JNANA DEEPA (JD) is the name given to the Pontifical Athenaeum in Pune in its Revised Statutes of 1972. The Pontifical Athenaeum has a history going back to 1893 when Pope Leo XIII founded the Papal Seminary in Kandy, Sri Lanka, and entrusted its direction and administration to the Society of Jesus. The charter of 27 July 1926, issued by the Holy See, elevated the Papal Seminary to the status of a Pontifical College with the rights and privilege of conferring the Baccalaureate, Licentiate and Doctorate in both Philosophy and Theology. In the Statutes of 1940, approved by the Congregation for Catholic Education, the Pontifical Athenaeum, comprising the Faculties of Philosophy and Theology, was given an autonomous status with its own academic and administrative setup. In 1955 the Papal Seminary-and, with it, the Papal Athenaeum-was transferred from Sri Lanka to Pune, in close proximity to De Nobili College, the Jesuit formation house in Pune.
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The mission of JD is to foster an integral understanding of the human person which mediates the vision of Jesus for India.
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This Vision Statement implies a whole series of objectives that JDV has set before itself, all of them seen in the interface between science, philosophy and religion.
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As a basis, we will need a human and philosophical vision that will promote personal, social and ecological well-being. On the theological level, in the light of Scripture and Tradition, we have to spell out Jesus’ vision for India. Contextualising this will demand processes of accurate information, critical analysis, and creative reflection on the Indian reality, religious pluralism, the Christian Faith, and the relationship between science, society and religion. Such an inter-disciplinary approach will enable us to articulate and develop an Indian Christian response to the situation of our country, with special reference to the oppressed and marginalized sections of society, such as women and the poor.
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JD’s vision will lead it to promote dialogue among religions, cultures, communities, and secular movements, in order to make a positive thrust towards inculturation. In the intra-Christian pluriform sphere, there will be a striving to foster dialogue with other denominations, as well as communion among individual Catholic churches, motivated by a respectful recognition of various traditions. Finally, in its avowed aim of service to the Church in India, JDV will endeavour to form Christian leaders imbued with the outlook and motivational principles that have just been outlined.
JD brings out a journal named Jnanadeepa: Pune Journal of Religious Studies, which publishes interdisciplinary articles, since 1998. See www.punejournal.in