--- layout: default title: "Religion, Culture and Power (Editorial)" description: "An editorial by A. M. Abraham Ayrookuzhiel on religion, culture and power, published in Religion and Society, Vol. 32, No. 1, March 1985." authors: ["A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel"] permalink: /amaa/religion-culture-and-power-editorial-1985-03/ categories: [A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel] created: 2026-09-04 homepage_featured: true --- **Religion, Culture and Power (Editorial)** is an editorial by [A. M. Abraham Ayrookuzhiel](/amaa/) published in *Religion and Society*, Vol. XXXII, No. 1 (March 1985). It introduces the issue's central concern with the relationship between religion, culture and power, particularly the ways in which religious and cultural systems can shape, preserve or challenge relations of power within society. Writing from the context of South Asia, Ayrookuzhiel argues that culture cannot be considered independently of religion, just as the power dimensions of religious and cultural systems cannot be ignored. He points to the often overlooked relationships involving gender, caste and other social divisions, and presents the articles in the issue as part of a new enquiry into the positive and negative roles of religion in the aspirations of oppressed sections of society. ## Overview {#overview} The editorial begins by questioning the tendency to treat culture and power as subjects separate from religion. Ayrookuzhiel observes that South Asian cultures are deeply connected with religious traditions and that the growing politicisation of religion makes the relationship between religion and power particularly difficult to overlook. His concern, however, extends beyond overt political power. He draws attention to the less visible power relationships sustained through religio-cultural systems, including those affecting relations between men and women, different caste groups and other sections of society. The issue brings together studies that examine these dimensions from different perspectives. Ayrookuzhiel highlights J. W. Gladstone's study of caste, religion and people's movements in Kerala, K. J. Baby's account of the effects of a religio-cultural system on an outside community, and his own study of the power dimensions of village Hindu religion in relation to the aspirations of the so-called untouchable community. The editorial also discusses Nirmal Minz's study of Kurukh (Oraon) Christian lyrics. Although the article is not directly framed within the theme of religion, culture and power, Ayrookuzhiel sees questions of cultural expression, translation and the development of an indigenous Christian theology as relevant to the broader concerns of the issue. ## Editorial {#editorial}
We cannot think of 'culture' in the South Asian context independently of religions. Our cultures are inherently born out of our religions and dominated by them. In recent years, it is becoming increasingly clearer that we cannot think of 'power' independently of religions. Newspapers and popular journals speak of the growing politicisation of religions. Examples of political conflicts arising out of religio-cultural factors are so well known that they need no mention. Yet our religionists and theologians are silent about the power dimensions of religio-cultural systems as if by a common conspiracy; but the truth is that they are too ill-equipped to deal with them. They are so used to presenting religions as meaning systems of an ideal nature. The political power dimension of religions is too flagrantly manifest to be hidden. What is not so manifest is the power relations promoted or maintained by the religio-cultural meaning systems, either by themselves or in interaction with other economic and educational factors in human relations within a society, whether it be between man and woman, between different caste groups or other sub-sections of the society. The articles appearing in this number deal with some of these hidden power dimensions of religions. It is the beginning of a new search by the CISRS to understand the negative and positive roles played by religions in the context of the aspirations of the oppressed sections within the society in our country. Dr. J. W. Gladstone in his article 'Caste, Religion and People's Movements in Kerala' throws light on the existence of power conflicts not only between different religions but also within the same religious tradition. It may take religious movements as well as secular factors to bring about positive change in situations of unjust distribution of power. K. J. Baby in his study 'Lost to the World, Lost to the Selves, Lost' gives us a moving example of how the religio-cultural system of an outside group can destroy the self-identity of a community of people. A.M.A. Ayrookuzhiel in his article probes into the power dimensions of village Hindu religion, particularly in relation to the aspirations of the so-called untouchable community. As a document we have given the final statement and recommendations of an International Conference held at Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Madras, January 3–8, 1985, co-sponsored by the CISRS on 'Emerging Consciousness for a New Humankind.' Judging by the author's intention, the article 'Theology of Kurukh (Oraon) Christian Lyrics' by Bishop Nirmal Minz does not fall within the framework of the theme of this number. It is a study of the theology of the Christian lyrics composed by the early converts of the Kurukh community. It is a kind of stock-taking needed by any Christian community in its search for an authentic theology. All the same, the negative sentiments expressed in the lyrics on the way of life prior to the conversion of the community to its new faith, the celebration of the people's new vocation, the recent tendency to eliminate the translations of German hymns from Kurukh Dandi, the desire of the author for greater indigenous cultural expression in the celebration of the community's faith etc.—points raised in the article, point to the Religion, Culture and Power dynamics—the theme of this number. In any theology this aspect has to be brought out explicitly and reflected upon in the light of the basic tenets of the faith of the community.

— A. M. A. A.

## Publication {#publication} This editorial was published in *Religion and Society*, Vol. XXXII, No. 1, March 1985, pp. 1–2. The issue is centred on the theme *Religion, Culture and Power* and also contains articles by J. W. Gladstone, K. J. Baby and Nirmal Minz, along with a book review and a document containing the final statement and recommendations of the International Conference on Emerging Consciousness for a New Humankind. {% include navbox-amaa.html %}