Exploring the tension between religious pluralism and the validity of differing truth claims, this study argues for a constructive interaction among faiths. Perry Schmidt-Leukel defends the idea that Christians can acknowledge the truth in other religions without compromising their own beliefs. The book delves into how embracing pluralism can enhance dialogues between Christianity and other major religions, including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, offering fresh perspectives on interfaith relationships.
Buddhist-Christian relations in the East differ in various respects from those
in the West. The present volume offers the first comparative overview of the
Buddhist-Christian encounter in six Asian countries. It focusses on the three
Theravada Buddhist countries, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar, and on Japan,
Korea and China, where Mahayana Buddhism predominates. Outlines of the history
of Buddhist-Christian relations in each of these places are complemented by
the voices of Christians and Buddhists who actively participate in local
dialogue efforts. The contributions to this volume illustrate and highlight
specific particularities as well as commonalities regarding the problems and
promises of the dialogical encounter in Buddhist Asia. Issues of religious
doctrine and belief and the question of how best to relate to one another
appear in a new light by being presented in the context of Asia's historical,
social, and political dynamics. With contributions from Don Baker, Bantoon
Boon-Itt, Duleep de Chickera, Kenneth Fleming, Koichiro Fujita, Maria A. De
Giorgi, Elizabeth Harris, Jinwol Young Ho Lee, Sung-Hae Kim, Pan-Chiu Lai,
Samuel Ngun Ling, John D'Arcy May, Aye Min, U Hla Myint, Yasutomo Nishi,
Martin Repp, Perry Schmidt-Leukel, Yuen-tai So, Parichart Suwanbubbha, Asanga
Tilakaratne, Xue Yu.
A number of people experience their own spiritual lives as being inspired by
more than one religious tradition. This title looks at a number of issues
involved: what it means theologically to move beyond tolerance towards a
genuine appreciation of other religions, and how multi-religious identity can
be assessed theologically.
Focusing on Buddhist-Christian dialogue, the book caters to both general and specialized audiences. It explores fundamental topics while also presenting comparative insights from both Buddhist and Christian contributors, paving the way for new discussions and understanding between the two traditions.
