Cradle of Christianity

Kerala is home to one of the world’s oldest continuous Christian traditions, the Thomas Christians ,whose origins trace to early maritime exchange networks across the Indian Ocean.

This program explores Christianity in India not as a colonial transplant, but as an ancient, deeply rooted lineage shaped by trade, liturgy, language, caste, colonial encounter, and community institutions.

Students examine ports, churches, archives, and living parish communities to understand how faith traditions adapt across centuries while maintaining distinct theological and cultural identities.

The approach integrates history, theology, oral history, and community-based documentation within an ethical engagement framework.

Students will:

Explain the historical distinctiveness of the Thomas Christian tradition within global Christianity.
Conduct ethical oral history and community-heritage documentation.
Analyze how colonial encounters shaped liturgy, language, architecture, and ecclesial identity.
Explore how maritime trade networks influenced religious formation in Kerala.
Ask compelling questions such as:
- What does it mean to be an ancient Christian lineage outside the Western world?
- How do faith communities preserve identity through periods of political and theological change?
Produce a structured micro-archive portfolio including interviews, site briefs, and interpretive maps.