further Embody the Reign of God in the Archdiocese of Madurai, India" (2026). Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations. 182.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/jst_dissertations/182
