The Catholic Church and the World Religions: A Theological and Phenomenological Account

Description

Introduction to the World's major religions from a Catholic Perspective.

Dr Gavin D'Costa is Professor of Catholic Theology, University of Bristol, England.

This is an extraordinary book - intellectually rigorous but not turgid, historically informed but not tedious, theologically astute but not doctrinally reified. Written by Catholics, and ostensibly for Catholics, the book's relevance extends well beyond the Roman Catholic Church to believers everywhere. The parodying so commonly found in Christian writing about other religions has been avoided in this book. Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and New Age devotees will without chagrin recognize themselves. With both religion and its stereotyping playing such a fractious role in our globalized world, this book will serve as a trustworthy guide for readers who want their engagement with the religious other to be marked by wisdom and integrity. -- Jonathan Bonk, Overseas Ministries Study Center, New Haven CT, USA 'Balanced, clear, and committed to conveying what the Church - above all at Vatican II - teaches on world religions, this book should find its way into classrooms across the globe. In terms of contemporary relevance, its chapters on Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism make it necessary reading. Highly recommended! -- Matthew Levering, University of Dayton, OH, USA. Pope Benedict XVI has called for a peaceful and reasoned dialogue of the great world religions. Such a dialogue acknowledges the truth of religious faith within contexts of human quests for justice and wisdom, rather than contexts of domination and repression. The Catholic Church and the World Religions is an important introduction to the Catholic Church's efforts to promote such dialogues with the great world religions of Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. -- Rev. Matthew L. Lamb, Ave Maria University, FL, USA. ... we are safe in the hands of Gavin D'Costa... whether you agree with his approach or not, he is always worth listening to. -- The Pastoral Review