>Ken Gallager at 20:13, 25 November 2019

2019-11-25T20:13:56Z

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{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox clergy
| name = Eric J. Lott
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1934|05|27}}
| birth_place = [[North Devon]], England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| church = [[Methodist]]
| other_names =''[[Guruji]]''
| education = <br>
* [[Richmond Adult Community College]], [[Richmond, London|Richmond]]
* [[King's College, London]] ''(BD)''
* [[University of Lancaster]], [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] ''([[M.Litt.]])'' and ''(PhD)''
| ordained = 1961
| writings =''See section on Writings''
| congregations =The Melton Mowbray Methodist Circuit
| offices_held =Professor of Religions
| title = Reverend Doctor
| spouse =
| children =
| parents =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Eric J. Lott'''<ref name=Shobha>Shobha Warrier, "[http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/nov/01inter.htm Christian tradition has much to learn from Hindu tradition]", Interview (Rediff on the Net), 1 November 1999.</ref> (born 27 May 1934 in [[North Devon]], England)<ref name=Selvanayagam>David C. Scott, Israel Selvanayagam, eds., ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=MvQeOgAACAAJ Re-Visioning India's Religious Traditions – Essays in honour of Eric J. Lott]'', UTC / ISPCK, Bengaluru, 1996.</ref> is a religious scholar who taught in [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Karnataka]]. Of the Indian languages, he knew [[Sanskrit]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Kannada]].<ref name="Shobha"/>

==Background==
After theological studies at Richmond Methodist Theological College, he joined a graduate course in divinity at [[King's College, London]]<ref name=George>Joseph George (Ed.), ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=brRRAAAACAAJ The God of All Grace, Essays in Honour of Origen Vasantha Jathanna]'', Asian Trading Corporation, Bengaluru, 2005. p.573.</ref> and earned a B. D. degree in 1959.

The Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society designated Lott as a missionary to India and sent him in 1959<ref>Gideon Sobhanam, Vinod Victor, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=mKfDAAAACAAJ Shepherd of a Pilgrim People, Essays in honour of J. W. Gladstone]'', Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New Delhi, 2005. p.83.</ref> to minister in the Diocese of Dornakal of the [[Church of South India]].

Lott was ordained in 1962<ref name="Selvanayagam"/> in the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Dornakal during the Bishopric of P. Solomon,<ref>Rajaiah David Paul, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=mNEsAAAAIAAJ The First Decade: An Account of the Church of South India]'', Christian Literature Society, Chennai, 1958. p.276.</ref> as a Presbyter of the Church of South India.

==Contribution==


===Andhra Pradesh===
Lott first taught at the Andhra Union Theological College, [[Dornakal]] from 1962 to 1964<ref name=Move>Eric J. Lott, ''Biblical Faith and Cultural Pluralism: An Integrative Interpretation of Primal Imagery'' in H. S. Wilson (Ed.), ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=S-wrAAAAMAAJ The Church on the Move: A Quest to Affirm the Biblical Faith]'', Essays in honour of Peddi Victor Premasagar, Christian Literature Society, Chennai, 1988. Reprinted 1999. p.66.</ref> along with [[Victor Premasagar]], then Lecturer of Old Testament.<ref name="Move"/> The Principal of the College in Dornakal at that time was C. S. Sundaresan<ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?id=xKnz2UiIoIIC Religion and Society]'', Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, Bengaluru, 1963. p.59.</ref> and the College was affiliated<ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?id=e_QEAQAAIAAJ The Story of Serampore and its College]'', Council of Serampore College, Serampore (Third edition, revised), 1961. p.124.</ref> to the [[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Senate of Serampore College]].

With the 1964 merger<ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?id=xM4nAAAAMAAJ The American Lutheran]'', American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, 1965. p.12.</ref> of the College in Dornakal into the newly formed ecumenical [[Andhra Christian Theological College]] in [[Rajahmundry]], then headed by W. D. Coleman, Lott began taking classes in the river town of Rajahmundry.<ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?id=k-Q8AAAAIAAJ Al-Basheer]'', Henry Martyn Institute of Islamic Studies, Hyderabad, Vol. 1, No. 1, Jan.–March 1972. p.29.</ref> Later in 1972, Lott moved to Hyderabad along with the College when it was relocated to [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh|Hyderabad]].

During Lott's teaching career in [[Andhra Pradesh]] from 1962 to 1976, Lott taught [[New Testament]] and Religions to students pursuing L.Th., B.Th., and BD in [[Dornakal]], Rajahmundry, and Hyderabad.

In 1973, the [[Andhra Christian Theological College]] released ''Service for All Seasons'',<ref name=Seasons>Eric J. Lott, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=aOH4HAAACAAJ Service for All Seasons]'', Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad, 1973.</ref> Lott's ecumenical worship book, which continues to be the primary worship book for students of [[Baptist]], [[Lutheran]], [[Anglican]], [[Pentecostal]], and [[Methodist]] backgrounds studying theology at the [[seminary]] in Hyderabad.<ref>Hannah Ward, Jennifer Wild, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=jWa2ihKEHs0C&pg=PA119 Resources for Preaching and Worship-Year C: Quotations, Meditations, Poetry, and Prayers]'', Westminster John Knox Press, 2003. p.119.</ref> The book was also adopted in a Church setting by the United Church in Defence Colony in [[Sainikpuri]], Hyderabad, which serves an ecumenical congregation.

===Karnataka===
From 1977, Lott began teaching Religions at the [[United Theological College (Bangalore)|United Theological College]], [[Bengaluru]]<ref>[[Gnana Robinson]], Foreword in David C. Scott, Israel Selvanayagam (Edited), ''Re-Visioning India's Religious Traditions – Essays in honour of Eric J. Lott'', UTC / ISPCK, Bengaluru, 1996.</ref> along with [[G. D. Melanchthon]], then Professor of Religions. The college enjoyed autonomous status with the Senate of Serampore College. Lott mentored students pursuing theology who came from diverse backgrounds. During the late 1970s during the Principalship of [[Joshua Russell Chandran]], Lott encountered a student who would not complete his M.Th. thesis in Religions. The student's thesis was on self-proclaimed [[avatar]] [[Sathya Sai Baba|Sai Baba]]; when Lott offered revision suggestions, the student balked, since he believed that the "spirit of Sathya Sai Baba" had already taken control of the thesis and it could not be revised, lest the spirit got disturbed.<ref>Johanna Rose Ratnavathi, ''Interview Excerpts'', Hyderabad, 11 April 2009. Ratnavathi is a member of the [[Association of Theologically Trained Women of India]] who happened to be in [[Bengaluru]] at the time while pursuing a second graduate degree in theology.</ref>

==Higher studies==
While teaching at Rajahmundry, Lott took study leave for the academic year 1969–1970 and completed postgraduate studies<ref name="Selvanayagam"/> ([[M.Litt.]]) at the [[University of Lancaster]] in England. His dissertation was later published under the title ''God and the Universe in the Vedāntic Theology of Rāmānuja''.<ref name=Universe>Eric J. Lott, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=-gkaAAAAMAAJ God and the Universe in the Vedāntic Theology of Rāmānuja: A Study in his Use of the Self-body Analogy]'', Ramanuja Research Society, Chennai, 1976.</ref><ref>K.E. Venkatesh, "[http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/dec95/0175.html List of publications on Sri Ramanuja and his philosophy]", archives of Ramanuja.org.</ref>

In 1975, Lott again went on study leave to the University of Lancaster to pursue doctoral studies.<ref name="Selvanayagam"/> His 1977 doctoral dissertation was entitled ''Vedāntic approaches to God''.<ref name=Vedantic>Eric J. Lott, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=9IAwAAAAYAAJ Vedāntic approaches to God]'', Barnes & Noble, Liverpool, 1980.</ref>

==Writings==
* 1973 – ''Service for All Seasons''<ref name="Seasons"/>
* 1975 – ''India's Religions'' (in Telugu)<ref>Eric J. Lott, ''India's Religions'' (in Telugu), Telugu Theological Literature Board, Hyderabad, 1975.</ref>
* 1976 – ''God and the Universe in the Vedāntic Theology of Rāmānuja: A Study in his Use of the Self-body Analogy''<ref name="Universe"/>
* 1980 – ''Vedāntic Approaches to God''<ref name="Vedantic"/>
* 1986 – ''Worship in an Indian Context: Eight Intercultural Liturgies''<ref>Eric J. Lott, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=FeDuHgAACAAJ Worship in an Indian Context: Eight Intercultural Liturgies]'', United Theological College, Bengaluru, 1986.</ref>
* 1988 – ''Vision, Tradition & Interpretation: Theology, Religion & Religious Studies''<ref>Eric J. Lott, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=AKfW8k6QkkEC Vision, Tradition & Interpretation: Theology, Religion & Religious Studies]'', Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin, 1988.</ref>
* 1998 – ''Healing Wings: Acts of Jesus for Human Wholeness''<ref>Eric J. Lott, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=sytiAAAACAAJ Healing Wings: Acts of Jesus for Human Wholeness]'', Asian Trading Corporation, Bengaluru, 1998.</ref>
* 2005 – ''Religious Faith, Human Identity: Dangerous Dynamics in Indian & Global Life''<ref>Eric J. Lott, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=D-gkAAAAYAAJ Religious Faith, Human Identity: Dangerous Dynamics in Indian & Global Life]'', Asian Trading Corporation, Bengaluru, 2005.</ref>
* 2008 – ''Faces of Vision: Images of Life and Faith (with Jyoti Sahi)''<ref>Eric J. Lott and Jyoti Sahi, ''[http://www.christiansaware.org.uk/index.php?cat=India Faces of Vision: Images of Life and Faith]'', Christians Aware, Leicester, 2008.</ref>

==Ornithology==
An amateur [[Ornithology|ornithologist]], Lott contributed to knowledge on several Indian bird species through his observations and writings, which include:

* "On the Occurrence of White-naped Tit ''Parus nuchalis'' in Southern India"<ref>Eric J. Lott, "On the Occurrence of White-naped Tit ''Parus nuchalis'' in Southern India", Forktail (''Journal of Asian Ornithology'', Oriental Bird Club), 1999, pp.93–94.</ref>
* The Birds of the Cauvery Valley<ref>Eric J. Lott, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20071026092542/http://www.indiabirds.com/PDFFiles/PDF/kaveri.pdf The Birds of the Cauvery Valley]", ''[[Newsletter for Birdwatchers]]'' Vol. 27 (1&2):7–10 January–February 1987.</ref>

==Honours==
In 1985 the Indian Institute of World Culture, Bengaluru, invited Lott to deliver the Justice B. Vasudevamurthy Memorial Lecture.<ref>The [http://www.ultindia.org/indian_institute_of_world_c.html Indian Institute of World Culture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030165415/http://www.ultindia.org/indian_institute_of_world_c.html |date=30 October 2009 }} was established in 1945 in [[Basavanagudi]], Bengaluru.</ref>

In 1996 David C. Scott and Israel Selvanayagam brought out a ''[[festschrift]]'' published for the United Theological College and entitled ''Re-Visioning India's Religious Traditions'' in Lott's honour on his turning 60.<ref name="Selvanayagam"/>

In 1998 and 2000 Lott delivered the Cambridge Teape Lectures in Cambridge and India respectively.

==Retirement==
Lott retired on health grounds in 1988 from the [[United Theological College (Bangalore)|United Theological College]]. From 1989 he began pastoral work in the inner city community of Leicester in England.<ref name="George"/>

==Reminisce==
Talathoti Punnaiah who studied a 3-year theology course leading to [[Bachelor of Theology]] at the [[Andhra Christian Theological College]], both at [[Rajahmundry]] and at [[Hyderabad]] from 1970-1973 recalls his association with Lott,
{{cquote|Lott was from England who learnt Telugu and Sanskrit languages and taught us the life of Christ and Hinduism very well. I used to ask him several questions in the class and he used to patiently give answers to me. During a year he was our Faculty Leader and took us all to [[Khammam]] for preaching tour. He was a very good teacher and preacher. He was a melodious singer. He was an inspiration to all of us.<ref>Talathoti Punnaiah, ''My Memoir, Ministry and Message: 60 years Life Experiences 1950-2010'', Self published by the Author, Kakinada, 2010, p.24.</ref>}}

==References==
;Notes
{{reflist|2}}
;Further reading
* {{cite journal
| author=Arvind Sharma, Jacques Waardenburg
| title=To the things themselves: essays on the discourse and practice of the phenomenology of religion
| year=2001
| volume=
| issue=

| isbn=978-3-11-016956-0| url =https://books.google.com/?id=ordwKx6_kQsC&dq=eric+j.lott
}}
* {{cite journal
| author=Geoffrey Wainwright, Karen Beth Westerfield Tucker
| title=The Oxford history of Christian Worship
| year=2006
| volume=
| issue=

| isbn=978-0-19-513886-3| url =https://books.google.com/?id=Si8axR7yC7wC&dq=eric+j.lott
}}
* {{cite journal
| author=Paul M. Collins
| title=Christian inculturation in India
| year=2007
| volume=
| issue=

| isbn=978-0-7546-6076-7| url =https://books.google.com/?id=XdmxDDMsRSIC&dq=christian+inculturation+dornakal
}}
* {{cite journal
| author=Bryan S. Rennie
| title=The International Eliade
| year=2007
| volume=
| issue=

| isbn=978-0-7914-7087-9| url =https://books.google.com/?id=v5Q3Sfu-2MIC&dq=eric+j.lott
}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-aca}}
{{succession box | before=[[G. D. Melanchthon]]
| title=Professor of Religions<br>
[[United Theological College (Bangalore)|United Theological College]], [[Bengaluru]]
|after=David C. Scott| years=1977–1988}}
{{succession box | before=''New position''
| title=Professor<br>
[[Andhra Christian Theological College]], [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh|Hyderabad]]
|after=[[R. R. Sundara Rao]]| years=1964–1976}}
{{succession box | before=
| title=Professor<br>
Andhra Union Theological College, Dornakal
|after=| years=1962–1964}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lott, Eric J.}}
[[Category:Indian Christian theologians]]
[[Category:Christian clergy from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Indian ornithologists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:People from North Devon (district)]]
[[Category:Alumni of King's College London]]
[[Category:Alumni of Lancaster University]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian zoologists]]
[[Category:Senate of Serampore College (University) faculty]]

Eric J. Lott - Revision history

>Ken Gallager at 20:13, 25 November 2019