Comparative Theology
Deep Learning Across Religious Borders
Drawing upon the author's three decades of work in
comparative theology, this is a pertinent and comprehensive
introduction to the field, which offers a clear guide to the
reader, enabling them to engage in comparative study.
* The author has three decades of experience of work in the field
of comparative theology and is ideally placed to write this
book
* Today's increasing religious diversity makes this a
pertinent and timely publication
* Unique in the depth of its introduction and explanation of the
discipline of 'comparative theology'
* Provides examples of how comparative theology works in the new
global context of human religiosity
* Draws on examples specific to Hindu-Christian studies to show
how it is possible to understand more deeply the wider diversity
around us.
* Clearly guides the reader, enabling them to engage in
comparative study
Preface I.
Starting Points Chapter One - Religious Diversity and
Comparative Theology.
Chapter Two - In Generations Past: Comparative Theology's
Missionary and Scientific Precedents.
Chapter Three -Comparative Theology Today.
II. Doing Theology Comparatively.
Chapter Four - From Theory to Practice.
Chapter Five - Getting Particular: A Christian Studies
Hinduism.
Chapter Six - Learning to See: Comparative Practice and the
Widening of Theological Vision.
III. The Fruits of Comparison.
Chapter Seven - Theology After Comparison.
Chapter Eight - God for Us An Essay.
Chapter Nine - Comparative Writer, Comparative Reader.
Starting Points Chapter One - Religious Diversity and
Comparative Theology.
Chapter Two - In Generations Past: Comparative Theology's
Missionary and Scientific Precedents.
Chapter Three -Comparative Theology Today.
II. Doing Theology Comparatively.
Chapter Four - From Theory to Practice.
Chapter Five - Getting Particular: A Christian Studies
Hinduism.
Chapter Six - Learning to See: Comparative Practice and the
Widening of Theological Vision.
III. The Fruits of Comparison.
Chapter Seven - Theology After Comparison.
Chapter Eight - God for Us An Essay.
Chapter Nine - Comparative Writer, Comparative Reader.
"This marvelous book should stand as an invitation to many. I
very much hope that it is taken up." (Harvard
Theological Review, 1 April 2012)
"In this context, Comparative Theology is a timely
publication." (Teaching Theology, 2012)
"It's a fascinating book, all the same. I warmly recommend it ."
(Theology, 1 March 2011)
"Comparative Theology will be of interest to people looking for
a method for interfaith dialogue that affirms the value of one's
theological commitments and could serve well as a textbook for
courses exploring interfaith theological discourse." (Journal of
Ecumenical Studies, 1 January 2011)
"But as this volume suggests, our interreligious milieu provides
a new impetus not just for learning about our neighbors' faiths but
learning from them. Francis X. Clooney, S.J., is a most trustworthy
guide." (The National Catholic Weekly, September 2010)
"Clooney's book thus provides an extremely needful, as well as
accessible, contribution to the furthering of this developing
discipline, and as such it is a very valuable piece of
scholarship." (American Theological Inquiry, July 2010)
"It succeeds in a magisterial way: the book provides the
first history of the discipline, exposits the approaches of its
major players, discusses issues of methodology, sets directions for
the development of the discipline, and carefully notes its
strengths and limitations ... This book will be the standard
introduction for comparative theologians. And it is a persuasive
answer to anyone who thinks that comparison muddies confessional
truth."
-Robert Cummings Neville, Boston University
"This will be a definitive text which introduces and exemplifies
the discipline of comparative theology, as an important part of
theology and the study of religions. It's an original and scholarly
book, and deserves to be widely read."
-Keith Ward, University of Oxford
"Francis Clooney has distilled in this book decades of his
massive and painstaking scholarship on Christian and Hindu
theologies. Lucidly written and highly accessible, Comparative
Theology teaches us how to read sacred texts ... so that we can
see both similarities and differences between our religious
tradition and others. Clooney invites us to join him in developing,
each in our own fields of specialization, this emerging theological
discipline, of which he richly deserves to be called 'the
Father'. Comparative Theology is destined to be a classic in
its field."
--Peter C. Phan, Georgetown Universit
very much hope that it is taken up." (Harvard
Theological Review, 1 April 2012)
"In this context, Comparative Theology is a timely
publication." (Teaching Theology, 2012)
"It's a fascinating book, all the same. I warmly recommend it ."
(Theology, 1 March 2011)
"Comparative Theology will be of interest to people looking for
a method for interfaith dialogue that affirms the value of one's
theological commitments and could serve well as a textbook for
courses exploring interfaith theological discourse." (Journal of
Ecumenical Studies, 1 January 2011)
"But as this volume suggests, our interreligious milieu provides
a new impetus not just for learning about our neighbors' faiths but
learning from them. Francis X. Clooney, S.J., is a most trustworthy
guide." (The National Catholic Weekly, September 2010)
"Clooney's book thus provides an extremely needful, as well as
accessible, contribution to the furthering of this developing
discipline, and as such it is a very valuable piece of
scholarship." (American Theological Inquiry, July 2010)
"It succeeds in a magisterial way: the book provides the
first history of the discipline, exposits the approaches of its
major players, discusses issues of methodology, sets directions for
the development of the discipline, and carefully notes its
strengths and limitations ... This book will be the standard
introduction for comparative theologians. And it is a persuasive
answer to anyone who thinks that comparison muddies confessional
truth."
-Robert Cummings Neville, Boston University
"This will be a definitive text which introduces and exemplifies
the discipline of comparative theology, as an important part of
theology and the study of religions. It's an original and scholarly
book, and deserves to be widely read."
-Keith Ward, University of Oxford
"Francis Clooney has distilled in this book decades of his
massive and painstaking scholarship on Christian and Hindu
theologies. Lucidly written and highly accessible, Comparative
Theology teaches us how to read sacred texts ... so that we can
see both similarities and differences between our religious
tradition and others. Clooney invites us to join him in developing,
each in our own fields of specialization, this emerging theological
discipline, of which he richly deserves to be called 'the
Father'. Comparative Theology is destined to be a classic in
its field."
--Peter C. Phan, Georgetown Universit
Francis X. Clooney, S.J., is Parkman Professor of Divinity at Harvard University. His primary areas of scholarship are theological commentarial writings in the Sanskrit and Tamil traditions of Hindu India, and the developing field of comparative theology. He was the first president of the International Society for Hindu-Christian Studies, and, from 1998 to 2004, was coordinator for interreligious dialogue for the Jesuits of the United States. Professor Clooney is the author of numerous articles and books, including Hindu God, Christian God (2001), Divine Mother, Blessed Mother (2005), Jesuit Postmodern: Scholarship, Vocation, and Identity in the 21st Century (2006), Beyond Compare: St. Francis and Sri Vedanta Desika on Loving Surrender to God (2008), and The Truth, the Way, the Life: Christian Commentary on the Three Holy Mantras of the Srivaisnava Hindus (2008).