Loss and Hope: Global, Interreligious and Interdisciplinary Perspectives

Description

What are the spiritual consequences of abuse and trauma? Where is God? How and why does such senseless suffering occur? What is the relationship between loss and hope? What are the benefits of examining loss and hope from an interreligious focus? These are some of the questions addressed in this volume, written by leading international scholars and which also includes contributions by those who have suffered: survivors of genocide and state terror. Case studies of loss and hope from around the world are discussed, including from the United States, Ireland, Sri Lanka, India, Iran, Iraq, Argentina, China, and Chile. Religions examined include Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism. Three interconnected lenses are used to explore new perspectives on loss and hope: survivors and victims' testimony; interfaith studies; and ethical approaches. The book highlights the need for responses to atrocity that transcend differences within gender, class, religion, race and ethnicity. The authors stress the need for partnership and dialogue from an interfaith perspective, and while neither hiding not unduly minimizing the extent of losses in the world, attempt to establish an ethics of hope in the face of destabilizing losses in the realms of human rights and post-conflict resolution. Loss and Hope is the first book to bring together this high level and diversity of scholars living and working all over the world from different faith, cultural and ethnic backgrounds examining the universal themes of loss and hope.

Peter Admirand is Lecturer in the School of Theology, Mater Dei Institute, Dublin City University, Ireland.

"Loss" and "hope" are not only universal features of human existence; they also characterize much of contemporary sentiment. Moving and thought-provoking, the case studies and principle reflections in this volume envisage crucial human experiences within a global, multi-religious and multi-perspectival framework. They shed fresh light on our understanding of the human condition. -- Professor Perry Schmidt-Leukel, University of Muenster, Germany Loss and Hope brings together survivors, scholars and activists in a global inter-religious dialogue that both honours and transcends the particular political, geographical and historical context of trauma. More than merely inspirational, this collection gives hope to despair in a fully plural ensemble of critical theological voices. This is a massive contribution to conflict studies, contemporary public theology and to the wider understanding of the nature and range of human spiritual resistance. * Melissa Raphael, Professor of Jewish Theology, University of Gloucestershire * The authors in this volume Loss and Hope are all reflective, "mature," persons in the sense that they have experienced serious, often devastating, loss of many different kinds. And yet-because-they held onto, or were grasped by, or mysteriously both, hope, they are the more human, and therefore "divine," however mysteriously understood. * Leonard Swidler, Professor of Catholic Thought and Interreligious Dialogue, Temple University * In this bold, original, and timely collection of essays, Admirand has assembled leading international and interreligious voices of human rights. With this volume Admirand emerges as a new champion of the suffering by demonstrating the genuine service that academics can offer to the oppressed. He offers a beacon of hope to all who question the meaning of their suffering. * Rafael Luevano Associate Professor, Chapman University, Orange, California *