Page 31 - thesis_biby_tharayil

PART TWO
A PASTORAL AND MORAL ANALYSIS OF
THE SOUTHIST FAMILY TRADITIONS

3.5 Cultural Heritage of the Southists
Since The Southists claim to descend from Jewish-Christian
ancestors of Babylonian origin and they have maintained an ethnical
identity, they have a unique cultural identity. 1 The Church has recognized
such cultural pluralism. Accordingly, this cultural pluralism does not
“necessarily harm the life of faith; rather it can stimulate the mind to a
2
deeper and more accurate understanding of the faith”. The Southist or
Knānāya community has a strong Jewish cultural and ceremonial
3
background. Since Southists are Jewish-Christians who rooted and
flourished on Indian soil, they have a culture that is three-fold in its sources:
Jewish, Christian and Indian. This phenomenon was preserved down
4
through the centuries.

3.6 Religious and Moral Traditions of Southist Families
As a community, the Southists (Knānites) have many special
ceremonies related to various situations of life. These customs and
ceremonies express the faith and morals, culture, vision of life, identity, and
5
life style of the Knānāya community. These unique rituals and ceremonies
proclaim the specialities, standards, spirituality and values of this
community. This study now searches for the moral implications of the
teachings of Pope John Paul II on the Christian family as a Sanctuary of Life
within these already-existing traditions and ceremonies. It will be
discovered that these age-old family traditions and ceremonies already

1
Cf. KOLLAPARAMBIL, J., The Babylonian Origin of the Southists Among the St
Thomas Christians, Pont. Institutum Orientalium, Roma, 1992, p. XXIII.
2
Cf. SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM OECUMENICUM VATICANUM II, Constitutio
Pastoralis: De Ecclesia in Mundo Hujus Temporis, Gaudium et Spes, no. 62, 7 December,
1965, in AAS 58, 1966, pp. 1025-1120.
3 Cf. JUSSAY, P. M., “The wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knānite
Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison”, in J. VELLIAN (ed.), Symposium on
Knānites, The Syrian Church Series, Vol. XII, Kottayam, 1986, p. 81.
4
Cf. VELLIAN, J., Knānite Community History and Culture, Syrian Church Series Vol.
XVII, Jyothi Book House, Kottayam, 2001, p. 16.
5
Cf. PULLAPPALLY, JOHN P. M., “Socio-religious Customs of Knānites” (Malayalam),
in J. VELLIAN (ed.), Symposium on Knānites, The Syrian Church Series, Vol. XII,
Kottayam, 1986, p. 105.

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