Description
Book SynopsisBeyond Agreement addresses the thorny question of how to make interreligious dialogue productive when the religious differences are so large that finding common ground seems unlikely. The book offers a way to think about interreligious dialogue that allows people to stay committed to their own truth as they have come to know it while being open to learning from other religions. It then outlines a way for Christian theologians to enter into a profitable dialogue with the beliefs and traditions of other religions by presenting practical steps to follow in order to keep the dialogue productive and respectful of similarities and differences among religions.
Trade ReviewThis book joins the growing rank of distinguished works on religious pluralism, interreligious dialogue, and comparative theology and will be a necessary reading for those interested in these challenging themes. -- Peter C. Phan, The Ignacio Ellacuria Chair of Catholic Social Thought, Georgetown University
Beyond Agreement is certainly original; it presents a Wittgensteinian approach to comparative theology and applies it by way of a reading of the Gospel of John through the Tao notion of wu wei. The text reads very well, the writing is clear, and the argument proceeds logically to its conclusion. This is solid scholarship on interreligious dialogue. -- Thomas Cattoi, Jesuit School of Theology
Steinkerchner makes both a vigorous and a rigorous defense of comparative theology: he shows how and why we can and should learn from those whom we hold to be fundamentally wrong. Whether one is convinced by his case or not, following him as he carefully constructs it, is both thoroughly engaging and enlightening. -- Paul F. Knitter, Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions, and Culture, Union Theological Seminary
This is a carefully argued challenge to those who find religious differences problematic. The author turns difference into an opportunity for learning, self-transformation, and critical engagement, helpfully furthering the project of comparative theology. -- Gavin D'Costa, University of Bristol
This is an excellent book that takes up the challenge of whether and how to pursue interreligious dialogue when one has no interest in changing one's religious affiliation because one knows his own faith tradition is right. Steinkerchner wisely suggests that the purpose of dialogue is not agreement, lest it be defeated from the start, but to find a rapport and understanding that lies beyond agreement. Drawing on examples from Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity, this engaging book is a creative contribution to an area of increasing interest and concern—dialogue or lack thereof among the religions of the world. -- Donald Goergen, OP, author of Fire of Love
Table of ContentsChapter 1: The Problem and Promise of Interreligious Dialogue Notes Chapter 2: The Relativity of Certainty The Context Language-Games and Family-Resemblance Meaning World-Pictures Doubts and Mistakes Certainty How Similar Must World-Pictures Be? Scientific Evidence Notes Chapter 3: Talking Across Certainties The Context Letting the Difference Make a Difference Working with Multiple World-Pictures Religions and World-Pictures How Different Can World-Pictures Be? Engaging in Dialogue across Disparate World-Pictures Other Interpretations of Wittgenstein Notes Chapter 4: A Model Dialogue across Disparate World-Pictures The Tao Te Ching The Tao Effective Leadership Wu-wei The Gospel of John The Arrest (18:1-12) Before the High Priest (18:13-28) Pilate's Trial (18:28b-19:16) Jesus' Ressurection Conclusions Notes Chapter 5: Principles and Practices of Comparative Theology How to Engage in Comparative Projects Beyond These Comparisons, What Might We Gain? What Do We Risk? Notes Bibliography
