Comparative Theology: Deep Learning Across Religious Borders

196 Pages·2010·0.73 MB·English

by  Francis X. Clooney

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Comparative Theology
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Comparative Theology
Deep Learning Across Religious
Borders
Francis X. Clooney, S.J.
A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication
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This edition first published 2010
© 2010 Francis X. Clooney
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Clooney, Francis Xavier, 1950–
Comparative theology : deep learning across religious borders / Francis X. Clooney.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4051-7973-7 (hardcover : alk. paper) – ISBN 978-1-4051-7974-4 (pbk. :
alk. paper) 1. Religions. 2. Christianity and other religions. 3. Hinduism–Relations–
Christianity. 4. Christianity and other religions–Hinduism. 5. Catholic Church–
Relations. 6. Catholic Church–Relations–Hinduism. I. Title.
BL41.C56 2010
261.2′945–dc22
2009033871
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Set in 10/12.5pt Meridien by SPi Publisher Services, Pondicherry, India
Printed in Malaysia by KHL Printing Co Sdn Bhd
01 2010
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For my students,
from Kathmandu until now,
who have taught me how to teach.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, what-
ever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the
things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in
me, and the God of peace will be with you.
(Philippians 4: 8–9)
Whichever form pleases his people, that is his form;
Whichever name pleases his people, that is his name;
Whichever way pleases his people who meditate without ceasing,
That is his way, the one who holds the discus.
(Poykai Alvar, The First Antati 44)
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Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments xi
Part I Starting Points 1
1 Religious Diversity and Comparative Theology 3
Diversity around Us 4
Diversity within Us 6
Comparative Theology as a Response
to Twenty-first-Century Religious Diversity 8
Distinguishing Comparative Theology
from Related Disciplines 9
Comparative Theology and the Academic
Study of Religions 12
Comparative Theology and Interreligious Dialogue 13
Comparative Theology and the Theology of Religions 14
Comparative Theology Autobiographically Grounded 16
On the Limits of This Book 19
Looking Ahead 22
2 In Generations Past: Some Ancestors to Today’s
Comparative Theology 24
Comparative Theology and the Long History
of Christian Interreligious Reflection 24
Western Jesuit Scholars in India 27
Comparative Theology as a Discipline (1699– ) 30
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A Moderate Criticism of Missionary Scholarship
and the Older Comparative Theology 35
At the End of the Era 37
3 Comparative Theology Today 41
David Tracy 42
Keith Ward 43
Robert C. Neville 45
A Note on Raimon Panikkar 47
James Fredericks 49
New Directions 50
From Theory (Back) to Practice 52
Part II Doing Theology Comparatively 55
4 From Theory to Practice 57
The Practice of (Comparative) Religious Reading 57
Intelligent Reading 59
Commentary as a Religious Practice 60
Interreligious Commentary 63
Leaving Room for Other Readers
and Their Readings 66
Necessarily Elite Choices 67
5 Getting Particular: A Christian Studies Hinduism 69
The Importance of Focus 69
(Self)Identifying This Particular Comparative
Theologian 70
Making a Map, Marking the Field:
Hinduism in Brief 70
Getting Particular: Mimamsa, Vedanta,
and Srivaisnavism 74
Appreciating Similarities 75
Theistic Hinduism as a Useful
and Comfortable Focus 77
Theology as a Hindu Discipline 78
Comparative Theology in Hinduism
and Other Traditions 80
viii Contents
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