Buddhist-Christian dialogue as theological exchange
Subtitle: an Orthodox contribution to comparative theology
By: Ernest M. Valea
Publisher: Pickwick Publications
Published: 2015
Place of publication: Eugene, Oregon
Language: eng
Number of pages: 244
ISBN-13: 9781498221191
Copyright date: 2015
Subjects: Dialogue; Christianity and other religions; Religious aspects; Buddhism; Relations; Christianity
Description: "This book is intended to encourage the use of comparative theology in contemporary Buddhist-Christian dialogue as a new approach that would truly respect each religious tradition's uniqueness and make dialogue beneficial for all participants interested in a real theological exchange. As a result of the impasse reached by the current theologies of religions (exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism) in formulating a constructive approach in dialogue, this volume assesses the thought of the founding fathers of an academic Buddhist-Christian dialogue in search of clues that would encourage a comparativist approach. These founding fathers are considered to be three important representatives of the Kyoto School--Kitaro Nishida, Keiji Nishitani, and Masao Abe--and John Cobb, an American process theologian. The guiding line for assessing their views of dialogue is the concept of human perfection, as it is expressed by the original traditions in Mahayana Buddhism and Orthodox Christianity. Following Abe's methodology in dialogue, an Orthodox contribution to comparative theology proposes a reciprocal enrichment of traditions, not by syncretistic means, but by providing a better understanding and even correction of one's own tradition when considering it in the light of the other, while using internal resources for making the necessary corrections." --
Notes: Revision of author's thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wales, 2013.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 231-240) and index.
Table of contents: title: Part 1. Contemporary Buddhist-Christian dialogue and the issue of doctrinal presuppositions. Buddhist-Christian dialogue in the context of the three classic theologies of religions; title: exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralism; title: and comparative theology as a new approach to interfaith dialogue; title: An examination of doctrinal presuppositions in Mahayana Buddhism as a foundation for assessing Buddhist-Christian dialogue: human perfection as Buddhahood; title: An examination of doctrinal presuppositions in Orthodox Christianity as a foundation for assessing Buddhist-Christian dialogue: human perfection as deification; title: A revisiting of pluralism in light of the doctrinal foundations of Orthodox Christianity and Mahayana Buddhism and its impact on Buddhist and Christian dual belonging; title: part 2. A critical assessment of the founding fathers of contemporary Buddhist-Christian dialogue as a lead towards comparative theology. Kitaro Nishida (1870-1945): the first modern Japanese philosopher encounters Christianity; title: Keiji Nishitani (1900-1990): defeating Western nihilism with the resources of Zen Buddhism; title: Masao Abe (1915-2006): the work of a Zen apostle to the Western world; title: John B. Cobb Jr. (b. 1925): process theology as a resource for renewing both Buddhism and Christianity; title: Comparative theology and Buddhist-Christian dialogue; title: Conclusion.