A Liminal Conversation at the Theological Pub
Madhva, Adrian van Kaam, and Arjuna on Ontology, Formation, and Karmaṇighora
Keywords:
Dvaita Vedānta, Formation Theology, Bhagavadgītā, Madhva, Adrian van Kaam, Arjuna, Ontology, Karmaṇighora, Interreligious Dialogue, Spiritual Formation, Theological Pub, Comparative Theology, Kurukṣetra, Guṇas, LiminalityAbstract
This essay presents a fictional yet philosophically rigorous dialogue between three figures—Madhva, the father of Dvaita Vedānta; Adrian van Kaam, the founder of Formation Theology; and Arjuna, the warrior prince from the Mahābhārata—set in a symbolic “theological pub.” Framed by the metaphorical setting, the conversation explores the ontological implications of violent combat (karmaṇighora) as experienced by Arjuna in the Bhagavadgītā. The author contrasts Madhva's assertion of the jīva’s unchanging nature amidst battle with van Kaam’s dynamic model of spiritual formation, which interprets the soul as contextually shaped. Through this inter-traditional engagement, the essay underscores how theological integrity and mutual respect can coexist with disagreement, offering new insights into neglected experiential dimensions of sacred texts.
