A Critical Reading of C.S. Song’s Asian Third-eye Liberation Theology for a Myanmar Intercontextual Liberation Theology of Pyithu-dukkha

Abstract

Choan-Seng Song appeared when Asian theology was largely unknown to the world. He is one of the foremost Asian theologians to sing an Asian melody in a contextual key. His theology, however, is largely ignored today. This article rediscovers a new voice in Song for Asian contemporary theology. It pays particular attention to Song’s conceptualization and contextualization of Christology and its implications for his renowned hermeneutics of Asian Third-eye liberation theology. The author puts Song in a dialectical dialogue with his new hermeneutics of a Myanmar intercontextual liberation theology of Pyithu-dukkha and argues that liberation theology is deeply grounded in our spiritual and social reflection on God’s orthopathy (heart) and orthopraxy (hand). The article concludes by going with and beyond Song’s vision of Asian liberation as limited to the oppressed by proposing an inclusive liberation of both the oppressed and the oppressors. It shows how such an inclusive liberation can be attainable for a mutual vision of liberation from and liberation for. It is suggested that Asian Third-eye liberation theology should be reconceptualized and recontextualized as an orthopathic and orthopraxic theology that gives witness to the compassion and passion of Jesus Christ who takes a stand with the oppressed, resists and reconciles the oppressors for an embracive communion with him and with one another by the healing power of the Spirit.