One Christ-Many Religions

by S J Samartha

Overview

Here is a wise, radical, and illuminating book on the obstacles that a rigid interpretation of orthodox christological doctrines presents to dialogue with persons of other faiths. One Christ--Many Religions examines religious pluralism today and, in the light of its implications for the global community, suggests the contours of a revised christology more credible to Christians and their neighbors of other faiths. Samartha argues that the problem with the christological dogmas of the first Ecumenical Councils is not their truth so much as their interpretation, and the un-Christian zealotry they seem to engender in Christians. Sensitive to charges of sentiments of racial and cultural superiority that stem from Christians believing themselves uniquely authorized agents of God, Samartha challenges us to admit the truth of these accusations, and to revise our understanding of Jesus. Without such christological revisions, Samartha fears, Christianity may cease to be Christian, may become enfeebled in the pursuit of justice for the oppressed, alienated from the deeper challenge of Jesus, sealed off from the truths of other religions, and, ultimately, may be barred from experiencing the rich and mysterious encounter of God. ""A decisively valuable contribution . . . Samartha, who knows both Western and Indian religious thought in depth, has given us a book accessible yet impressive in its scholarship. It distills the wisdom of a long life spent in the pursuit of a christology that overcomes the problems of Christian exclusivism and is faithful to the way taught by Jesus . . . a book of subtlety and grace, theologically credible, spiritually satisfying, and pastorally helpful."" --Tissa Balasurlya, O.M.I. Center for Society and Religion, Sri Lanka ""I recommend this book not because it has neat answers to complicated problems that confront Christian tradition in this day of religious pluralism, but because it makes readers reflect on how they themselves should explore these problems."" --Joseph M. Kitagawa, University of Chicago Divinity School S. J. Samartha has lectured and served as director at Karnataka Theological College, United Theological College, and Serampore College in India. The first director of the Dialogue Programme of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, he now teaches at the South Asia Theological Research Institute, Bangalore. His books include Hindu Response to the Unbound Christ, The Other Side of the River, and The Search for New Hermeneutics in Asian Christian Theology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498232647
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	06/29/2015
Pages:	206
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

S. J. Samartha has lectured and served as director at Karnataka Theological College, United Theological College, and Serampore College in India. The first director of the Dialogue Programme of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, he now teaches at the South Asia Theological Research Institute, Bangalore. His books include Hindu Response to the Unbound Christ, The Other Side of the River, and The Search for New Hermeneutics in Asian Christian Theology.

Table of Contents

A Note on Orthography vii

Preface ix

1 New Perceptions of Religious Pluralism 1

The Context: From the Missiological to the Theological 1

The Roots of Pluralism 4

New Perceptions 6

Areas of Theological Concern 8

2 The Other End of the Dialogue Bridge 13

Limits of Christian-Initiated Dialogues 13

Jewish Hesitations and Fears 16

Muslim Responses and Initiatives 20

Hindu Models of Dialogue 22

Buddhist Attitudes 26

Christians: Teachers or Learners? 29

3 Religions, Cultures, and the Struggle for Justice 32

Economic Injustice and Theological Injustice 32

Need for New Relationships 37

Northern Study of Southern Religions 39

Issues for Study 42

4 Religious Identities in a Secular State 45

Religions and National Life 45

The Secular State in a Multireligious Society 47

The Ideology of Communalism 50

Role of Religions in the Secular State 51

Religions in a Multireligious Society 55

5 Scripture and Scriptures 58

The Plurality of Scriptures 59

Hermeneutics in a Multiscriptural Context 62

Language; "Spokenness" and "Writtenness" 64

The Quest for New Hermeneutics in Asia 66

Some Principles of Interpreration 73

6 Christ in Multireligious Culture 76

Changes in Christian Response to Other Faiths 77

Four Moments in Interreligious Relationships in India 79

The Meaning of Jesus and the Mystery of God 82

Toward a Theocentric Christology 89

7 Toward a Revised Chrintology 92

Christology within Theology 92

From Intra-Christian to Interreligious 96

Exclusive Claims: Roots and Consequences 98

Truth and the Either/Or Mind-set 103

The Unitive Vision of Advaita 107

8 The Making ok a Revised Christology 112

The Context of Revision 112

Helicopter Christology vs. Bullock-cart Christology 115

New Testament Witnesses to Jesus of Nazareth 120

The Buddha 124

The Historicity of Rama and Krishna 126

9 The Substance of a Revised Christology 132

Faith and History 132

Marks of a Revised Christology 133

The Kingdom of God 134

The Freedom Christ Brings 135

The Cross-Resurrection Event 136

The Crucified and Risen One in a Religiously Plural World 140

10 Mission in a Religiously Plural World 142

The Historic Context 142

Changes Since Tambaram 145

Major Issues 147

Plurality of Methods 149

Missions and Conversions 150

The Content of Mission 150

Contribution of Christian Mission 152

Notes 155

Bibliography of Works S. J. Samartha 179

Index 187

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"A decisively valuable contribution . . . Samartha, who knows both Western and Indian religious thought in depth, has given us a book accessible yet impressive in its scholarship. It distills the wisdom of a long life spent in the pursuit of a christology that overcomes the problems of Christian exclusivism and is faithful to the way taught by Jesus . . . a book of subtlety and grace, theologically credible, spiritually satisfying, and pastorally helpful."
—Tissa Balasurlya, O.M.I. Center for Society and Religion, Sri Lanka

"I recommend this book not because it has neat answers to complicated problems that confront Christian tradition in this day of religious pluralism, but because it makes readers reflect on how they themselves should explore these problems."
—Joseph M. Kitagawa, University of Chicago Divinity School

Editorial Reviews

"A decisively valuable contribution . . . Samartha, who knows both Western and Indian religious thought in depth, has given us a book accessible yet impressive in its scholarship. It distills the wisdom of a long life spent in the pursuit of a christology that overcomes the problems of Christian exclusivism and is faithful to the way taught by Jesus . . . a book of subtlety and grace, theologically credible, spiritually satisfying, and pastorally helpful."
—Tissa Balasurlya, O.M.I. Center for Society and Religion, Sri Lanka

"I recommend this book not because it has neat answers to complicated problems that confront Christian tradition in this day of religious pluralism, but because it makes readers reflect on how they themselves should explore these problems."
—Joseph M. Kitagawa, University of Chicago Divinity School

From the Publisher