Book Reviews Toward a Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism

Book Reviews Toward a Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism. By Jacques Dupuis,S.]. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1997. Pp.xiv, 433. $50. This is an important work in part because origin and thus unavailable apart from approvable, in that it is not excluded by of its genre. It is an attempt at a general exclusive commitment to that particular pastdoctrinesas interpretedby VaticanII. introduction to systematic studies of the faith. Christianity in this perspective is Recent pronouncements, especially those theology of religions (pp. 2-3) and is thus not uniquely privileged in the sense of of the Vatican Secretariat for non-Chris of the same general type as tractates (not being the inclusive fulfillment of all reli tians and the Conferences of Asian Bish textbooks) on particular loci (e.g., God, gions; othersmay receive divine self-com ops, move increasingly in its direction. If Christ, church) that structure the Catholic munications of which Christians do not present trends continue, this book will theological curriculum. It is not the per and perhaps in part cannot know before long be an influential guide to especially, sonal outlook of the author that counts in the Eschaton. The consequences of this though not exclusively, Roman Catholic such works but success in delineating the pluralismforinterreligiouspraxis are radi theologicaland magisterial thinkingabout "mind of the church." As Dupuis puts it, cal, but Dupuis is also doctrinally tradi other religions. he intends "to make an organic presenta tional. He insists that it is the particular In conclusion, the care, caution, and tion ... of the present state of theological divine self-communication in Jesus, God exhaustive detail of this book sometimes reflection on the main issues which are incarnate, which unsurpassablyidentifies makeit tedious,butit is unfailingly meaty. raised today in the context of religious whoGod is (what he is remains unknown, Even those whodisagreewithits theology pluralism" (p. 2). incomprehensible also to Christians). Be (as the present reviewer often does) will His book may long be the standard. cause this combination of practical radi acknowledge its importance. The only comparable work in theology of calism and doctrinal conservatism moves -George Lindbeck religions is V. Bobolik's Teologia delle beyond present polarities, it can help re religioni (1973),which is now thoroughly store a common sphere of discourse in outdated and yet continues to be used for Catholic theology of religions. George Lindbeck is Pitkin Professor Emeritus of lack of alternatives. Furthermore, Dupuis Moreover, it is magisterially Historical Theology at Yale University. is well equipped to supply a replacement. A professor at the Gregorianum in Rome and director of the journal of the same name, he is a Belgian Jesuit who taught theology for thirty-six years in India and has publishedextensively on interreligious Piety and Power: Muslims and matters. Christians in West Africa. Part I, the historical half of the book, is on the whole excellent, although the By Lamin Sanneh. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis treatment of the biblical materials is too Books, 1996. Pp xv, 207. Paperback $25. brief to be anything but disappointing. It is part 2, the systematic portion, which Thisbook openswitha glimpseinto Lamin spirituality throughhis ownexperienceof will be controversial. Sanneh's roots and ends with a fascinat the prophet Mohammed, whose biogra Dupuis aims at "holding fast to faith ing re-creation of a childhood in Gambia. phy glows as an aspect of "lived reality." in Jesus Christ as traditionallyunderstood Sanneh combines a gentle, suave exterior A shift of worldview takes us into the by mainstream Christianity," while at the with an aggressive pursuit of truth. He heart of Islamic experience, while the de same time assigning"to [other] traditions opens by briskly dispelling some miscon bates in nineteenth-century Sierra Leone a positiverole andsignificancein the over ceptions about Islam and Christianity, point to the style of dialogue and the all plan of God for humankind, as it un emphasizingtheir differences butalsotheir cultural potential ofIslam. Dialogueis not folds throughsalvationhistory" (p.1). His "potentials for solidarity." He rejects the mere debate but living together as one isa"theocentric Christocentrism"thattries simplicity of One Worldism, the Western people with one purpose, with neither to move beyond the opposition between pessimism about the value of religion, consensus nor overt hostility. Some par Christocentricinclusivisms (e.g.,Rahner's) and affirms that creative dialogue is to be ticipants may have romanticized Islam and theocentric pluralisms (e.g. Hick's or rooted in one's own tradition and to be but left a legacy worthy of emulation, Knitter's) that are not specifically Chris opento others. The goals of the book work especially as the religious force has im tian-that is, they are adoptable also by from a Muslim perspective to clarify the plodedinto the politicalspace in the midst non-Christians. relationship between piety and power in of the crisis and economic stagnation of Dupuiscontendsthatit isneithercon the growing context of pluralism and to Africa. Sanneh analyzes the roots of the tradictory nor unorthodox to hold that the demonstrate the immense voluntarist im political theology of Islam and Christian triune God of Christian faith could have petus in Islam and how it fits with demo ity. The ambivalence in Christian political created a plurality of permanently dis craticliberalism,leaving it de-theocratized theology is overshadowed by Islamic cer tinct and valid ways of salvation, each withoutbeingdisenfranchised. He argues titude about power and piety. To hew containing unique treasures of revealed the crucial role of the receivers of these liberal democracy from this prideful rock truth and grace different from, though not Abrahamic religions, making it clear that of orthodoxy, Sanneh traces the metanoia contradicting,the revelationin]esus. Some Christians stand to profit from an of El Kanemi, the pacifist tradition of the of these treasures could be sharable, but empathetic understanding of Islam. Jakhanke clerics of Senegambia, and the others may be intrinsic to their religion of Sanneh thus reconstructs Muslim liberal elements in Islam to argue the im- 34 INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN OF MISSIONARY RESEARCH perative of separating religion and state so as to protect human rights, foster plu Fifteen Outstanding Books of 1997 ralism, and safeguard conscience. In spite of the dilemma posed by secularity, "po for Mission Studies litical realism and religious integrity have The editors of the INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN OF MISSIONARY RESEARCH have selected the a common purpose in distinguishing be following bookspublishedin 1997for specialrecognitionof theircontributionto mission tween a Caesar crowned and a Caesar studies. We have limited our selection to books in English, since it would be impossible turbaned, and that purpose is to prevent to consider fairly the books in many other languages that are not readily available to us. constituted government from meddling We commend the authors, editors, andpublishersrepresented herefor theircontribution with religion" (p.140). The analysis is rich to the advancementofscholarshipin studiesofChristianmissionandworldChristianity. and evenhanded, but the silence on the rising crescendo of pentecostalismmisses Anderson, Gerald H., ed. the emergency of a new political theology Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions. that often triggers a violent Islamic re New York: Macmillan Reference. $100. sponse. This has been true for Nigeria Benedetto, Robert, ed. from 1980 to the Shiite mayhem of 1996. Presbyterian Reformers in Central Africa: A Documentary Account of the The wisdom here is packaged with glos American Presbyterian Congo Mission and the Human Rights Struggle in the sary, footnotes, and adequate bibliogra Congo, 1890-1918. phy. I regret that African colleagues, liv Leiden: E. J. Brill, $77. ing and working in the midst of these tensions, may not be able to afford this Brown, G. Thompson. splendid aid. Earthen Vessels and Transcendent Power: American Presbyterians in China, 1837-1952. -ogbu U. Kalu Maryknoll, N.Y.: OrbisBooks. $40. Brierley, Peter, ed. Ogbu U. Kalu is Professor of Church History, World Churches Handbook. University of Nigeria, Nsukka. London: Christian Research; Monrovia, Calif.: MARC, World Vision. £100/$150. Dupuis,Jacques. Toward a Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books. $50. Anthropology for Christian Furuya, Yasuo, ed. Witness. A History of Japanese Theology. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans Publishing Co. Paperback $17. By Charles H. Kraft. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Garrett, John. Books, 1997. Pp. xvi, 493. Paperback $25. Where Nets Were Cast: Christianity in Oceania Since World War II. Suva, Fiji: Institute of Pacific Studies, Univ. of the South Pacific; Geneva: World In this book, CharlesKraft, a leadingevan Council of Churches. Paperback US$13. gelical missiological anthropologist, syn Jongeneel, Jan A. B. thesizes what he has learned through The Philosophy, Science, and Theology of Mission in the 19th and 20th twenty-six years of teaching missionary Centuries: A Missiological Encyclopedia. Part II: Missionary Theology. anthropology at Fuller Theological Semi Frankfurt and New York: Peter Lang. DM 118. nary. It is intended as a basic introduction toculturalanthropologyfor those involved Marshall, Paul. in

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