Twenty-First Century Theologies of Religions

Elizabeth J. Harris, Ph.D. (1993), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, is Associate Professor in Religious Studies at Liverpool Hope University, UK. She has published widely on Theravāda Buddhism, Buddhist-Christian Studies and inter-religious studies, including Theravāda Buddhism and the British Encounter: Religious, missionary and colonial experience in nineteenth century Sri Lanka (Routledge, 2006).Paul Hedges is Associate Professor in Interreligious Studies, Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies Programme, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.Shanthikumar Hettiarachchi is Director, In Reach Consult (IC), Political Columnist on South Asia, and Visiting Lecturer, Universities of Colombo and Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

"To conclude, this well-edited book is an excellent introduction to the present state of the theology of religions (...) the reader who is looking for an answer to post-typological questions will not find here one single answer, but rather a good number of diverse reflections (...) This book is not the end of the debate." Risto Jukko, in: Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations, Vol. 28.4 (2017)."While those seeking a systematic text or homogeneous viewpoint may be disappointed, I would contend that one of the strengths [of this book] lies in the very convergence of different and sometimes dissonant perspectives. (...) This volume is a fitting tribute to [Alan] Race's contribution to this vital area of work. It is also a testament to the abiding significance of the paradigm which he established, a model which remains as vital as ever in an age of ever-deeper dialogue, of religious hyper-diversity, of new congruences and of multiple religious identity and of new ways of religious belonging." Stephen Bishop, Leicester Diocese, in: Insight, Vol. 15.2 (2017).

• ContentsForeword: Three Paths — Whither? – Leonard SwidlerIntroduction: Theologies of Religions in the Twenty-First Century – Elizabeth Harris, Paul Hedges, and Shanthikumar HettiarachchiSection I - Disputing and Using the TypologyChapter 1. Shaking the Typology: Being Honest and Hospitable – Graham AdamsChapter 2. Comparative Theology of Religions and the Typology Exclusivisms-Inclusivisms Pluralisms – Abraham Velez de CeaChapter 3. The Typology and Theological Education: Towards a Practical Theology of InterFaith Engagement – Ray GastonChapter 4. Exclusivism, Inclusivism and Pluralism: A Spatial Perspective – Elizabeth HarrisChapter 5. The Theology of Religions Typology Redefined: Openness and Tendencies – Paul HedgesChapter 6. Rethinking the Typology from a Biblical Perspective: Paul, Adam, and the Theology of Religions – Philip WhiteheadSection II - Pluralist Voices and ContestationsChapter 7. Race, Religion and Shared Theology – Tony BayfieldChapter 8. Changing the Typology: Why Pluralism should be Renamed Post-Christian Inclusivism – Gavin D’CostaChapter 9. The Pluralist Path: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going – Paul F. KnitterChapter 10. Pluralist Approaches in Some Major Non-Christian Religions – Perry Schmidt-LeukelSection III - Beyond the Typology: New Debates, New VistasChapter 11. Avowing Religious Identity and the Religious Other: A Postcolonial Perspective – Shanthikumar HettiarachchiChapter 12. After Deconstruction: A ‘Weak’ Theology of Religions? – Kristin Beise KiblingerChapter 13. Towards a Relational and Humanizing Theology: A Christian-Muslim Dialogue – Oddbjørn LeirvikChapter 14. Christianity as the Measure of Religion? Materializing the Theology of Religions Theology – Marianne MoyaertChapter 15. Theology of Religions in a Postcolonial Perspective: Epistemological and Ecclesiological Reflections – Sigrid RettenbacherChapter 16. The Four Chalcedonian Adverbs: A Reflection on Buddhist-Christian Dual Belonging – Janet WilliamsChapter 17. Passion and Fog: The Impact of the Discussion about the Theology of Religions Typology on the Epistemology of Comparative Theology – Ulrich WinklerSection IV - Some Responses to the Christian Theology of ReligionsChapter 18. A Jewish Response to the Christian Theology of Religions:– Reuven FirestoneChapter 19. A Muslim Response to the Christian Theology of Religions – Haifaa JawadChapter 20. A Buddhist Response to the Christian Theology of Religions – Mark OwenAfterword: Persisting with the Typology and Pluralism – Alan RaceList of ContributorsIndex of SubjectsIndex of Names