Joshua Raj

Joshua Raj
Bishop Presbyter
Church	Christianity
See	Anglican Orthodox Church
In Office	2002 to Present

Joshua Raj
Born	1 December British Singapore
Residence	Alberta
Fields	Medicine, Theology

Dr. Joshua Raj is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and an ordained minister, who authored A Biblical Approach to Indian Traditions and Beliefs, and A Guide to the Prevention and Treatment of Back Pain that is grounded in evidence-based research. Dr. Raj is a graduate of Seminary Theology Malaysia and has a postgraduate degree in practical theology. He is the coordinator for Indian and Asian missions for the Anglican Orthodox Church.

Reception of Biblical Approach

Heart Rock Media states that the book explains that certain "Indian practices and beliefs are clearly incompatible with biblical teaching, due to their religious connotations and associations. At other times, the Indian Christian is confronted with family situations, beliefs and traditions for which guidelines are not given in the Bible. In such situations, Christians [of subcontinental descent] may disagree on what to do."

The Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore, Dr. Robert Solomon commented, "This book addresses a very important area in the lives of most Indian Christians. The author's deep commitment to biblical teaching and a perspective that aims at approaching issues with 'agape' love are particularly helpful."

It is also reviewed, "This well-researched book fills a need for Indian Christians who are searching for guidance when confronted with beliefs, traditions, rituals and practices in the non-Christian Indian community. It reveals the truth about Christian living. This useful guide also discusses certain Indian spiritual and religious practices, and gives advice on the daily struggles of believers. Written from the agape (love) perspective, this resource is helpful for the new convert to Christianity, the generational Christian who may need to adjust his life, and leaders who seek some form of consistency in approaching the Indian diaspora."

Personal life

Dr. Raj is a family man with a wife and three children and first-cousin to British actor James Floyd. He became a Christian in medical school when the biological complexity of the human body revealed God’s beautiful design. Dr. Raj completed his postgraduate training in the UK and has performed surgery on the spine and corrected many spinal deformities. He was involved in pioneering non-surgical treatments for back pain, especially for patients with chronic backache or whose back surgery had failed. Dr. Raj has refined and used many non-operative, evidence-based methods in successfully treating patients with back pain. His Christian journey has included opportunities to minister in Indian churches of different denominations in many countries. He has partnered with medical colleagues to consider offering medical services to the underprivileged and poor, being a continuous advocate for native missionaries, having seen patients every year at medical camps and by referral. Some patients have been operated per gratia, as in free of charge in these missions. Through all jurisdictions of the Anglican Orthodox Church in India, there are medical camps set up to treat illnesses, including areas where the tsunami affected fishing villages of South India, particularly in Andhra Pradesh.

External links

1. http://www.amazon.com/Biblical-Approach-Indian-Traditions-Beliefs/dp/9814222399/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226889038&sr=1-1
2. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/9814222399/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
3. http://www.armourpublishing.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=joshua+raj&x=15&y=7 (publication of Joshua Raj's Biblical Traditions)
4. http://www.zibb.com/all/theme/c/Orthopaedic+Surgery (Joshua Raj as an orthopaedic surgeon)
5. http://anglicanorthodoxchurch.org/clergy_big.php?id=10 (Joshua Raj as an ordained minister)
6. http://www.southasiamission.com (Missions to India)
7. http://www.southasianconnection.com/authors/217/Dr-Joshua-Raj