Circling the Elephant: A Comparative Theology of Religious Diversity by John J.

Description: Circling the Elephant by John J. Thatamanil This book argues that Christian theology must be done in conversation with other religions. The book integrates theology of religious diversity, comparative theology, and constructive theology by moving beyond reified accounts of "religions" that make interreligious learning impossible. The author proposes a new theory of the religious that celebrates interreligious learning. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher 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 Biography John J. Thatamanil is Associate Professor of Theology and World Religions at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. He is the author of The Immanent Divine: God, Creation, and the Human Predicament; An East–West Conversation (Fortress, 2006). He teaches a wide variety of courses in the areas of comparative theology, theologies of religious diversity, Hindu-Christian dialogue, the theology of Paul Tillich, theory of religion, and process theology. He is committed to the work of comparative theology—theology that learns from and with a variety of traditions. A central question that drives his work is "How can Christian communities come to see religious diversity as a promise rather than as a problem?" Table of Contents Preface: Autobiography and Comparative Theology | xiNote on Transliteration | xixIntroduction: Revisiting an Old Tale | 11 Religious Difference and Christian Theology: Thinking About,Thinking With, and Thinking Through | 212 The Limits and Promise of Exclusivism and Inclusivism: Assessing Major Options in Theologies of Religious Diversity | 413 No One Ascends Alone: Toward a Relational Pluralism | 704 Comparative Theology after Religion? | 1085 Defining the Religious: Comprehensive Qualitative Orientation | 1526 The Hospitality of Receiving: Mohandas Gandhi, Martin LutherKing, Jr., and Interreligious Learning | 1937 God as Ground, Singularity, and Relation: Trinity and Religious Diversity | 2138 This Is Not a Conclusion | 249Acknowledgments | 259Notes | 263Index | 289 Review Circling the Elephant is a compelling case for interreligious learning in our times, grounded in a convincing critique of religious traditions as impermeable historical fortresses. Theological arguments for openness to the wisdom of our neighbors traditions are richly illustrated by stories of the creativity and transformation that flow from such deep human encounters. Thatamanils work is a new and valuable resource for comparative theology, theologies of religious diversity, and constructive theology across traditions.---Anantanand Rambachan, St. Olaf CollegeRooted in the expansive diversity of our actual human existence, John Thatamanil offers a new approach to the well-worn paths of theologies of religious pluralism and comparative theology. Challenging the very category of religion from out of the near-infinite ways we humans orient ourselves in the world, this provocative proposal invites us to consider what it might still mean to be religious when the unbounded encounter with the beauty of the particular is data for theological reflection. As complex and complicated as our moment in history, Circling the Elephant is an invitation to embrace the bewildering divine and human with a creativity that just might make us want to be better people.---Jeannine Hill Fletcher, author of The Sin of White Supremacy: Christianity, Racism and Religious Diversity in AmericaWith rigorous research and wisdom from years of Hindu-Christian-Buddhist trialogue, Dr. Thatamanil presents a trinitarian theology of religious diversity that is expansive, provocative, and imaginative. It is deeply rewarding to witness how intra- and inter-religious dialogues occur in this creative theologians mind simultaneously on many levels. The book pushes the envelope of the ways constructive theology can be done!---Kwok Pui-lan, Deans Professor of Systematic Theology, Candler School of Theology, Emory UniversityCircling the Elephant is an enlightening seminal work of constructive theology that invites us to consider religious diversity as a blessing... this book will have a profound influence in the fields of theology and religious studies.-- "Critical Theology"Thatamanil has given us an important text that expands debates within and beyond the theology of religions and comparative theology and will become, I believe, part of the standard repertoire for students and scholars.---Paul Hedges, Journal of the American Academy of Religion Review Quote With rigorous research and wisdom from years of Hindu-Christian-Buddhist trialogue, Dr. Thatamanil presents a trinitarian theology of religious diversity that is expansive, provocative, and imaginative. It is deeply rewarding to witness how intra- and inter-religious dialogues occur in this creative theologians mind simultaneously on many levels. The book pushes the envelope of the ways constructive theology can be done! ---Kwok Pui-lan, Deans Professor of Systematic Theology, Candler School of Theology, Emory University Feature The most comprehensive argument to date about how and why Christians must learn from other religious traditions. Description for Sales People The most comprehensive argument to date about how and why Christians must learn from other religious traditions. Details ISBN0823288528 Author John J. Thatamanil Pages 320 Publisher Fordham University Press Series Comparative Theology: Thinking Across Traditions Year 2020 ISBN-10 0823288528 ISBN-13 9780823288526 Format Hardcover Imprint Fordham University Press Subtitle A Comparative Theology of Religious Diversity Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States Short Title Circling the Elephant Language English Series Number 8 UK Release Date 2020-06-02 Publication Date 2020-06-02 AU Release Date 2020-06-02 NZ Release Date 2020-06-02 US Release Date 2020-06-02 Translator David F. Tinsley Edited by David Harvie Birth 1945 Death 1997 Affiliation Lecturer, University of Aberdeen Position Contributor Qualifications M.D DEWEY 202 Audience Professional & Vocational We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:131534392;

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