Transcendence and Violence: The Encounter of Buddhist, Christian, and Primal Traditions

by John D'Arcy May

Overview

The first two parts of this book present four detailed historical studies, filled with Geertzian "thick description," of the encounters of Christianity and Buddhism (universal religions with a high quotient of "transcendence") with various primal religious traditions ("biocosmic" or "immanentist") of the Asian-Pacific region, namely, Aboriginal Australia and Melanesia (Christianity) and Sri Lanka and Japan (Buddhism). In each case, the encounters represented a failure of the "great" traditions. In the third, constructive and theological part of the book, the author shows how an acknowledgment of these failures may provide a back door to dialogue.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826415134
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/19/2003
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

John D'Arcy May, who was born in Australia, is Associate Professor of Interfaith Dialogue, Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College, Dublin. He is the author of Christus Initiator: Theologie im Pazifik, Christian Fundamentalism and Christian Identity, and After Pluralism: Towards an Interreligious Ethic.

Table of Contents

Part I: Christianity's Pacific Voyage1. The Christian Encounter with Aboriginal Religion2. Christianity and Modernity in MelanesiaPart II: Buddhism's Asian Jourbaney3. Japanese Buddhism in War and Peace4. The Rebirth of Ethics in Thai BuddhismPart III: Strange Encounters5. Transcending Difference6. Transcending Violence