Table of Contents

Introduction John B. Cobb Jr. 1

1 Rethinking Christian Faith in the Context of Religious Diversity John B. Cobb Jr. 9

The Story 9

Introduction 10

Transforming Christian Teaching 11

Our Pluralistic Context 26

Practical Implications 36

For Further Reading 40

Questions for Discussion 40

2 Jews and Christians through the Ages: A Troubled Relationship Eva Fleischner 41

Introduction 42

Terminology 45

The Parting of the Ways 48

The Medieval Period 54

The Reformation 58

From Reformation to Shoah 62

The Shoah 65

From the Teaching of Contempt to the Teaching of Respect 67

Jewish-Christian Relations Today 74

Conclusion 81

For Further Reading 84

Questions for Discussion 85

3 Islam and Christians Ward M. McAfee 87

Introduction 88

A Clash of Civilizations? 89

Early Islamic History 92

Islamic Expansion 100

The Rise of Sufism 101

Theological Similarities and Differences 103

Social-Ethical Similarities and Differences 107

Our Actual Relationship 113

The Judeo-Islamic-Christian Tradition 118

Theological Conclusions 121

For Further Reading 128

Questions for Discussion 129

4 Buddha for Christians Dickson Kazuo Yagi 131

Introduction 131

Basic Teaching 134

Early Buddhism 135

Theism or Atheism? 142

Yin Yang: Redemptive Defeat 147

No Self and the Christian Faith 148

Disappointing Developments 151

Encouraging Developments 157

Stories 164

For Further Reading 166

Questions for Discussion 167

5 Indigenous American Religious Advice for Our Troubled Age Ward M. McAfee 169

Introduction 169

Vine Deloria Jr. 172

Native American Christian Theology 175

Envisioning a New Mentality 179

Conclusion 181

Further Reading 183

Questions for Consideration 184

6 Theological Response John B. Cobb Jr. 185

The Abrahamic Traditions 190

Judaism 191

Islam 196

Buddhism 199

Native American Spirituality 206

Conclusion 211

Glossary 213

Notes 225

Index 237