PITTS THEOLOGY LIBRARY

ARCHIVES AND MANUSCRIPTS DEPARTMENT

THANGARAJ, M. THOMAS, COLLECTION, 1988-2008 (1998-2008)

MSS 347

Extent: Two Archival Boxes (Boxes 1-2), One Acid Free Media Box --

Access: Unrestricted

Reproduction: All requests subject to limitation noted in departmental policies on reproduction.

Copyright: Information on copyright (literary rights) available from repository.

Citation: M. Thomas Thangaraj Collection, MSS 347, Archives and Manuscripts Department, Pitts Theology Library, Emory University

Biographical Sketch:

Dr. M. Thomas Thangaraj served as the D. W. & Ruth Brooks Associate Professor of World Christianity at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, GA. After serving as a Minister in the Church of South India in the Tirunelveli area, Professor Thangaraj moved to teach at the Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, Madurai, India from 1971 to 1988, before joining Emory. He was educated at St. John’s College, Palayamkottai, Madras Christian College, Madras, Serampore College in Serampore, W. Bengal, United Theological College in Bangalore at the graduate and post-graduate level. He earned his Doctor of Theology degree from Harvard University. His area of research during his doctoral studies was in the area of relation between Saiva Siddhanta, the South Indian Hindu philosophical tradition, and Christianity, especially concerning the concept of guru. An energetic and prolific academic, Thangaraj lectured in United Kingdom, Philippines, Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Myanmar (Burma), Taiwan, and in several places in India and United States. He was also actively involved in programs of inter-religious dialogue both at the national and international level for much of his career.

While teaching at the Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, Professor Thangaraj was associated with the work of the Department of Religion, Philosophy, and Sociology of the American College as a part-time professor, and a lecturer in the programs of the Department of Gandhian Studies of the Madurai-Kamaraj University, especially in the Diploma on Inter-religious Dialogue. He involved himself in the activities of the sub-unit on Dialogue with People of Other Faiths of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. Thangaraj published widely both in English and in Tamil.

Apart from his academic interests, Professor Thangaraj held a keen interest in South Indian music, both classical and popular, and also in the art of hymnody in Tamil. Twenty of his hymns are incorporated in the official hymnbook of the churches in Tamilnadu. He served on the Assembly Worship Planning Committee for the Assembly of the World Council of Churches held in Zimbabwe, Africa in 1998.

Container Listing:

Box 1 Folder 1 Images of Christ – Course Proposal 1988

Folder 2 Images of Christ – Correspondence w/ Class 2001

Folder 3 Images of Christ – Syllabi/Assignments 1998-2003

Folder 4 Images of Christ – Dialogue w/Students 1998, 2004

Folder 5 Images of Christ – Lecture Notes 1988

Folder 6 Theological Responses to Pluralism – Tillich Article 1998

Folder 7 Theological Responses to Pluralism – Correspondence w/Class 1998, 2000

Folder 8 Theological Responses to Pluralism – Syllabi 1998-1999

Folder 9 Theological Responses to Pluralism – Student Qs and Replies 1998

Folder 10 Theological Responses to Pluralism – Lecture Notes undated

Folder 11 Doing Theology in the Global Context – Correspondence w/Class 2000, 2002

Folder 12 Doing Theology in the Global Context -- Syllabi 2000, 2002-2003

Folder 13 Mission in a Pluralistic World – Lecture Notes 1988-1989, 1993

Folder 14 Mission in a Pluralistic World – Syllabi 1988-1998

Folder 15 Mission in a Pluralistic World – Class Correspondence 1997-1998

Folder 16 Mission in a Pluralistic World – Student Correspondence 1997

Folder 17 Mission in a Pluralistic World – Lecture Notes 1988, undated

Folder 18 Christian Encounters w/Hinduism – Syllabi and Assignments 1997, 1999

Folder 19 Christian Encounters w/Hinduism – Lecture Notes/Handouts 1989, 1993

Folder 20 Christian Encounters w/Hinduism – Dialogue w/Students 1997, 1999

Folder 21 Christian Encounters w/Hinduism – Correspondence w/Class 1997, 1999

Folder 22 Trends in Ecumenical Theology – Lecture Notes 1989

Box 2 Folder 1 Op-Ed 1999

Folder 2 Original Artwork 1999, 2003

Folder 3 “Danish Churchdays” 2001

Folder 4 Sermons/Speeches 1989-2006

Folder 5 Awards/Honors 1983-2001

Folder 6 Notes, Papers, etc. from Study at Harvard 1980

Folder 7 “Never on a Sunday” – One Act Play undated

Folder 8 Miscellaneous Notes undated

Folder 9 Publications, Promotions, Bulletins 1990-2008

Folder 10 Teaching Portfolio 1999

Folder 11 Letters 1992

Folder 12 “Self Profile” 1997

Box 3 no folder Trip w/ Candler Students to India 1992

no folder India Travel Seminar Photos 1997

no folder Envelope w/Unlabeled Photos undated

no folder Record – “Nenjin Naatham” undated

no folder Six Cassette Tapes – Bound Together w/Printed Comments undated

no folder “Sinsinawa Lectures” Lectures 2-5 undated

no folder Two CDs – “Light of Christ”, and “At Thy Feet” undated

no folder Six CDs – “Christian Spirituality in the Global Context” undated

no folder VHS Tape – “University Worship” undated

no folder VHS Tape – “Danish Church Days – Bands Apart” undated

no folder VHS Tape – “2001 Student Forum of the United Methodist Church” undated

no folder VHS Tape – “Thomas Candler Service (India)” undated

no folder VHS Tape – “God and Goddesses Fair” undated

no folder VHS Tape – “Dr. Thangaraj CFUMC Part 1” undated

no folder VHS Tape – “INDIA – An Advance Seminar in Christian Mission” 1997

Last Modified: 7/08/08