Beyond Dialogue

Beyond Dialogue

Christian Reflection about other religions has often misinterpreted the truth of the other Ways. The Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of churches stress that Christians can gain an appreciative understanding of other traditions only through meaningful dialogue with believers of other faiths. This book, however, emphasizes the need for Christians to go beyond dialogue, to reach for a mutual transformation of Christianity and other religions. By way of example, the author explores with originality the Christian encounter with Mahayana Buddhism. He offer an original view of how Christianity and Buddhism can appropriately transform one another when both partners are truly respected as equal. Both contributing, both benefiting. John Cobb boldly challenges us "to hear in an authentic way the truth which the other has to teach us" and to be transformed by that truth.

Beyond Civilizational Dialogue

Beyond Innocence and Redemption

Examines the emerging Holocaust consciousness after World War II which saw Jewish suffering as mandating empowerment in Israel, and which also recognized some of the dangers inherent in empowerment. Analyzes the views of Jewish Holocaust theologians such as Elie Wiesel, Emil Fackenheim, and Irving Greenberg. Contends that their theology, depicting Jewish suffering and innocence and specialness, has become normative in Jewish conversation and activities, and this Holocaust theology is used as legitimation for oppressing the Palestinians. Describes, also, Palestinian and Christian viewpoints on Israel's actions. Calls for a confrontation with state power and its legitimating force (i.e. Zionism and Holocaust theology), based on the Jewish tradition of dissent, in order to recover the ethical tradition at the heart of Judaism.