Jnana Deepa
November 14, 2025 | JD Day | Papal Seminary Chapel
November 14, 2025 | JD Day | Papal Seminary Chapel
Kuruvilla Pandikattu SJ (Dumka Province)
26+10 years in Pune
www.kuru.in/jd
Contents
Forward ix
Introduction xv
Part I: Seeking Joyfully: Horizons of Thought and Faith
1. Derrida and Heidegger: Deconstruction, Destruktion,
and the Threshold of Thought
Prof. Dr. Nishant A. Irudayadason 3
2. Humans as Multi-Directionally Transcending
Dr. Johnson J. Puthenpurackal, OFM Cap 21
3. Capacity of Humans for Transcendence and Its Consequences
Prof. Dr. Jacob Parappally, MSFS 37
4. Death: Dreadful or Delightful? Philosophy of Science Perspectives on Life and Death
Prof. Dr. S. Stephen Jayard 49
5. TheoPhiloSophos as Transdisciplinary Methodology and Holistic Approach
Dr. Viorel Guliciuc 65
6. Karma, Samsara and Human Freedom
Prof. Dr. Thomas Chillikulam, SJ 81
Part II: Living Gracefully: Ethics, Relationships, and Responsibility
1. Integrity Is More Than Being Honest
Bp. Thomas Menamparampil, SDB 95
2. Gandhian Vision of Democracy: A Way to Peaceful Co-Existence
Prof. Dr. Isaac Parackal, OIC 113
3. The Father and Mother of Ahimsa: The Basis for Interreligious Dialogue
Dr. Varan Vardhan 127
4. Laudato Si and Sustainable Development Goals: Reconciliation Between Religious Tradition and Modernity for Sustainable Futures
Dr. George Joseph M. 145
5. Covenant as a Foundational Response to Yhwh’s Grace
Prof. Dr. Thomas Karimundackal, SJ 160
Part III: Dialogues Across Worlds: Science, Religion, and Culture
1. Public Theology: Finding God at the Bottom of the Pyramid
Prof. Dr. Sony Pellissery 187
2. Desiderio Desideravi’s Reiteration of the Power of Symbols
Prof. Dr. Francis Gonsalves, SJ 201
3. Navigating the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Scientific Advancements and the Evolving Role of the Church
Dr. Raju Felix Crasta 219
4. The Mind of the Forest: Eco-ethical Knowledge from Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon
Dr. Miguel Farias 233
5. On Identity: Rational Choice of Identity in Amartya Sen
Dr. Jojo Joseph Varakukalayil, CST 243
6. The Alternative Stance in Education from Tagore’s Contribution
Dr. Sekhar Sebastian 257
Part IV: Narratives of Grace: Encounters, Reflections, and Testimonies
1. Old Stories Newly Told: How Theology Shifts in Times of Crisis
Prof. Dr. Boris Repschinski, SJ 277
2. Humans as Storytellers
Dr. John Peter Vallabadoss, OFM Cap 295
3. Symbols and Sacred: From a Phenomenological Approach to the Significance and Depth of Reality and Faith Experience
Gargi Mukherjee 311
4. Inspiring Integrity and Integration: An Outline of the Academic and Ethical Contributions of Prof. Dr. Kuruvilla Pandikattu, SJ
Dr. Binoy Jacob, SJ 327
Our Contributors 343