Author: Marjorie Suchocki Publisher: ISBN: Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 132
Book Description
One of today's foremost theologians presents the case for embracing religious pluralism as integral to the Christian gospel. Religious pluralism is a fact in North American society today. More than at any other time, adherents of different religious traditions live, work, and play side by side. Yet the fact of religious pluralism creates a tension for a large number of Christians. At the same time they have realized that Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and members of many other religious groups have become their neighbors, they are also aware of Christian teachings that seem to exclude these groups. Statements such as "no one comes to the Father except through me," and "outside the church there is no salvation," seem to imply that these new neighbors are not part of the family of God, or at least that their religious beliefs and practices are not viable avenues to human wholeness and salvation. In this insightful and irenic work, Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki demonstrates that Christians need not ignore, nor even compromise, the teachings of the gospel in order to accept and rejoice in religious pluralism. She argues that the Christian doctrines of creation, incarnation, the image of God, and the reign of God make the diversity of religions necessary. Without such diversity the rich and deep community of humanity that is the goal of the Christian gospel cannot be realized. Along the way Suchocki rejects the exclusivist claim that there can be no relationship with God apart from the church, and the inclusivist idea that Christianity is the highest expression of the search for God, with other religions possessing in part that which Christians possess in full. She argues instead for a pluralist position, insisting on a full recognition of the distinctive gifts that all of the religious traditions bring to the human table.
Author: Alexandra Kent Publisher: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies ISBN: 9812307400 Category : Hinduism Languages : en Pages : 212
Book Description
This book looks closely at the Malaysian following of the contemporary Indian godman, Sathya Sai Baba, a neo-Hindu guru famed for his miracle-working. The "911" attacks on the United States and subsequent "war on terrorism" have brought a discussion of transnational "religious" networks onto centre stage. While the Sai Baba movement has no militaristic ideology, it may - like any other such movement - ultimately call into question the sovereignty of the nation state. Today, then, issues of fa ...
Author: Jarvis J. Williams Publisher: Baker Academic ISBN: 1493432605 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 224
Book Description
This book provides a comprehensive biblical and theological survey of the people of God in the Old and New Testaments, offering insights for today's transformed and ethnically diverse church. Jarvis Williams explains that God's people have always been intended to be a diverse community. From Genesis to Revelation, God has intended to restore humanity's vertical relationship with God, humanity's horizontal relationship with one another, and the entire creation through Jesus. Through Jesus, both Jew and gentile are reconciled to God and together make up a transformed people. Williams then applies his biblical and theological analysis to selected aspects of the current conversation about race, racism, and ethnicity, explaining what it means to be the church in today's multiethnic context. He argues that the church should demonstrate redemptive kingdom diversity, for it has been transformed into a new community that is filled with many diverse ethnic communities.
Author: John J. Thatamanil Publisher: Fordham University Press ISBN: 0823288536 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 183
Book Description
Christian theologians have for some decades affirmed that they have no monopoly on encounters with God or ultimate reality and that other religions also have access to religious truth and transformation. If that is the case, the time has come for Christians not only to learn about but also from their religious neighbors. Circling the Elephant affirms that the best way to be truly open to the mystery of the infinite is to move away from defensive postures of religious isolationism and self-sufficiency and to move, in vulnerability and openness, toward the mystery of the neighbor. Employing the ancient Indian allegory of the elephant and blind(folded) men, John J. Thatamanil argues for the integration of three often-separated theological projects: theologies of religious diversity (the work of accounting for why there are so many different understandings of the elephant), comparative theology (the venture of walking over to a different side of the elephant), and constructive theology (the endeavor of re-describing the elephant in light of the other two tasks). Circling the Elephant also offers an analysis of why we have fallen short in the past. Interreligious learning has been obstructed by problematic ideas about “religion” and “religions,” Thatamanil argues, while also pointing out the troubling resonances between reified notions of “religion” and “race.” He contests these notions and offers a new theory of the religious that makes interreligious learning both possible and desirable. Christians have much to learn from their religious neighbors, even about such central features of Christian theology as Christ and the Trinity. This book envisions religious diversity as a promise, not a problem, and proposes a new theology of religious diversity that opens the door to robust interreligious learning and Christian transformation through encountering the other.
Author: Catherine A. Brekus Publisher: Univ of North Carolina Press ISBN: 0807869147 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 544
Book Description
From the founding of the first colonies until the present, the influence of Christianity, as the dominant faith in American society, has extended far beyond church pews into the wider culture. Yet, at the same time, Christians in the United States have disagreed sharply about the meaning of their shared tradition, and, divided by denominational affiliation, race, and ethnicity, they have taken stances on every side of contested public issues from slavery to women's rights. This volume of twenty-two original essays, contributed by a group of prominent thinkers in American religious studies, provides a sophisticated understanding of both the diversity and the alliances among Christianities in the United States and the influences that have shaped churches and the nation in reciprocal ways. American Christianities explores this paradoxical dynamic of dominance and diversity that are the true marks of a faith too often perceived as homogeneous and monolithic. Contributors: Catherine L. Albanese, University of California, Santa Barbara James B. Bennett, Santa Clara University Edith Blumhofer, Wheaton College Ann Braude, Harvard Divinity School Catherine A. Brekus, University of Chicago Divinity School Kristina Bross, Purdue University Rebecca L. Davis, University of Delaware Curtis J. Evans, University of Chicago Divinity School Tracy Fessenden, Arizona State University Kathleen Flake, Vanderbilt University Divinity School W. Clark Gilpin, University of Chicago Divinity School Stewart M. Hoover, University of Colorado at Boulder Jeanne Halgren Kilde, University of Minnesota David W. Kling, University of Miami Timothy S. Lee, Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University Dan McKanan, Harvard Divinity School Michael D. McNally, Carleton College Mark A. Noll, University of Notre Dame Jon Pahl, The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia Sally M. Promey, Yale University Jon H. Roberts, Boston University Jonathan D. Sarna, Brandeis University
Author: Bruce Sanguin Publisher: Wood Lake Publishing Inc. ISBN: 1551455455 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 278
Book Description
In March 2005, the United Nations released its Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Among the findings: 2/3 of the world's ecosystems are seriously degraded; 90 percent of the world's fish stocks are depleted; and climate change is not just something that might happen, it is already upon us. Many people, including many Christians, will hear this and delude themselves into thinking that technology can and will save the day. A wiser and more helpful response, especially for Christians, is to find a way to step back into the flow of nature from which we have extricated ourselves. In "Darwin, Divinity, and the Dance of the Cosmos", Bruce Sanguin shows us the way. Sanguin draws on the latest scientific understandings of the nature of the universe and weaves them together with biblical meta-narratives and frequently overlooked strands of the Judeo-Christian tradition to create an ecological and truly evolutionary Christian theology -- a feat few theologians have even attempted. This book -- and more importantly the work of integration it suggests -- represents a fundamental challenge to our theological and liturgical models. But for those who are ready and willing to embark on an exciting theological journey of discovery, it also represents a rich opportunity to become reacquainted with the Spirit of God moving in and through the very dynamics of an unfolding universe. In "Darwin, Divinity, and the Dance of the Cosmos", Sanguin draws on the latest scientific understandings of the nature of the universe and weaves them together with biblical meta-narratives and frequently overlooked strands of the Judeo-Christian tradition to create an ecological and truly evolutionary Christian theology.
Author: Mirosław Szatkowski Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG ISBN: 3111332535 Category : Philosophy Languages : en Pages : 830
Book Description
This volume announces a new era in the philosophy of God. Many of its contributions work to create stronger links between the philosophy of God, on the one hand, and mathematics or metamathematics, on the other hand. It is about not only the possibilities of applying mathematics or metamathematics to questions about God, but also the reverse question: Does the philosophy of God have anything to offer mathematics or metamathematics? The remaining contributions tackle stereotypes in the philosophy of religion. The volume includes 35 contributions. It is divided into nine parts: 1. Who Created the Concept of God; 2. Omniscience, Omnipotence, Timelessness and Spacelessness of God; 3. God and Perfect Goodness, Perfect Beauty, Perfect Freedom; 4. God, Fundamentality and Creation of All Else; 5. Simplicity and Ineffability of God; 6. God, Necessity and Abstract Objects; 7. God, Infinity, and Pascal's Wager; 8. God and (Meta-)Mathematics; and 9. God and Mind.
Author: Vejai Randy Etwaroo Publisher: Vejai Randy Etwaroo ISBN: Category : Juvenile Nonfiction Languages : en Pages : 266
Book Description
Awakеning Divinity:" Unlеashing Thе Powеr Of Hinduism" takеs you on a transformativе journеy through thе dеpths of Hinduism's profound tеachings, rituals, philosophy, and cultural hеritagе. Explorе thе 25 captivating chaptеrs that dеlvе into еvеry facеt of this anciеnt tradition, from thе sacrеd scripturеs and philosophical systеms to thе divеrsе practicеs, social issuеs, arts, sciеncеs, and thеir rеlеvancе in thе modеrn world. Dеlvе into thе wisdom of thе Vеdas, Upanishads, and othеr anciеnt tеxts that form thе foundation of Hindu philosophy. Uncovеr thе sеcrеts of thе Trimurti, thе divinе trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, and discovеr thеir significancе in thе cosmic ordеr. Explorе thе powеrful prеsеncе of goddеssеs and othеr dеitiеs in Hinduism and thеir еmbodimеnt of various aspеcts of divinity. Immеrsе yoursеlf in thе captivating storiеs of thе Ramayana and Mahabharata, and uncovеr thе symbolism and tеachings еmbеddеd within thеsе еpic talеs. Discovеr thе rich symbolism and tеachings found in othеr mythological storiеs that havе shapеd thе Hindu worldviеw for cеnturiеs. Witnеss thе rolе of rituals, fеstivals, and lifе-cyclе cеrеmoniеs in Hinduism and undеrstand thеir significancе in spiritual practicе and pеrsonal transformation. Expеriеncе thе powеr of yoga and mеditation as pathways to sеlf-rеalization and innеr awakеning. Gain insight into thе major fеstivals that cеlеbratе thе divеrsity and spiritual еssеncе of Hinduism. Explorе thе social, cultural, and еnvironmеntal dimеnsions of Hinduism, including thе castе systеm, womеn's еmpowеrmеnt, and thе rеligion's influеncе on art, litеraturе, music, and architеcturе. Witnеss thе intеgration of Hinduism with tеchnology in thе digital agе and its impact on spiritual practicе, еducation, and global outrеach. Engagе with thе profound philosophical systеms of Hinduism, from Advaita Vеdanta's non-dualistic pеrspеctivе to thе dualism of Samkhya. Gain an undеrstanding of karma and rеincarnation and thеir implications for pеrsonal rеsponsibility and spiritual еvolution. Witnеss thе dynamic intеrplay bеtwееn Hinduism and othеr major rеligions, such as Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, and еxplorе thе principlеs of intеrfaith dialoguе and harmony. Discovеr thе significancе of dеvotion (bhakti) as a spiritual path and lеarn about thе tеachings of prominеnt bhakti saints throughout history. Gain insights into thе challеngеs and opportunitiеs that Hinduism faces in thе modеrn world, from adapting to technological advancеmеnts to addrеssing social issues and promoting sustainability. Explorе thе еnduring rеlеvancе of Hindu philosophy in providing guidancе, еthical principlеs, and a holistic worldviеw in a rapidly changing society. Awakеning Divinity: "Unlеashing Thе Powеr Of Hinduism" is a comprеhеnsivе еxploration that cеlеbratеs thе timеlеss wisdom, spiritual dеpth, and cultural richnеss of Hinduism. Whеthеr you arе a sееkеr on a spiritual journеy, a scholar of rеligion, or simply curious about thе profound tеachings of Hinduism, this book will immеrsе you in a transformativе еxpеriеncе that unlocks thе powеr of divinity within you.
Author: Harold A. Netland Publisher: Baker Academic ISBN: 1441221905 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 304
Book Description
This book explores how religions have changed in a globalized world and how Christianity is unique among them. Harold Netland, an expert in philosophical aspects of religion and pluralism, offers a fresh analysis of religion in today's globalizing world. He challenges misunderstandings of the concept of religion itself and shows how particular religious traditions, such as Buddhism, undergo significant change with modernization and globalization. Netland then responds to issues concerning the plausibility of Christian commitments to Jesus Christ and the unique truth of the Christian gospel in light of religious diversity. The book concludes with basic principles for living as Christ's disciples in religiously diverse contexts.
Author: Charles E. Curran Publisher: Georgetown University Press ISBN: 1626166323 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 280
Book Description
In Charles E. Curran’s latest book, Diverse Voices in Modern US Moral Theology, he presents the diverse voices of US Catholic moral theologians from the mid-twentieth century to the present. The book discusses eleven key individuals in the development and evolution of moral theology as well as the New Wine, New Wineskins movement. This diversity, which differs from the monolithic understanding of moral theology that prevailed until recently, comes from the diverse historical circumstances or Sitz im Leben of the authors. Each of these theologians developed her or his approach in light of these circumstances and in response to shifts in the three audiences of moral theology—the Church, the academy, and the broader society. By exploring this diversity, Curran recognizes the deep divisions that exist within Catholic moral theology between the so-called “liberal” and “conservative” approaches and acknowledges the need for greater dialogue between them, providing a deeper understanding of the methods and approaches of these significant figures. This new book from a major figure in the field will be an important resource for students and scholars of US Catholic moral theology and for anyone seeking to understand the current state of moral theology in America today.
Author: Marjorie Suchocki
Author: Alexandra Kent
Author: Jarvis J. Williams
Author: John J. Thatamanil
Author: Catherine A. Brekus
Author: Bruce Sanguin
Author: Mirosław Szatkowski
Author: Vejai Randy Etwaroo
Author: Harold A. Netland
Author: Charles E. Curran