Values and ethos of the eighth-century prophets: A mizo perspective

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  • Lallawmzwala Khiangte

    Research areas

  • School of Philosophy and Religion

Abstract

This study is an attempt to illuminate the values and ethos of the eighth-century prophets - Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Micah - from the perspective of the Mizo people in Mizoram, India. The thesis is divided into seven chapters. The first chapter is an introductory chapter that deals with the survey of previous research, introduces the main objectives and the approach adopted which put this study in perspective and sharpens its focus. Chapter two is set apart to deal with the values and ethos of the tribal peoples in Northeast India with special reference to the Mizo tribe. This illuminates the fundamental tribal values and ethos and draws attention to issues which challenge their socio-cultural lives in the present context. In light of the discussion in chapter two, the values and ethos of the Hebrew tribes in the Old Testament are discussed in chapter three. Hebrew values were originally dominated by the rural communitarianism, minority peoples' worldviews and experiences of oppression and poverty. However, these traditional values were undermined by the elitist values in the period of the monarchy, which caused tension and conflict that largely formed the background of the ministry of the eighth-century prophets. In chapter four, the prophets' concepts 0 f ~~rV~ and ilPi~ in Isaiah 1 :21-26 and Amos 5:21-27 are examined in light of the Mizo socio-ethical principle known as tlawmngaihna. In chapter five, the prophets' values concerning wealth and poverty are discussed, based on Hosea 2:2-5 and Amos 6: 1-7, in light of the Mizo concept of honour and shame concerning rich and poor. In chapter six, the values defended by the prophets in the context of latifundialisation as found in Isaiah 5:8-10 and Micah 2:1-3 are analysed from the point of view of the dispossessed tribal peoples who are uprooted from their ancestral lands in India. In the concluding chapter, the mam findings of the investigation are highlighted showing that the tribal perspective can illuminate the values and ethos of the prophets in new and different ways. We also briefly discuss the significance of the findings for the Christian community in the present global context.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
Supervisors/Advisors
Thesis sponsors
  • Council for World Mission
  • Presbyterian Church of Wales
Award dateJan 2009