https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Kuruvilla_PandikattuKuruvilla Pandikattu - Revision history2026-07-31T14:36:54ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Kuruvilla_Pandikattu&diff=149621&oldid=previmported>Marcocapelle at 14:50, 31 July 20212021-07-31T14:50:52Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian philosopher (born 1957)}}<br />
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}<br />
{{Infobox philosopher<br />
| region = Western Philosophy<br />
| era = [[20th-century philosophy]]<br />
| image = Pandikattu.jpg<br />
| caption = Pandikattu in 2004<br />
| signature = <br />
| name = Kuruvilla Pandikattu Joseph<br />
| other_names = Kuruvila Pandikattu<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|11|28|df=yes}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Areekara]], Kerala, India<br />
| death_date = <br />
| death_place = <br />
| school_tradition = {{ubl|[[Continental philosophy]]|[[Phenomenology (philosophy)|Phenomenology]]| [[Hermeneutics]]| [[Christian theology]]}}<br />
| main_interests = {{ubl|[[Phenomenology (philosophy)|Phenomenology]]|[[Relationship between religion and science]]|Philosophy of death|[[Philosophy of Technology]]|[[Personal identity]]| [[Transhumanism]]|[[Symbols]]|[[Myths]]}}<br />
| thesis1_title = Idols to Die, Symbols to Live: Paul Ricoeur<br />
| thesis1_year = 1996<br />
| thesis2_title = Dialogue as Way of Life: Bede Griffiths<br />
| thesis2_year = 1995<br />
| doctoral_advisor = Emerich Coreth(PhD Philosophy) Lothar Lies (PhD Theology)<br />
| doctoral_students = <br />
| notable_ideas = {{hlist| "Ever approachable, Never Attainable"| "Dialog as Way of Life"|"Between Before and Beyond"}}<br />
| notableworks = <!--{{ubl|''[[Idols to Die]], Symbols to Live''|''Dialogue as Way of Life''|''Death: Live it!''}}--><br />
| website = {{url|http://kuru.in/}}<br />
| influences = {{hlist|[[Salvino Azzopardi|Azzopardi]]| [[Kurien Kunnumpuram|Kunnumpuram]]|[[Paul Ricoeur]]| [[Bede Griffiths]]| [[Emerich Coreth]]| [[Karl Rahner]] [[Cyril Desbruslais]] }}<br />
| influenced = <br />
}}<br />
'''Kuruvilla Pandikattu''' (born 28 November 1957) is an Indian [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] [[Catholic priest|priest]] and Professor of Philosophy, Science and Religion at [[Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology]], [[Pune]], Maharashtra, India.<ref>Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth (2010), ''Handbook and Calendar'', Pune: JDV, p. 20.</ref> He is also Director of JDV Centre for Science-Religion Studies (JCSR) and Association of Science, Society and Religion (ASSR), Pune.<br />
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He has authored/edited thirty-six books and written more than 160 academic articles. He has been involved as co-founder and co-publisher with two journals, ''Jnanadeepa: Pune Journal of Religious Studies'' and ''AUC: Asian Journal of Religious Studies.'' Further, he has organised more than forty academic conferences. His weekly column on "Contemporary Spirituality" appears on Tuesdays in ''Financial Chronicle''.<ref>http://www.mydigitalfc.com/2008/kuruvilla-pandikattu-sj</ref> He has been contributing regularly to both academic and popular journals.<ref>http://www.smartcompanion.in/client/index.php</ref><br />
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He is involved in science-religion dialogue and science-related activities,<ref>See Mialil, John (2008) ''Wonders in Nature'', New Delhi: Media House, 2008, pp. 121–130.</ref> in which topic he has been teaching four courses. His areas of interest (and specialisation) include: Science-Religion Dialogue;<ref>It may be noted that together with Prof Job Kozhamthadam, he has started the first Master's Programme in Science and Religion at [[Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth]], Pune, India. See also Kozhamthadam, Job (2002) ''Contemporary Science and Religion in Dialogue'', Pune: ASSR, pp.98–111.</ref> Philosophical [[Anthropology]] ([[Emerich Coreth]]); [[Hermeneutics]] ([[Paul Ricœur]]) and Inter-religious dialogue ([[Bede Griffiths]]).<br />
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==Philosophical approach==<br />
The two starting points of his academic research works are in physics and religion: quest for the unification of the fourfold forces of nature in physics and the hermeneutics of dialogue in [[Paul Ricoeur]].<ref>{{Cite book | url=http://philpapers.org/rec/PANITD |title = Idols to Die, Symbols to Live (Paul Ricoeur)|publisher = Interculturual|year = 1999}}</ref> This led him to seek further the interpretative and symbolic (or mythic) nature of religious experience and resulted in his first doctoral thesis: ''"Idols to die, so that symbols might live".'' He traces the idol-symbol tension in every aspect of human experience.<br />
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=== Dialogue as Way of Life ===<br />
Then he look up the dialogical dimension of not only of religions, but also of human existence. So his second doctoral thesis on [[Bede Griffiths]] was published under the title, ''"Dialog as Way of Life."'' Further, he took up issues in science-religion dialogue, which according to him is "not an option but an obligation" for the very survival of the human species. This calls for radial commitment. Two main areas of his research are ''[[physical immortality]]''<ref>See https://sites.google.com/site/kurusj/articles</ref> and ''viable or sustainable life-style''.<ref>Kuruvilla Pandikattu, "Global Village vs Gandhian Villages: A Viable Vision," See https://books.google.com/books?id=YrGadHsc1bUC&pg=PA171&lpg=PA171&dq=viable+or+sustainable+life-style+pandikattu&source=bl&ots=esgCrSb21f&sig=8IsOmubP9enLNHf3yREFKqs0gAk&hl=en&ei=7HtWTaf9L5DSrQeE-pzWBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=viable%20or%20sustainable%20life-style%20pandikattu&f=false</ref><ref>"Kuruvilla Pandikattu" See http://www.counterbalance.org/bio/kuru-frame.html</ref><br />
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===God as "Ever Approachable, Never Attainable"===<br />
This infinite or God (also The Reality) is the enticing and elusive dimension of our human life. God is ever approachable, but never attainable exhaustively. Like the horizon, that invites and cajoles us and recedes from us, God is always near and far at the same time. He bases this insight on scientific details like the lowest temperature reachable (t →0) and knowing that the beginning of Big Bang (T →0) and is like the "horizon",<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://sites.google.com/site/pandikattujoseph/everapproachable | title=Ever Approachable ... - Kuruvilla Pandikattu}}</ref> which is never fully attainable.<br />
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===Reality as Relational and Paradoxical ===<br />
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He says that reality is relational and at the same time paradoxical. The paradox of love is that when two people, who have accepted their own emptiness and recognises their own nothingness, affirm each other, there emerges authentic love, that is infinite. Thus, when one truly looks at reality, accepts its nothingness (even absurdity) there emerges traces of infinity. That is the paradoxical beauty of love and of our existence.<ref>See http://www.fig.usv.ro/socio-umane/arhiva/2010I.pdf</ref><br />
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==Major Activities==<br />
He has been actively involved in science-religion dialogue.<ref>http://www.science-religion-news.org/regular-courses.asp</ref> He is interested in looking at both science and religion critically and creatively,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://sapnaonline.com/dancing-to-diversity-science-religion-dialogue-in-india-194680 |title = Sapnaonline:Search Page}}</ref> so that they can enrich each other and the humanity. In this area he has delivered numerous lectures, written numerous articles and books and organised conferences.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.jdv.edu.in | title=JNANA-DEEPA VIDYAPEETH – Pune}}</ref><br />
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==Journals==<br />
* Editor, ''Jnanadeepa: Pune Journal of Religious Studies''<br />
* Editor, ''AUC: Asian Journal of Religious Studies''<br />
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==Books==<br />
===Scholarly Books (14)===<br />
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* ''Light for Life: Spiritual Insights for Contemporary World.'' 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kuruvilla Pandikattu Joseph - Authored Books|url=https://sites.google.com/view/kuruvillasj/publications/authored-books|access-date=2020-08-21|website=sites.google.com|language=en-US}}</ref> {{ISBN|9789388945639}}<br />
* ''Ever Approachable, Never Attainable: Science-Religion Dialogue in India.'' 2016. {{ISBN|978-8188360307}}<br />
* ''Gratefully and Gracefully: Scientific and Religious Reflections on Death and Beyond.'' 2014. {{ISBN|978-8188360017}}<br />
* ''Elusive Transcendence: An Exploration of the Human Condition Based on Paul Ricoeur.'' 2014. {{ISBN|978-1565182950}}<br />
* ''Between Beneath, Before and Beyond: An Exploration of the Human Condition Based on Paul Ricoeur.'' 2013. {{ISBN|978-8188360024}}<br />
*''The Human Search: Issues in Philosophical Anthropology." 2011. {{ISBN|978-3844325706}}''<br />
*''Surplus, Subversion, Submission: A Contemporary Study of Paul Ricoeur's Symbol, Metaphor and Parable.'' 2011. {{ISBN| 978-3844333541}}<br />
* ''The Bliss of Being Human: Science and Religion for Self-realisation.'' 2004. {{ISBN|9788188864003}}<br />
* ''[http://www.getcited.org/pub/103475740 Religion@scientist.com].'' Pune: Jnanam, 2001.<br />
* ''Religious Dialogue as Hermeneutics: Bede Griffiths' Advaitic Approach.'' Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change Series Iiib, South Asia Vol 3. Washington: Research in Values and Philosophy, 2001.<ref>Read online http://www.crvp.org/book/Series03/IIIB-3/contents.htm</ref><br />
* ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=HynhtgAACAAJ&dq=dialogue+as+way+of+life+pandikattu&hl=de&sa=X&ei=WTTdUIGWJ4LXtAbIcg&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA Dialogue as the Way of Life: Bede Griffiths’ Attempt at Integrating Religions, Cultures and Sciences].'' Mumbai: Zen Publications, 2001. {{ISBN|9781929924097}}<br />
* ''Meaning through Science and Religion.'' Pune: JDV, 2000.<br />
* ''[https://books.google.com/books/about/Idols_to_die_symbols_to_live.html?id=ax8RAQAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y Idols to Die, Symbols to Live: Dynamic Interaction between Language, Reality and the Divine].'' New Delhi: Intercultural Pub, 1999. {{OCLC|45499558}}<br />
* '' Metaphorising of Reality.'' Pune: Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, 1997. {{OCLC| 607347087}}.<br />
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===Scholarly Books (Edited; 24)===<br />
* ''Have Courage, I am with You: Christian Responses to Covid-19.''2020. {{ISBN|978-93-8898-960-2}}<br />
* ''Fully Human and Fully Alive: Essays on Being Human Today in Honour of Dr Cyril Desbruslais SJ.'' 2020.{{ISBN|9789351484165}}<br />
* ''Fully Spiritual, Fully Human - Fostering Diverse Spiritual Experiences: Essays in Honour of Dr Stephen Chundanthadam SJ.'' 2020. {{ISBN|9789351484080}}<br />
* ''The Philosophy of God: Faith and Traditions.'' 2019. {{ISBN|9789351483779}}<br />
* ''Logic and Love: Reflecting on Professor John Vattanky's Contribution to Indian Philosophy and Spirituality.'' 2019. {{ISBN|9789351483717}}<br />
* ''Everything is Interrelated: Christian Trinity and Hindu Advaita as Experienced by Raimundo Panikkar and Francis D'Sa SJ.'' 2019. {{ISBN| 9789388945127}}<br />
* ''Metaphysics: Philosophy of Be-ing for Today.'' 2019. {{ISBN|9789351483632}}<br />
* ''Melodies from the Flute: Dialogue among Religions and Cultures.'' 2019. {{ISBN|9789351483250}}<br />
* ''Epistemology and Phenomenology of Religions: Creative Insights into Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue.'' 2018. {{ISBN|9789351483175}}<br />
* ''The Indian Ending: Rediscovering the Grandeur of Indian Heritage for a Sustainable Future : Essays in Honour of Professor Dr. John Vattanky SJ on Completing Eighty Years.'' 2013. {{ISBN| 9788183875936}}<br />
* ''The Philosophy of Liberation: Revisiting Genuine Religious Experiences with Special Reference to Christianity.'' 2017. {{ISBN| 9789351481294}}<br />
* ''The Dancing Peacock: Indian Insights into Religion and Development.''2010. {{ISBN|9788183873413}}* ''Depth of Death Scientific Insights Religious Openness.'' 2010. {{ISBN| 978-8183873987}}<br />
* ''Dancing to Diversity: Science-Religion Dialogue in India.'' 2008. {{ISBN| 9788183871945}}<br />
* ''Lifting up the Spirit, Uplifting the Body: Interfacing Religion, Spirituality and Social Work in India.'' Pune: Samajdarshan Prakashan, 2013. Edited with Suresh Pathare. {{ISBN|9788190829014}}<br />
* ''Committed to the Church and the Country: Reflections on Christian Living in India in Honour of Professor Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ.'' Delhi: ISPCK, 2013. Edited with James Ponniah and Thomas Kuriacose. {{ISBN|978-8184652925}}<br />
* ''Postmodernity: An Indian Appraisal.'' 2008. {{ISBN|978-81-8387-200-3}}<br />
* ''Reasons for Hope: Its Nature, Role and Future.'' (Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change Series IIIB, South Asia Vol 10) Washington: Research in Values and Philosophy, 2005.{{ISBN|978-1565182165}}<br />
* ''Gandhi, Ganga, Giriraj.'' Ahmedabad: Navajivan Pub, 2004.(associate editor with Lachman M. Khubchandani & Siddharth N. Bhatt) {{ISBN|978-8172293444}}<br />
* ''Bend Without Fear: Hopes and Possibilities for an Indian Church: Essays in Honour of Professor Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ.'' New Delhi: ISPCK, 2003. Edited with Rosario Rocha. {{ISBN|978-8172147099}}<br />
* ''Religion, Society and Economics.'' Frankfurt u.a.: P. Lang, 2003. (with A. Vonach)<ref>Read the Review online http://www.acton.org/sites/v4.acton.org/files/pdf/7.2.573-575.REVIEW.%20Pandikattu,%20Kuruvilla%20and%20Vonach,%20Andreas--Religion,%20Society,%20and%20Economics.pdf</ref> {{ISBN| 9783631399552}}<br />
* ''Hopefully Yours…'' Pune: Jnanam, 2002 (CD).<br />
* ''Let Life Be.'' Pune: Jnanam, 2002 (CD).<br />
* ''Dreams and Visions: New Horizons for an Indian Church: Essays in Honour of Professor Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ.'' Pune: JDV, 2002. Edited with Rosario Rocha {{ISBN| 978-1459625471}}<br />
* ''Human Longing and Fulfilment: East Encounters West.'' Pune: JDV, 2002 (with Josef Quitterer).<br />
* ''Gandhi: The Meaning of Mahatma for the Millennium.'' (Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change Series Iiib, South Asia Vol 5.) Washington: Research in Values and Philosophy, 2001. {{ISBN| 978-1565181564}}<br />
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===Popular Books (15)===<br />
* ''Insights from LOVE and LOGIC.'' Christian World Imprints, New Delhi, 2016. {{ISBN|9789351481676}}.<br />
* ''Insights from SCIENCE and SILENCE.'' Christian World Imprints, New Delhi, 2016.{{ISBN|9789351480945}}.<br />
* ''Insights from REASON and RELIGION.'' Christian World Imprints, New Delhi, 2015. {{ISBN|978-9351480709}}.<br />
* ''Insights into SCIENCE and SPIRITUALITY'' Christian World Imprints, New Delhi, 2014.{{ISBN|9789351480082}}.<br />
* ''JOY: Share It!'' Jnanam, Pune, 2017. {{ISBN|978-81-88864-34-8}}.<br />
* ''LIFE: Relish It!'' Mumbai: Better Yourself Books, St. Paul, 2012. {{ISBN|9788171087785}}.<br />
* ''LOVE: Be It!'' Mumbai: Better Yourself Books, St. Paul, 2009. {{ISBN|9788171087365}}.<br />
* ''DEATH: Live It!'' Jnanam & Media House, Pune & New Delhi, 2005.{{ISBN|8188864102}}.<br />
* ''FREEDOM to Free.''Delhi:Media House. 2004. {{ISBN|978-8174951502}}.<br />
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* (Ed.) ''The What and So What of the God Particle.''Pune: JDV Centre for Science-Religion Studies, 2012.<br />
* ''Life as Love.'' New Delhi: Media House, 2005 (Revised edition of Promises of Love). {{ISBN|9780970978233}}.<br />
*''This Too will Pass Away! The Scientific Explanation and Religious Experience of Time Based on Michael Ende’s Momo.'' Jnanam, Pune: 2003. {{ISBN|9780970978240}}.<br />
* ''Promises of Love.'' Jnanam, Pune: 2003. {{ISBN|9780970978240}}<br />
*''[[Tamas Book|TAMAS]] (There Are Many Alternative Stories)''. Mumbai: World-Web-Life, 2002.{{ISBN|0970978200}}.<br />
* ''Promises of Life'' (with K. Suriano) New Delhi: Media House, 2001. {{ISBN|978-8174951038}}.<br />
* (Ed.) ''Pope Francis on Creation and Evolution'' Pune: Jnanam & Association of Science, Society and Religion, 2014. {{ISBN|978-8188864249}}. Booklet.<br />
* (Ed.) ''Laudato Si': Reflections and Responses'' Pune: Jnanam & JDV Centre for Science-Religion Studies, 2015. {{ISBN|978-8188864256}}. Booklet.<br />
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===Book in His Honour===<br />
* ''Science-Religion Dialogue and Its Contemporary Relevance: Interdisciplinary Essays in Honour of Prof Dr Kuruvilla Pandikattu.'' Binoy Pickalakkattu (Ed). 2018. {{ISBN|978-9386516350}}<br />
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==Early life and influences==<br />
Pandikattu was born in [[Uzhavoor|Areekara]], Kerala, India.<ref>''Directory South Asia'', New Delhi: JCSA, 2010, p. 47</ref> He was born to Uthuppan and Mary Joseph.<ref>He is the oldest of 4 children from his mother but has two older sisters from his father's previous marriage. He once quoted his true inspiration came from his niece Meera Joseph who he has known since her birth. He has an younger brother who has two children, a sister with three children who came to America in the early 80's, and he also has another sister who has two children, Christy Joseph and Sherin Joseph.</ref> He had his early education at Government LP School, [[Veliyannoor]] (1962–65) and St. Rockey's U.P. School,<ref>https://schools.org.in/kottayam/32101200509/st-rockey-s-ups-areekara.html</ref> [[Areekara]] (1965–70). Then he pursued his basic studies at Sacred Heart School, Changanashery, Kerala (1970–73).<br />
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After completing School Secondary Leaving Certificate (S.S.L.C.) at Changanashery, he left for Guhiajori, [[Dumka]], Bihar (now [[Jharkhand]]). Other places of his studies are: St. Xavier's School, [[Sahibganj]] (1976–78); [[Loyola College, Chennai]] (1978–81); [[St. Joseph's College, Trichy]] (1981–83); [[Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth]], Pune (1983–85), and [[University of Pune]] (1988–91).<ref>His early intellectual life has been influenced by inspiring figures like Emmanuel Stellini (English, Sahibganj, Jharkhand), Prof Joseph Inchackal (Physics, Chennai) Prof G.A. Savariraj (Physics: Trichy), Prof [[Salvino Azzopardi]] (JDV, philosophy, Pune) and R. Sundararajan (Philosophy, University of Pune). Right from the beginning of his academic life, interests in physics and philosophy have accompanied him.</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pandikattu, Kuruvilla}}<br />
[[Category:1957 births]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Jesuits]]<br />
[[Category:Philosophers of science]]<br />
[[Category:Philosophers of religion]]<br />
[[Category:People from Kottayam district]]<br />
[[Category:Writers from Pune]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian Roman Catholic theologians]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian Roman Catholic theologians]]<br />
[[Category:Catholic philosophers]]<br />
[[Category:Integral thought]]<br />
[[Category:Hermeneutists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian philosophers]]<br />
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