Goa, with its sun-kissed beaches, vibrant culture, and deep Christian heritage, is more than a tropical paradise—it’s a living tapestry of faith, history, and modernity.
With the growth of tourism in our postcolonial times, Goa offers a unique opportunity for theology of tourism which can indeed be a contribution to other tourist hosting communities. Here I humbly try to examine the potential for theology of tourism in Goa by contrasting two profound theological concepts: Jesus’ declaration “It is finished” (John 19:30) and William T. Cavanaugh’s critique of consumer culture in Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire.
These ideas provide a framework to reflect on Goa’s consumer-driven tourism, and the call to a deeper, transformative pilgrimage.
When Jesus uttered “It is finished” on the cross, He proclaimed the culmination of His redemptive mission. The phrase, rooted in the Greek tetelestai, signifies a completed transaction, a debt fully paid, and a purpose fulfilled.
In Christian theology, it marks the moment of ultimate sacrifice, where divine love triumphs over sin and death, inviting believers into a relationship with God grounded in grace, not transaction.
In Goa, this theology resonates deeply prestine beaches, rivers, mountains, trees as well as Goa’s historic churches, temples, Masjids and other sacred sites.
The Basilica of Bom Jesus, home to the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier, stands as a testament to the missionary zeal of the beloved Saint of Goa In a place infected by a consuming desire to consume , Christ’s “It is finished,” can become an therapeutic antidote to the reigning culture that says ‘ it is consumed’. Such an experience would contrast sharply with Goa’s party-centric tourism that seems to be consuming Goa, Goans and Goan-ness.
We can draw inspiration from.Catholic theologian William T. Cavanaugh who challenges the logic of modern consumer culture, arguing that it fosters a restless detachment from meaningful relationships with humans and creation.
He contrasts consumerism’s endless cycle of desire—where “detachment continually moves us from one product to another”—with the Eucharist, where consumption becomes an act of being “consumed by God” in communion with other humans and creation.
Cavanaugh’s theology critiques the commodification of human life, urging Christians to reframe economic and social practices around the flourishing of all, and not arround the accumulation of goods and wealth.
Goa’s tourism industry, while economically vital, often embodies the consumerist ethos that Cavanaugh critiques. The state’s beaches, nightlife, and luxury resorts cater to a “tourist gaze” that seeks to conquer and commodify experiences, reducing local culture to a backdrop for Instagram or Facebook posts.
Cavanaugh’s concept of tourism as an attempt to “fix the identities of non-Western subjects” within a Western framework rings true in Goa, where colonial-era churches and temples are sometimes treated as exotic photo ops rather than sacred spaces.
This dynamic risks hollowing out of the spiritual depth of Goa’s Christian and Hindu heritage, turning visitation of the tourists into mere consumption.Yet, Cavanaugh’s theology also offers a redemptive vision for tourism.
He advocates for economic practices rooted in the Eucharist, which “enacts a story of abundance” and challenges the boundaries between “haves and have-nots.”
In Goa, this could translate into theology of tourism that prioritizes local communities and promote sustainable tourism that protects ecology and Goan culture.
The contrast between “It is finished” and “It consumed” provides a compelling framework for theology tourism in Goa, inviting visitors to move beyond consumerism towards encounter of synodality with Goans, Goa and Goan-ness. Goan hospitality culture welcomes the Other without demanding the visitors to become same as Goans . Goa as a space of encounter can become a meeting point of Indianness as well as a blend of Indianness and vesitges Western-ness found in Goa.
The theology of tourism that contrast ‘ it is finished’ with ‘ it is consumed’ invites us to choose our alliances. It is a challenge to walk with Christ who was consumed by love of humanity and mission entusted to him or hand Goa and Goan-ness to market forces that will consume what is left of Goa and Goan-ness. ‘It is is finished’ exhort us to embrace the mission to save Goa. Cavanaug also thinks of Eucharistic consumption as communion. Hence, the theology of tourism challenges Catholics to build solidarity and communion with Goaness of all walkks of life and work to prevent the destruction of Goa.
The theology of tourism that Goa needs is a political theology . Such a theology will have embrace Eucharist care of the created world and Goan culture. It would mean it would requires care of the natural resources and heritage of Goa. This also means theology of tourism that will be impactful to Goa has to be a public theology.
Theology of tourism has to lead us to reflect on God abundance in Goa . Nature reflects abundance. Tourism is a participation in this divine abundance. There is a thin line between abundance and consumption .’It is finished ‘ is God abundance. It is the declaration of the arrival of Kairos. Hence. Theology of ‘ it is finished ‘ is about beginnings. It is about joining Jesus in a mission to bring God’s kingdom in Goa.
