Sebastian Kappen

Sebastian Kappen (4 January 1924 – 30 November 1993) was an Indian

Formation and studies

Born into a traditional

Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844. This was a time when Marxism was growing in influence in his home state of Kerala

, in India.

Away from

social analysis effective instruments to understand the people's alienation

from freedom and loss of ability to contribute to the wellbeing of society.

His theological stances evoked strong criticism in traditional circles of the Church. In 1972 Kappen moved out of Jesuit large institutions and started living among the poor wherever he was posted: in

Madras and Bangalore

as well. Despite regular attempts to bring him back into regular Jesuit community life, his superiors ultimately consented to let him adopt a lifestyle more conducive to his creative writing. His locus theologicus was the people, and particularly the poor.

His studies were geared towards transformative

Bhakti Movement

. He wrote and lectured extensively on the cultural restructuring of Indian society.

Ever critical of systems, structures and institutions, Kappen felt his search was leading him beyond denominational and religious affiliations as well as political ideology. In Kappen's view, No political, religious or economic system was absolute, but were all to be valued only insofar as they serve the people. Thus, he felt that party and their ideologies, even of religious ones, could act as spiritual prisons, which he did not want to be confined in, while Jesus offered freedom.

This stance in particular brought him into conflict with Rome. In 1977, he published Jesus and Freedom, with an introduction by the Belgian priest and professor at the

Louvain University François Houtart

. The book came under official Church scrutiny. Kappen responded with a pamphlet entitled Censorship and the Future of Asian Theology. He wrote:

“I write with responsibility. There can be defects or errors in my work. I am not infallible. Responsible thinkers and scholars the world over could judge and sift my work. In public discussions we can help each other and learn from one another. That is how truth grows in history: through a social process, and not through secret censorship”.

Kappen was censured for the publication.

Kappen had been visiting professor to the

Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium) and Maryknoll Seminary (New York

).

Kappen began experiencing heart problems in the 1980s. He first quit smoking, then began slowing his intellectual pursuits. Nonetheless, he was particularly incensed by the bombing of Iraq in the

heart attack on 30 November 1993. Kappen died in Bangalore; his body was returned to Kozhikode

, where he is buried.

Writings in English

Jesus and Freedom, Orbis Books, New York, 1977.
Marxian Atheism, 1983.
Jesus and Cultural Revolution; an Asian Perspective, 1983.
Liberation Theology and Marxism, 1986.
The Future of Socialism and Socialism of the Future, Bangalore, 1992.
Jesus Today, AICUF, 1985
Tradition Modernity Counterculture, Visthar, Bangalore, 1994
Hindutva and Indian Religious Traditions, Manusham, Ettumanoor, 2000
Divine Challenge and Human Response, C S S, Tiruvalla, 2001
Jesus and Culture, ISPCK, 2002
Jesus and Society , ISPCK, 2002
Towards a Holistic Cultural Paradigm, C S S, Tiruvalla, 2003
Marx beyond Marxism, Voice Books, 2012
Ingathering, Jeevan Books, Bharananganam, Kottayam, 2013
What the Thunder Says, Jeevan Books, Bharananganam, Kottayam, 2013
Collected Works of Sebastian Kappen, ISPCK, Delhi, 2021 19

I: Jesus and Freedom and Related Essays Volume II: Marxian Atheism and Related Essays Volume III: Jesus and Cultural Revolution and Related Essays Volume IV: Liberation Theology and Marxism and Related Essays Volume V: Hindutva and Indian Religious Traditions and Related Essays Volume VI: Tradition Modernity Counterculture and Related Essays

Writings in Malayalam

Vswäsathilninnu Viplavathilèkku (From Faith to Revolution),1972.
Marxian Darsśnathinu Orämukham (An Introduction to the Philosophy of Marx), 1989
Pravachanam Prathisamskruthi (Prophecy and Counterculture),1992.
Akraistavanäya Yèśuviné Thèdi (In Search of the Non-Christian Jesus), 1999 (posthumous).