Global Liberation Theologies from Human and Non-Human Subalterns

Can subalterns sing? Can we hear nonhuman subalterns? This papers session will create a unique interreligious and intercontinental conversation on liberation, liberative performance, subalterns, and eco-liberation.

"Can the Subaltern Sing" employs the concept of heterotopia to investigate the pivotal role of Dalit music and alternative spaces in fostering resistance and empowerment within Dalit communities. Through an analysis of the Casteless Collective's provocative music and utilization of diverse platforms, including social media and live performances, this study delves into the intersection of caste, gender, class, and ecological perspectives within Dalit musical traditions. Drawing from Michel Foucault's notion of heterotopia as counter-sites that challenge societal norms, the paper examines how these spaces enable Dalit artists to subvert oppressive structures and amplify marginalized voices. By exploring the Dalit sonic liberation theology, the paper seeks to harness the power of sound and rhythm to dismantle caste, gender, class, and ecological injustices, offering new pathways for theological discourse. Through a feminist Dalit lens, this research illuminates the transformative potential of music and alternative spaces in envisioning an anti-caste society and amplifying the voices of the silenced.

"The Earth as New Margins" questions what the earth is in the Qur’an. How have Muslims historically and conceptually interpreted it? What are contemporary Muslim eco-theological approaches to understanding the earth in relation to environmental violence, injustice, and the margins? The earth has always been humanity's home and return. It is at once our source of origin in material reality and our departure point for the Afterlife. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of scholarship on the earth concept in Islam from a systematic perspective. The environmentalist concept of the earth is still a nascent and emerging category in Islamic theology, law, and ecotheologies. This paper first introduces the historical and theoretical foundations of the earth concept in Islam by briefly examining its meaning in the Qur’an, Islamic law, theology and mysticism. However, the main aim of this paper is to argue for an ecoliberation theology reading of the earth.