Asian theologian Choan-Seng Song (C.S. Song), passed away on Tuesday at the age of 95. According to the alumni association of Tainan Theological College and Seminary, where he served as principal from 1965 to 1970, Song died at 4:16 a.m.
Song was a world-renowned theologian who developed Asia's "third-eye theology," which encouraged the formation of theology in Asian contexts while challenging Western-centric approaches. His work emphasized the importance of contextualization in theology and the formation of a new identity for Asian Christians, free from the oppression of injustices.
Among his key works are Christian Mission in Reconstruction: An Asian Analysis, Third-Eye Theology: Theology in Formation in Asian Settings, and Theology from the Womb of Asia.
His contributions to theology earned him recognition from Swiss theologian Henry Mottu, who listed him among the “12 figures of theology and religious philosophy in the 20th century,” alongside Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, and Jürgen Moltmann.
Born into a Presbyterian family in Tainan, Taiwan, in 1929, Song studied at National Taiwan University, the University of Edinburgh, and Union Theological Seminary. He was the Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Theology and Asian Cultures at the Pacific School of Religion. Additionally, he served as president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches from 1997 to 2004.
In recognition of his contributions, Song was conferred honorary theological doctorates from the University of Edinburgh and Tainan Theological College and Seminary, as well as an honorary humanities doctorate from Cornell University.
