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Roy Lazar

University of Madras, Christian Studies, Faculty Member

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Professor for Practical/Pastoral Theology. Doctorate in Pastoral Theology, Post-Doc.(Habilitation) from Wuerzburg University, Germany. Areas of specialisation: Pastoral Praxis, Pastoral theological methods, Peace Pastoral, Inter-Faith Dialogue, Mimetic Theory and Christian Nonviolence, etc.
Phone: 0091 7358572199
Address: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

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Papers by Roy Lazar

Spirituality in the Corporate World

Go to Joseph & let us Go with St.Joseph

A Theory of Religious Praxis in India

International Journal of Practical Theology

This article introduces Practical Theology as an academic discipline by tracing down its historic... more This article introduces Practical Theology as an academic discipline by tracing down its historical development in the West that inspired its emergence in the Indian context. From a Cinderella of theology, this youngest discipline has emerged as a very important critical theory validating every branch of theology thanks to its innovative approaches and effective methodologies. Part I is laying the foundation to trace down the tenets of Indian Practical Theology in Part II.

A Theory of Religious Praxis in India

International Journal of Practical Theology

This article introduces Practical Theology as an academic discipline by tracing down its historic... more This article introduces Practical Theology as an academic discipline by tracing down its historical development in the West that inspired its emergence in the Indian context. From a Cinderella of theology, this youngest discipline has emerged as a very important critical theory validating every branch of theology thanks to its innovative approaches and effective methodologies. Part I is laying the foundation to trace down the tenets of Indian Practical Theology in Part II.

A Theory of Religious Praxis in India

International Journal of Practical Theology

This article introduces Practical Theology as an academic discipline by tracing down its historic... more This article introduces Practical Theology as an academic discipline by tracing down its historical development in the West that inspired its emergence in the Indian context. From a Cinderella of theology, this youngest discipline has emerged as a very important critical theory validating every branch of theology thanks to its innovative approaches and effective methodologies. Part I is laying the foundation to trace down the tenets of Indian Practical Theology in Part II.

Way of the Cross - Pathway to Holiness. Tamil.docx

njhlf;fg;ghly; ககககககககககககக ககககககக கககககக -2 ககக ககககககக ககககககககக கககககககககக ககககககககக 1. கககக... more njhlf;fg;ghly; ககககககககககககக ககககககக கககககக -2 ககக ககககககக ககககககககக கககககககககக ககககககககக 1. கககககககக கககககக ககககககக ககககககக ககககககக ககககக கககககககக கககககககககக கககககககக கககக ககக (2) 2. கககககககககக ககககககககககக ககககககக கககககககக கககககக கககககககக ககககககக ககககக ககககககககக ககககககககக ககககககக (2) 3. ககககக கககககக ககக கககககக ககககககக -ககககக கககககககககக கககககககககக ககககககககக ககககககககக (2)

Five Years of Pope Francis – Insights for Indian Christians

Assisi had rendered the name to the new Pope! My joys found no boundaries! A Jesuit from a Latin ... more Assisi had rendered the name to the new Pope! My joys found no boundaries! A Jesuit from a Latin American country, who finished the second best in 2005 conclave however, who was written off as his time was over and who had come with the return ticket and leaving his Chrism Mass Homily on the table ready in order to return home on 18 th March to be in time to celebrate the feast of St. Joseph in his own cathedral, is now the new Pope! From the moment of his first appearance on the window of the papal residence he appealed to me as 'the man of the time'. This paper presents a few insights from the five years of his papacy to enhance the pastoral praxis of the Church in India.

Pope Francis' Spirituality of Pastoral Care. 1. I am a Sinner!.docx

Pope Francis' Spirituality of Pastoral Care explores his basic attitude of being sinful to reciev... more

Pope Francis' Spirituality of Pastoral Care.3. Don't forget the poor!.docx

Poverty is the source of Pope Francis' spirituality of pastoral care.

Pope Francis' Spirituality of Pastoral Care.2. I shall be called Francis!.docx

Pope Francis' Name is pradigmatic. It explains his spirituality of pastoral care.

René Girard and Religious Roots of Communal Violence (A Girardian Analysis of the Roots of Religious Violence in Ramayana and Mahabharata

The proverbial spirit of tolerance and amicable coexistence of various religions is facing an aci... more The proverbial spirit of tolerance and amicable coexistence of various religions is facing an acid text in India today. Emergence of religious outfits with a strong lobby for fundamentalism and saffron-clad patriotism threaten the integrity of the nation. The growth of communal violence induced by religious demands various measures to understand the problem and to find steps for building up communal harmony and peace. This article seeks to examine the normative justification of the problem by analysing the ancient religious texts especially Ramayana and Mahabharata. In these texts, desire and imitation are the beginning of hatred and enmity, which lead to chaos and conflict in the society inviting redemptive violence. Hence, the texts of the two epics are analysed with Girardian categories in order to arrive at new knowledge about the roots of religious violence and to propose measures for communal harmony and peace. Religious Violence in India Today India is a melting pot of many civilisations and a cradle of many religions, which are still vibrant and practiced by a large population on the globe. However, the long history of religious tolerance and communal harmony and also the success of ahisma, thanks to Gandhi's leadership, seem to have had very little impact on the people today. However, the relation among the religions in India had not been always peaceful and amicable. There had been disputes and domination among the religions and religious subgroups ending in violent wars. The pages of India's history are smeared red quickened by the arrival of Islam and Christianity, which are linked to India's colonial heritage. Though Islam, with second largest population of the country, has become part of the mosaic of Indian culture and social fabric, the encounter between Islam and India has not been without bitter memories. The gory genocide of 1947 during the partition of India and Pakistan is often compared with the Nazi massacre during the II World War. The religious sentiments sustained by sacred texts could be traced down to the brutal behaviour of civic society at all levels including that of the events during independence. " The Vedic reverence for violence flowered in the slaughters that followed Partition. " 1 Though not so violent, the relation between India and Christianity has not been always on the smooth grounds. Over the centuries, there has been a significant assimilation of Hindu and Muslim as well as Hindu and Christian cultures across India and the followers of both the so called 'foreign' religions have played a significant role in the growth of the country and the integration of all the religious communities. However, they are still associated with the colonial age and looked at with suspicion and at times also with hatred. They are often considered a threat to the nation's cultural as well as political unity.2 Unfortunately, religious violence is still very much a part of the recent history of the country.3 The mosaic of the Indian 1 Wendy Doniger, (2009) The Hindus. An Alternative History. NY: Penguin , p. 627

Why do they kill us?

Reasons for violence against Christians! How to respond to such persecution.

Jesus Christ is God and Human and the Second Person in the Trinity was born as a human being, was... more Jesus Christ is God and Human and the Second Person in the Trinity was born as a human being, was crucified due to his ministry of establishing God's reign here on earth. But he rose again from the dead on the day. This is the basis of the Christian faith. But there are some media propaganda on and off to claim that he was in India! Is it true? The article deals with this question!

Re-visioning Reformation Today!

Catholic Christian Response to Reformation after 500 years!

Ghar Waspi - Which or Whose Home?

Responding the Ghar Wapsi theologically!

A Search for Agrarian Theology

An Attempt for a Theology of Agriculture in the Context of the Increasing Number Suicides Among t... more

Jesus' Approach to the Subalterns!

Practical Theology of Liberation. How did Jesus respond to the sufferings of the exploited poor p... more

A Theory of Praxis

This article introduces Indian Practical Theology.

Challenges and Prospects of Interfaith Dialogue

Challenges and Prospects of Interfaith Dialogue in a Postmodern Multi-religious Context (Interfai... more

Christian Spirituality - Roman Catholic Perspective

Spirituality is the foundation of one's life and his value system. It is built on one's beliefs a... more

Spirituality in the Corporate World

Go to Joseph & let us Go with St.Joseph

A Theory of Religious Praxis in India

International Journal of Practical Theology

This article introduces Practical Theology as an academic discipline by tracing down its historic... more This article introduces Practical Theology as an academic discipline by tracing down its historical development in the West that inspired its emergence in the Indian context. From a Cinderella of theology, this youngest discipline has emerged as a very important critical theory validating every branch of theology thanks to its innovative approaches and effective methodologies. Part I is laying the foundation to trace down the tenets of Indian Practical Theology in Part II.

A Theory of Religious Praxis in India

International Journal of Practical Theology

This article introduces Practical Theology as an academic discipline by tracing down its historic... more This article introduces Practical Theology as an academic discipline by tracing down its historical development in the West that inspired its emergence in the Indian context. From a Cinderella of theology, this youngest discipline has emerged as a very important critical theory validating every branch of theology thanks to its innovative approaches and effective methodologies. Part I is laying the foundation to trace down the tenets of Indian Practical Theology in Part II.

A Theory of Religious Praxis in India

International Journal of Practical Theology

This article introduces Practical Theology as an academic discipline by tracing down its historic... more This article introduces Practical Theology as an academic discipline by tracing down its historical development in the West that inspired its emergence in the Indian context. From a Cinderella of theology, this youngest discipline has emerged as a very important critical theory validating every branch of theology thanks to its innovative approaches and effective methodologies. Part I is laying the foundation to trace down the tenets of Indian Practical Theology in Part II.

Way of the Cross - Pathway to Holiness. Tamil.docx

njhlf;fg;ghly; ககககககககககககக ககககககக கககககக -2 ககக ககககககக ககககககககக கககககககககக ககககககககக 1. கககக... more njhlf;fg;ghly; ககககககககககககக ககககககக கககககக -2 ககக ககககககக ககககககககக கககககககககக ககககககககக 1. கககககககக கககககக ககககககக ககககககக ககககககக ககககக கககககககக கககககககககக கககககககக கககக ககக (2) 2. கககககககககக ககககககககககக ககககககக கககககககக கககககக கககககககக ககககககக ககககக ககககககககக ககககககககக ககககககக (2) 3. ககககக கககககக ககக கககககக ககககககக -ககககக கககககககககக கககககககககக ககககககககக ககககககககக (2)

Five Years of Pope Francis – Insights for Indian Christians

Assisi had rendered the name to the new Pope! My joys found no boundaries! A Jesuit from a Latin ... more Assisi had rendered the name to the new Pope! My joys found no boundaries! A Jesuit from a Latin American country, who finished the second best in 2005 conclave however, who was written off as his time was over and who had come with the return ticket and leaving his Chrism Mass Homily on the table ready in order to return home on 18 th March to be in time to celebrate the feast of St. Joseph in his own cathedral, is now the new Pope! From the moment of his first appearance on the window of the papal residence he appealed to me as 'the man of the time'. This paper presents a few insights from the five years of his papacy to enhance the pastoral praxis of the Church in India.

Pope Francis' Spirituality of Pastoral Care. 1. I am a Sinner!.docx

Pope Francis' Spirituality of Pastoral Care explores his basic attitude of being sinful to reciev... more

Pope Francis' Spirituality of Pastoral Care.3. Don't forget the poor!.docx

Poverty is the source of Pope Francis' spirituality of pastoral care.

Pope Francis' Spirituality of Pastoral Care.2. I shall be called Francis!.docx

Pope Francis' Name is pradigmatic. It explains his spirituality of pastoral care.

René Girard and Religious Roots of Communal Violence (A Girardian Analysis of the Roots of Religious Violence in Ramayana and Mahabharata

The proverbial spirit of tolerance and amicable coexistence of various religions is facing an aci... more The proverbial spirit of tolerance and amicable coexistence of various religions is facing an acid text in India today. Emergence of religious outfits with a strong lobby for fundamentalism and saffron-clad patriotism threaten the integrity of the nation. The growth of communal violence induced by religious demands various measures to understand the problem and to find steps for building up communal harmony and peace. This article seeks to examine the normative justification of the problem by analysing the ancient religious texts especially Ramayana and Mahabharata. In these texts, desire and imitation are the beginning of hatred and enmity, which lead to chaos and conflict in the society inviting redemptive violence. Hence, the texts of the two epics are analysed with Girardian categories in order to arrive at new knowledge about the roots of religious violence and to propose measures for communal harmony and peace. Religious Violence in India Today India is a melting pot of many civilisations and a cradle of many religions, which are still vibrant and practiced by a large population on the globe. However, the long history of religious tolerance and communal harmony and also the success of ahisma, thanks to Gandhi's leadership, seem to have had very little impact on the people today. However, the relation among the religions in India had not been always peaceful and amicable. There had been disputes and domination among the religions and religious subgroups ending in violent wars. The pages of India's history are smeared red quickened by the arrival of Islam and Christianity, which are linked to India's colonial heritage. Though Islam, with second largest population of the country, has become part of the mosaic of Indian culture and social fabric, the encounter between Islam and India has not been without bitter memories. The gory genocide of 1947 during the partition of India and Pakistan is often compared with the Nazi massacre during the II World War. The religious sentiments sustained by sacred texts could be traced down to the brutal behaviour of civic society at all levels including that of the events during independence. " The Vedic reverence for violence flowered in the slaughters that followed Partition. " 1 Though not so violent, the relation between India and Christianity has not been always on the smooth grounds. Over the centuries, there has been a significant assimilation of Hindu and Muslim as well as Hindu and Christian cultures across India and the followers of both the so called 'foreign' religions have played a significant role in the growth of the country and the integration of all the religious communities. However, they are still associated with the colonial age and looked at with suspicion and at times also with hatred. They are often considered a threat to the nation's cultural as well as political unity.2 Unfortunately, religious violence is still very much a part of the recent history of the country.3 The mosaic of the Indian 1 Wendy Doniger, (2009) The Hindus. An Alternative History. NY: Penguin , p. 627

Why do they kill us?

Reasons for violence against Christians! How to respond to such persecution.

Jesus Christ is God and Human and the Second Person in the Trinity was born as a human being, was... more Jesus Christ is God and Human and the Second Person in the Trinity was born as a human being, was crucified due to his ministry of establishing God's reign here on earth. But he rose again from the dead on the day. This is the basis of the Christian faith. But there are some media propaganda on and off to claim that he was in India! Is it true? The article deals with this question!

Re-visioning Reformation Today!

Catholic Christian Response to Reformation after 500 years!

Ghar Waspi - Which or Whose Home?

Responding the Ghar Wapsi theologically!

A Search for Agrarian Theology

An Attempt for a Theology of Agriculture in the Context of the Increasing Number Suicides Among t... more

Jesus' Approach to the Subalterns!

Practical Theology of Liberation. How did Jesus respond to the sufferings of the exploited poor p... more

A Theory of Praxis

This article introduces Indian Practical Theology.

Challenges and Prospects of Interfaith Dialogue

Challenges and Prospects of Interfaith Dialogue in a Postmodern Multi-religious Context (Interfai... more

Christian Spirituality - Roman Catholic Perspective

Spirituality is the foundation of one's life and his value system. It is built on one's beliefs a... more

Christ is alive Way of the Cross with Pope Francis for the Young People 2020.in Tamil.0302 65276 lxupm5

Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Vellore, 2020

Way of the Cross meditation with Pope Francis for the young people. Meditation texts are from "Ch... more

Way of the Cross Paved with Acts of Mercy

Way of the Cross meditation with texts from Misaericordiae Vultus and impulses for practicing the... more

Go to Joseph & let us Go with St.Joseph

Reflections on the Spirituality of St. Joseph

"கிறிஸ்து வாழ்கிறார்" Pope பிரான்சிஸின் தடங்களில் ஒரு Way of the Cross

It is a Way of the Cross meditation with words of Pope Francis!

"கிறிஸ்து வாழ்கிறார்" Pope பிரான்சிஸின் தடங்களில் ஒரு Way of the Cross for the Youth!

It is a Way of the Cross meditation with the texts from Pope Francis' "Christus vivit".

Way of the Cross = Pathway to Holiness

Our Lady of Presentation Church, 2019

Inspirational Texts from Gaudete et Exultate (GE) for Meditation on the Stations of the Cross

Way of the Cross=Pathway to Holiness tam

Meditation on the Stations of the Cross inspired by Pope Francis' Exhortation: Gaudete et Exultate

Way of the Cross - Pathway to Holiness. Tamil.docx

Lenten practice of piety to pray the way of the cross

Way of the Cross = Pathway to Holiness/Happiness. Meditation based on the Inspirational Texts from Gaudete et Exultate (GE) for Meditation on the Stations of the Cross

Way of the Cross meditation for the holiness in today's world. The inspirational texts were taken... more

Theory of Praxis in India. Practical Theology in a Multi- religious Context

The first part of this article already published in 'International Journal of Practical Theology'... more The first part of this article already published in 'International Journal of Practical Theology' dealt with the theory of praxis in general describing different approaches in pastoral care and various methods in theological reflection. And it ended with a question is there any ‘theological method’ that could be called specifically ‘Indian’. Part II proceeds from this clue to explore the growth, Sitz im Leben, content and the unique characteristics of Practical Theology in Indian context.

Pope Francis' Spirituality of Pastoral Care.4. Pastoral Leadership

Explores the leadership style of Pope Francis.

It is only a beginning...Jan.2017.docx

Jallikattu, people's democracy, students' power, makkal movement

Praxis of Pastoral Care in Tamil Nadu Church.Tamil Article.pdf

Analysis of the Praxis of Pastoral Care in Tamil Nadu Catholic Church.

Pastoral Leadership Style of Pope Francis

It describes the leadership style of Pope Francis. He accepted and appreciated as a global leader... more

Pastoral Spirituality of Pope Francis

Describes the pastoral spirituality of Pope Francis. It is summary of his retreat talks to priest... more

Pastoral Care in the Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu.(Tamil).Tamizhaga Arulpani Choozhal.Tamil Article.pdf

An appraisal of pastoral care in the Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu. Explains different pastoral a... more

Irai Irakkathin Siluvai Pathai (Tamil: Way of the Cross Paved with Acts of Mercy)

Meditation on the Way of the Cross with texts from Misaericordiae Vultus of Pope Francis in order... more