Transformation by integration : how inter-faith encounter changes Christianity / Perry Schmidt-Leukel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Schmidt-Leukel, Perry.

Contributor:

Lachs-Adler Family Endowed Fund for Collection Development.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Christianity and other religions.

Physical Description:

216 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

London : SCM, 2009.

Summary:

A growing number of people experience their own spiritual lives as being inspired by more than one religious tradition. Some, among them several pioneers of inter-faith dialogue, have even declared their allegiance to several religious traditions. Multireligious identity formation and double-belonging are obvious signs of a process of significant transformation as a result of inter-faith encounter - a transformation that had been expected and positively willed by various inter-faith theologians. This book takes up the theological challenge and looks more deeply at a number of issues involved: What does it mean theologically to move beyond tolerance towards a genuine appreciation of other religions? How can multi-religious identity be assessed theologically? Will we have to reconsider the widespread dismissal of syncretism? Can Christian spirituality be deepened by Buddhist insights and can Christians accept the Buddha as a genuine mediator of the transcendent alongside Christ? What are the prospects of Comparative Theology and how can it contribute to the theological dimension of Christianity's transformation? This book takes the next theological step on the basis of a pluralist paradigm within the theology of religions.

Contents:

Part I. Between Confrontation and Interpenetration :

1. The struggle for peace : can religions help?

2. Tolerance and appreciation

3. Multireligious identity : problems and considerations

4. In defence of syncretism

5. Comparative theology : limits and prospects

Part II. Transforming Christianity :

6. Buddhism and Christianity : antagonistic or complementary?

7. Buddha and Christ as mediators of the transcendent

8. Uniqueness : a pluralistic reading of John 14:6

9. Chalcedon defended : a pluralistic re-reading of the two-natures doctrine

Epilogue :

10. Four frogs : studying religion with a religious interest

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [195]-211) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Lachs-Adler Family Endowed Fund for Collection Development.

ISBN:

9780334043171

0334043174

OCLC:

312626090

Publisher Number:

99936113567