Suffering: Christian Reflections on the Buddhist Dukkha

by Paul H. De Neui (Editor)

Overview

Christian Reflections on the Buddhist Dukkha

What is dukkha? In Buddhism this word encompasses the concepts of dis-ease, unsteadiness, sorrow, and lack of inner calm. In English it is usually translated simply as “suffering”. However it is defined, dukkha is central to understanding Buddhism. The Buddha described not only what it was, but taught that there is a way out of it.

Suffering is an undeniable theme in both Christianity and Buddhism. Both treat the topic with great intensity. Buddha taught that suffering was inherent to the mortal condition. Christ was born into a life of suffering and called disciples to follow him in this path. Through enlightenment Buddha pointed to a way out of suffering. Through his death Christ suffered once for all. Both groups experience suffering but often talk about it from completely different starting points. Are there insights from each perspective that can inform the other? We believe so.

Suffering: Christian Reflections on the Buddhist Dukkha is a collection of articles by Western and non-Western Christ followers for those who want to delve deeper into one important aspect of Buddhist worldview. It is written for the practitioner privileged to live and serve in the Buddhist context. This book is also for the Buddhist seeking to understand the Christian perspective on existence in today’s world where suffering is our ever-present reality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780878088492
Publisher:	Carey, William Library Publishers
Publication date:	02/03/2011
Series:	SEANET Series , #8
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	236
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Paul H. De Neui is an ordained minister with the Evangelical Covenant Church. He and his wife served as missionaries with church planting and community development organizations in northeast Thailand from 1987–2005. He completed his PhD in Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. Paul has been involved in SEANET for many years, dedicated to seeing the writings of emerging non-Western and other practitioners in print for the benefit of the global church. Presently he is the professor of missiology and intercultural studies and the director of the Center for World Christian Studies at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL.

Paul H. de Neui is an ordained minister with the Evangelical Covenant Church. He and his wife served as missionaries with church planting and community development organizations in northeast Thailand from 1987–2005. He completed his PhD in Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. Paul has been involved in SEANET for many years, dedicated to seeing the writings of emerging non-Western and other practitioners in print for the benefit of the global church. Presently he is the professor of missiology and intercultural studies and the director of the Center for World Christian Studies at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Contributors

Part I: Conceptual Foundations of Suffering

1. What is Being Communicated to Buddhists - Mali and Bantoon Boon-Itt

2. Doing A Thai Christian Theology of Suffering - Satanun Boonyakiat

3. What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: Ignorance as a Cause of Suffering in Buddhism and Christianity - Russell H. Bowers, Jr.

4. Suffering and Compassion in Buddhism and Christianity - Alex G. Smith

5. Continuities with Suffering as a Bridge to Evangelizing Buddhists - David S. Lim

Part II Ministry in the Midst of Suffering

6. Suffering, Death and Funerals in Thailand - Jane Barlow

7. Hope and Suffering Among South Asian Buddhists: Observations from the Field - Anton Francis

8. Three Responses to Suffering: A Cambodian Christian Perspective - Barnabas Mam as told to Bruce Hutchinson

9. Investigating Lay People’s Conceptions of Dukkha: Groundwork for Context-Sensitive Witness - Alan R. Johnson

10. An Evangelical Christian Observation of the Correlation between the Buddhist View of Sorrow (Dukkha) and Suicide in Sri Lanka - G. P. V. Somaratna

Glossary

References

Index