Book Review: Christianity and World Religions. Paths of Dialogue with Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism

A review of Christianity and World Religions. Paths of Dialogue with Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, by Hans Küng with Josef van Ess, Heinrich von Stietencron, and Heinz Bechert; translated by Peter Heinegg

Method and Theory in Religious Studies: Retrospect and Prognostications

There is a distinct possibility that, in the twenty-first century, Religious Studies as a discipline could come into its own. Its multidisciplinary orientation, if handled with due critical awareness as to its own former grandiose ambitions and present entanglements, could provide insight into the various problems that beset contemporary existence. Religious Studies has been involved in a number of internal debates that have sapped its energies and prevented it from advancing theoretically in ways that would help it address these problems. In this article I survey some of the developments that have taken place in other disciplines that could be of benefit in helping Religious Studies take its place as a discipline that is relevant for the twenty-first century.Keywords: Religious studies, cultural studies, culture, postcolonialism, gende

Comparative Religion and its Vicissitudes in an Age of Globalization

This article is a survey of some of the major challenges that have been directed at Comparative Religion during the last forty years. A number of these regard such an orientation as simply a construction that is a product of a scholar’s imagination. Others regard it as exhibiting a distinctly western, specifically Christian influence that is dismissive of other religions. Nonetheless, there have been attempts to redress this imbalance and challenge biased categories and interpretations. In this regard, much can be learnt from postcolonial and women scholars, as well as from other disciplines such as anthropology. Nonetheless in contemporary times, the exploits from globalization threatens to have a disruptive influence on the discipline

Borders: Of Boundaries, Transitions and Transgressions - A Response to Gavin Flood

No abstract available

Explorations in Otherness: Paul Ricœur and Luce Irigaray

This essay explores the work of both Paul Ricoeur and Luce Irigaray particularly in regard to their appeal to imagination and imaginary constructs as ways of introducing change in thought and action. While metaphor is at the heart of Ricoeur’s theory, Irigaray eschews metaphor – at least consciously. Nevertheless, there are a number of fruitful ways that their work can be compared and contrasted, especially on the question of the other, and the concept of recognition. Cet article explore le travail à la fois de Paul Ricoeur et de Luce Irigaray, en particulier s'agissant de leur contribution à l'imagination et aux constructions imaginaires comme moyens d'introduire le changement dans la pensée et dans l'action. Alors que la métaphore est au cœur de la théorie de Ricoeur, Irigaray la met de côté - au moins consciemment. Néanmoins, il existe d'autres manières fructueuses de montrer que leur travail peut être comparé et mis en contraste, en particulier au sujet de la question de l'autre, et à propos du concept de reconnaissance

Gender and Religion: A Volatile Mixture

In recent years the term "gender" has been used with many different meaning as well as in applications that are far from consistent. Is this diversity an indication that the term should be abandoned because of such imprecision, or can certain current or purposes, however illdefined, still be discerned? This paper is an investigation of contemporary usages of the term "gender" and the implications that could result for women involved in the study of religion

Ricœur’s Affirmation of Life in this World and his Journey to Ethics

Although Paul Ricœur never wrote a book on acting and suffering, the essay focuses on Ricœur’s engagement with this topic. It was one of Ricœur’s abiding interests that consistently appeared over the years in a number of his works. Given his compassionate affirmation of life in this world, he was vitally concerned about human beings’ inhumanity, in the form of inflicting unmerited suffering on their fellow beings. His distress on this issue was clearly evident. This essay is an overview of Ricœur’s endeavors to try and alleviate such injustice by a commitment to an ethically grounded approach that aimed at “the good life with and for others, in just institutions.