The World’s Religious Traditions: Current Perspectives in Religious Studies

Description

The aim of this book is to make a major contribution to the field of religious studies while at the same time paying tribute to the work of Wilfred Smith. Although the basis of the chapters is provided by Smith’s themes of faith and tradition and Smith’s approach to the study of religion, this book stands in its own right as a significant addition to both content and method in the global history of religions. First published in 1984, it includes contributions by Geoffrey Parrinder, Annemarie Schimmel, George Rupp, Ninian Smart and others. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Preface Contents A. INTRODUCTORY ESSAY NOTES B. FAITH AND TRADITION IN THE WORLD'S RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS 1. The Hindu Tradition: The Vedic Root NOTES 2. The Confucian Tradition: A Confucian Perspective in Learning to be Human I. LEARNING FOR THE SAKE OF THE SELF II. UNDERSTANDING THROUGH INQUIRY III. CENTRALITY OF SELF-CULTIVATION IV. FROM A PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW V. CONFUCIUS AS AN EXEMPLAR VI. ULTIMATE MEANING IN ORDINARY EXISTENCE NOTES 3. The Jewish Tradition NOTES 4. The Christian Tradition INTRODUCTION I FOUR DEGREES OF SPECIFICITY IN FAITH II THE FOUR TEMPORAL LOCI OR MOMENTS OF SALVATION: ETERNAL, HISTORIC, EVERPRESENT, AND ESCHATOLOGICAL Ill CHRISTIANITY AND THE COMPARATIVE HISTORY OF RELIGION CONCLUSION NOTES 5. The Muslim Tradition NOTES C. CURRENT APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF RELIGION 1. Religious Pluralism NOTES 2. The Critical Appropriation of Traditions: Theology and the Comparative History of Religion I II III 3. The Philosophia Perennis and the Study of Religion NOTES 4. The Dialogical Dialogue INTRODUCTION I. BACKGROUND II. THESIS III. DIALOGUE AND DIALECTICS IV. DIALECTICAL DIALOGUE V. DIALOGICAL DIALOGUE VI. THINKING AND BEING VII. SUBJECT AND OBJECT VIII. I AND THOU IX. MYTH AND LOGOS APPENDIX 5. Bangalore Revisited: Balancing Understanding and Evaluation in the Comparative Study of Religion 6. Thematic Comparison NOTES 7. Scientific Phenomenology and Wilfred Cantwell Smith's Misgivings D. BIBLIOGRAPHY The works of Wilfred Cantwell Smith E. NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS F. INDEX