Papers by Francis Jr. Samdao
Asia Journal of Theology, 2024
I argue that Karl Barth (1886-1968) is a contextual theologian who can be an interlocutor in... more I argue that Karl Barth (1886-1968) is a contextual theologian who can be an interlocutor in contextualization and decoloniality in Asia. While Barth is seen as antithetical to natural theology, which may imply opposition to contextual theologies, his theology is nevertheless contextual since he was fully engaged with the mood of his time while proclaiming that God turned his face toward humanity. In this article, I will draw on his concept of actualism found in his Church Dogmatics II. I contend that actualism calls us to 1) go beyond the translation approach, 2) respond to God’s revelation through contextualization and decolonization, and 3) consider God as the main subject and object in our contextual and decolonial endeavors in Asia.
Evangelical Review of Theology 48, no. 2 (May 2024): 167-176., 2024
Philippine Journal of Religious Studies 4, (2024): 43-58., 2024
Asia Journal of Theology, 2023
This essay places James K. A. Smith's homo liturgicus (liturgical human) in conversation with the... more This essay places James K. A. Smith's homo liturgicus (liturgical human) in conversation with the Filipino concept of pagkatao (personhood). For Smith, humans are desiring creatures, and they are formed through practices, daily routines, cultural texts, and the liturgical sites where they spend their time. Smith's proposals within his homo liturgicus are not alien to the Filipino worldview. Filipinos see a person holistically and view reality as dynamic, which manifests in the pagkataong Pilipino (Filipino personhood), particularly the loob (the core of personhood) and kapwa (the shared self). Furthermore, the formation of a human being is not only through the ideas that enter the mind but also via cultural texts (songs, comics, movies, drama, proverbs, stories, and others). I argue that homo liturgicus and pagkatao reject Cartesian thought, specifically the naturalistic view of reality, the overemphasis on cognition, and extreme individualism. I then propose a Filipino Christian spirituality that is post-cognitive, post-individual, and post-dualist.
Asia Journal of Theology 35, no. 2, 2021
This article brings out some aspects of the Cordilleran primal spirituality of the northern Phili... more This article brings out some aspects of the Cordilleran primal spirituality of the northern Philippines and two vital lessons for Evangelicals influenced by the Enlightenment worldview. Evangelicals in the West tend to dichotomize the supernatural realm and the natural world. Their propositional spirituality and individualistic lens have shaped many Filipino Evangelicals. In this essay, I use a hermeneutic of appreciation of culture since it is a vital interlocutor of Christian theology. I argue that Cordilleran spirituality has something to contribute to evangelical Christianity. Of particular interest are the Cordilleran view of the existence of spirits and their hermeneutical community.
Evangelical Review of Theology 45, 1, 2021
Baptists are a particularly diverse stream of Christians, partly because their theological convic... more Baptists are a particularly diverse stream of Christians, partly because their theological convictions empower individual decision making. This article discusses colourfully how the diversity of Baptists is reflected in the Philippines today. It seeks to articulate the core features of the Baptist identity and encourages Baptists both to enrich and to be open to learning from other parts of the body of Christ rather than isolating themselves.
Evangelical Review of Theology 46, 1 , 2002
How do we present the Christian faith so as to be sensitive and accommodating to local cultures w... more How do we present the Christian faith so as to be sensitive and accommodating to local cultures while not obscuring the non-negotiable truths of the gospel? This article, authored in an Asian context but with worldwide relevance, offers guidance on fulfilling both of those imperatives.
Mercer University Press, 2023
Book Reviews by Francis Jr. Samdao
Evangelical Review of Theology, 2021
A Book Review
Themelios 48, issue 1 (April 2023): 227-228., 2023
This is a review of James Edwards, Christ is Time: The Gospel according to Karl Barth (and the Re... more This is a review of James Edwards, Christ is Time: The Gospel according to Karl Barth (and the Red Hot Chili Peppers) (Cascade, 2022).
Asia Journal of Theology 36, no. 2, 2022
Most theology students are familiar with Barth's Nein (No!) to natural theology. It was his respo... more Most theology students are familiar with Barth's Nein (No!) to natural theology. It was his response to his dialogue partner, Emil Brunner. The latter believed that Barth's theology disregarded human responsibility. Therefore, to argue for an anthropological center in Barth's theology seems odd, but Hauerwas argues in his book that Barth's Christocentric theology is not detached from anthropology. The latter is rooted in the former because it is impossible to understand our "humanism" apart from our relationship with God revealed in Jesus Christ.
Evangelical Review of Theology 47, no. 1, 2023
This is a book review. The volume's strength lies not only in the authors’ various perspectives b... more This is a book review. The volume's strength lies not only in the authors’ various perspectives but also in the attempt to use Barth as a conversation partner in addressing political issues in the West and Asia.
Themelios 47, 2022
A Review of James K. A. Smith's The Nicene Option: An Incarnational Phenomenology
Asia Journal of Theology, 2021
A review of Miller's book, "Chrysostom’s Devil: Demons, the Will, and Virtue in Patristic Soterio... more A review of Miller's book, "Chrysostom’s Devil: Demons, the Will, and Virtue in Patristic Soteriology."
Southeastern Theological Review, 2022
ASIA JOURNAL OF THEOLOGY, 2023
Anglican Theological Review 105 Issue 3, 2023
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Papers by Francis Jr. Samdao
Book Reviews by Francis Jr. Samdao