I looked at the [*Wikipedia* page on the St. Thomas Christians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Thomas_Christians) , the oldest school of Indian Christians who follow the teachings of St. Thomas the Apostle, who had travelled to India to preach. However, I couldn’t find what their beliefs *were* from that page. Were they Trinitarian or Unitarian? Are there any academic references (books, papers) that discuss their religious beliefs on the nature of God, Jesus, etc?

I was thinking about the marriage between a Syro-Malabar boy and a Jacobite girl. I know there are norms and rules about marriage between people from both churches and it is allowed. But the girl has a weird request as the boy is Syro-Malabar the wedding will be in a Syro-Malabar rite but in the Syro-Malabar rite in the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom are required to place hands on the holy gospel and take an oath. She is against taking an oath as she claims it is a direct violation of the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain". This has quite stirred me as the oath-taking is done by placing hands on the Bible. To solve this I found a solution to change from Syro-Malabar to Syro-Malankara as in Syro-Malankara it is different and more familiar to the girl and no bible- and oath-taking (correct me if I'm wrong). But the problem is there is only one Syro-Malankara church nearby and it is far away from the boy's Parish which can create logistical and other problems as both of them have a big family and related issues. I was wondering if there is any way to conduct a Syro-Malankara rite at the Syro-Malabar church (boy's Parish). I also would love to know any other potential solutions. As she was brought up in her faith I cannot force herself to correct it (I don't have the authority). And I want to respect her beliefs also don't want to create a problem. Would it be a problem if she didn't hold the Bible and take an oath?

I've been reading a little about the controversy and I can't quite wrap my head around it. Are Syro-Malabar Catholics upset that the Pope says to their priests that they need to face the altar while in the USA, several Bishops are telling the priests that they need to face the people? Is this really what's happening and why is that worth a schism?

Some traditions state that Jesus visited India between the ages of 12 and 33, in order to study and learn. What evidence is there that he did or did not visit India?

I recently saw that some say Jesus went to India/Tibet in the silent ages(generally refers to the period of Jesus's life between his childhood and the beginning of his ministry, a period not described in the New Testament) of his life. and he learned Buddhism and Hinduism. although some say Jesus didn't die when the crucifixion happened and his disciples took his half body to yogis to bring back to life. and he lived in Tibet until his death. And Some Famous Books , Documentaries are also made on this. Unlike British and Japanese theories, the Indian one gives some kind of "evidence" like the tomb claims to be Jesus's, some ancient scrolls say a person like Jesus. More information can be found on wikipedia How do respond to these claims?

In this case, these will be young professionals in India who've never read the Bible and have very little exposure to Christianity. Really appreciate your suggestions! (feel free to also suggest what you'd recommend if they were read a 2nd hr as a followup) EDIT: if this is not the right forum for this question, but you know where I should ask instead, please feel free to DM me or comment.

Believers Eastern Church, the denomination from Kerala, India, is an interesting mix of Orthodox, Evangelical, and other traditions. One thing I haven't found out yet is what they teach on baptism. Is it only for believers, or are infants baptized? And is immersion the only mode or are pouring and sprinkling accceptable?

While reading "Robertsoner Ruby", one of the Bengali detective stories from the Feluda Series , I found out that the investigator there finds out a character to be a Christian (which the character himself never disclosed till that point) when he observes that the character is consuming food using his left hand on three separate occasions. Now, this observation turns out to be correct too and eventually it also proves decisive in solving the case. But I was surprised the way the detective has concluded and hence this question here. - Is it really true that in Christianity food is recommended to be consumed using the left hand? Please cite some verses from scriptures in support of your answers, either to prove or disprove the claim.

Did St. Thomas the apostle come to India? Most of the Indian people believe that he came to south India, and spread the good news even before the Roman Catholic Church is formed. However, the church doesn't accept this teaching. What is the truth?

There is news that [Modi government likely to bring bill to prevent religious conversion in next Parliament session](https://zeenews.india.com/india/modi-government-likely-to-bring-bill-to-prevent-religious-conversion-in-next-parliament-session-2226198.html) There is [currently this plea from persecution relief](https://www.facebook.com/753076218058620/posts/3465904810109067/) and a [petition to be signed](https://www.change.org/p/petition-to-the-prime-minister-to-stop-introducing-freedom-of-religion-bill-alleged-anti-conversion-law-in-india) How have such laws affected Christians in the world in the past? And how would they affect Christians in India? Have such laws caused any type of unity and revival of fellowship among denominations who would not otherwise fellowship with each other in the past in world history?

I want to know whether ***Savari*** is the Tamil Christian male name for Xavier?

The title sums up the question. The reason I ask is that historically Catholics have placed a heavy emphasis on inculturation when evangelising new cultures. Rather than introducing western words for God into a new culture, they often study the existing religion of a culture and try to work out what word is used for the "supreme being". As such, in China, the word λογος is translated as 道 and God receives names such as 神 and 天主, all of these Chinese words designed to refer to some conception of a supreme being. Similarly in Arabic bible translations the word Allah is used to refer to God, in an effort to draw on existing connotations that Muslims associate with the name. So I was wondering if there is any tradition in any strand of Indian Christianity (Protestant, Catholic, or otherwise) where they refer to God as Brahman, because that is the name of the supreme, ultimate reality in Hinduism.

I was told this during childhood, that this is how St.Thomas converted certain Hindu Brahmins to Christianity. Also on Wikipedia : > Historical legend records that when St. Thomas landed at Palayur, he > witnessed the sight of Hindu Brahmins, after their ablutions in a > local tank, offering prayers by chanting mantras (the Vedic tradition > of India for spiritual transformation) hymns to god in the form of > Argyam or Tharpanam (water held in the palms) of water to the Sun god, > a practice also said to be followed in Harappan and Persian cultures. > Amused by the sight of water being thrown up by the Brahmins, from the > palms of their hands, which was falling back, he challenged the > Brahmins stating that the water they were offering was not being > accepted by the Sun god as it was falling back into the tank. He made > a deal with them stating that his God would accept the offer of water > if he threw it up in the same way as they did, but water would not > fall back. If he proved this then his God was superior and the > Brahmins would have to embrace Christianity. He performed this miracle > (summoned the Holy Trinity, completed the sign of the Cross and threw > water held in his palms up into the air, which remained still in the > air at a height) and with this miracle he converted a number of > Brahmins and Jews in Palayur to Christianity. Thereafter he baptised > the converts in a nearby water tank. Is there any evidence or similar documented text outside India which confirms this miracle?

I would like to know from where Roman Catholic denomination originated. Why does we have many groups like CSI, Jacobites, Orthodox, Evangelist, etc? Is it because of the believes people divide among themselves?

India is well outside the bounds of Roman influence, but there is evidence of Christianity in India very early. After the faith reached India, how much contact was there with Christianity in the Mediterranean world for the first 6 or 7 centuries?

Dear community members, I am eager to learn more about the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church as well as about the Oriental Orthodox Communion in general. Please provide resources for someone with no prior knowledge of Christianity. Thank you very much for your help!

It is known that many Indian Christian women wear head coverings during religious services. They may cover their heads with the end of a sari , which is a traditional garment worn by Hindu Indian women.

This question is addressed to Saint Thomas Christians that are Catholic. Since the Catholic church rejects the authenticity of both the Gospel of Thomas and the Acts of Thomas , how can anyone in the Catholic segment of that faith say with confidence that Thomas sailed from the Red Sea to the port city of Muziris in 52 AD?

I'm an American Catholic currently living in India and teaching Communicative English to students of an Islamic school (ages 5 - 14). I am trying to live on the fence and keeping my faith promoted and subdued as necessary for my profession. I am already "leading by example" of a righteous, caring, loving Christian, but now some students are starting to ask me questions about Christianity. I'm thrilled and nervous at the same time. When a seventh grade student asks me "What does the symbol of a cross mean?", I want to present it in a way that answers the question correctly, but also is stated in a way that bridges the two religions and doesn't cause a rift in administration. What is an overview of methods recommended by published Roman Catholic missionaries and missiologists for explaining the cross to curious Muslims?

The Austrian Carmelite Paulinus a Sancto Bartholomaeo in his book _"Darstellung der Brahmanisch-Indischen Götterlehre, Religionsgebräuche und bürgerliche Verfassung "_ (1797) states that Epiphanius was the first writer to link the Brahmins of India with the children of Abraham and his concubine Keturah (Genesis 25:1-4; 1 Chronicles 1:32-33), an identification later appearing in the _Zohar_ (13th century), Guillaime Postel (16th century), and Manasseh ben Israel (17th century) (as well as Newton, Voltaire and others). I have been unable to locate his source in Epiphanius' (or in other patristic) writings. Does anyone know where Epiphanius says this?