VINCENT
KUNDUKULAM
Pontifical Institute, Alwaye
.jpg)
Paper Title: "Two Identity Builders in Amity and Enmity: Religion and Politics"
Abstract
The relation between religion and politics continues to be both affable and quarrelling
in diverse parts of the world depending upon the various factors shaping human
identity and destiny. In some countries, politicians ever
more accept religion as one of the sources of their ideological profile whereas
in some others religious commitments create conflicts
with the political bodies. As far as the religious and political scientists are
concerned it is their prime duty to understand the causes and effects of
the increasing acceptance of various religions by the political arena on the
one hand, and to discover the reasons for friction between politicians and
religious exponents in various cultural, social, and political environments, on
the other. This article is a humble attempt to survey
the elements that cause both amity and enmity between religion and politics and
proposes some ways in which these social institutions may intersect for their
own benefit and for the well-being of humanity.
Vincent Kundukulam is Professor of ‘Theology and Religious Sciences’ in
the Pontifical Institute Alwaye (PIA), and at present its President. He has his
doctorate from the Sorbonne University, Paris and Post-doctoral from the
Catholic Institute, Paris. His specialization is in the areas of Hindutva,
Theology of Religions and Postmodernity. He teaches at different faculties in
India and is a Research Guide at MG University, Kottayam. He
is an Editorial Board Member of a few scientific journals and columnist in Light of Truth and Satyadeepam. He has authored seven books and over 70 articles in French, English and
Malayalam.