Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 1982 Christian-Buddhist Dialogue in the Writings of Lynn A. De Silva Tissa Brian De Alwis Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Other Religion Commons Recommended Citation De Alwis, Tissa Brian, "Christian-Buddhist Dialogue in the Writings of Lynn A. De Silva" (1982). Dissertations. 32. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/32 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. INFORMATION TO USERS This reproduction was made from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this document, the quality of the reproduction is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help clarify markings or notations which may appear on this reproduction. 1.The sign or “target” for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is "Missing Pagets)”. If it was possible to obtain the missing paget s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting through an image and duplicating adjacent pages to assure complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a round black mark, it is an indication of either blurred copy because of movement during exposure, duplicate copy, or copyrighted materials that should not have been filmed. For blurred pages, a good image of the page can be found in the adjacent frame. If copyrighted materials were deleted, a target note will appear listing the pages in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map. drawing or chart, etc.. is part of the material being photographed, a definite method of “sectioning" the material has been followed. It is customary to begin filming at the upper left hand comer of a iarge sheet and to continue from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. If necessary, sectioning is continued again-beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. For illustrations that cannot be satisfactorily reproduced by xerographic means, photographic prints can be purchased at additional cost and inserted into your xerographic copy. These prints are available upon request from the Dissertations Customer Services Department. 5. Some pages in any document may have indistinct print. In all cases the best available copy has been tTmed. University M icrofilm s International 300 N. Zeeb Road Ann Arbor. Ml 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 8318614 de Alwis, Tissa Brian CHRISTIAN-BUDDHIST DIALOGUE IN THE WRITINGS OF LYNN A. DE SILVA Andrews University Th.D. 1983 University Microfilms International300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 Copyright 1982 by de Alwis, Tissa Brian All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary CHRISTIAN— BUDDHIST DIALOGUE IN THE WRITINGS OF LYNN A. DE SILVA A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor o f Theology by Tissa Brian de Alwis November 1982 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHRISTIAN— BUDDHIST DIALOGUE IN THE WRITINGS OF LYNN A. DE SILVA A dissertation presented in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Theology by Tissa Brian de Alwis APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE <o6ert M. JoKrfs^on, Cnairman Professor of Theology theological Seminary —S' Daniel A. Augsburger I Professor of Historical Theology <r*» Gottfried Oosterwal Professor of Mission (I- W alter B. T. DouglAs Professor of Church H isto ry aryi'THistory of Religion 25 A W e w k ir Edmund F. Perry Date Approved Professor of the History and Literature of Religions Northwestern University Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright © 1982 Tissa Brian DeAlwis Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT CHRISTIAN— BUDDHIST DIALOGUE IN THE WRITINGS OF LYNN A. DE SILVA by Tissa Brian de Alwis Chairman: Robert M. Johnston Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews U niversity Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary T it le : CHRISTIAN— BUDDHIST DIALOGUE IN THE WRITINGS OF LYNN A. DE SILVA Name of researcher: Tissa Brian de Alwis Name and degree of faculty adviser: Robert M. Johnston, Ph.D. Date completed: November 1982 This dissertation studies the theological implications of inter-religious dialogue that call for resolution from the Christian standpoint, the Christian self-understanding in religiously plural context, and the essentials of authentic inter-religious dialogue by an analysis and evaluation of Lynn A. de Silva's dialogue with Sri Lankan Buddhism. Chapter I surveys the historical factors which heightened the encounter between the religions and describes the background from which De Silva's theology emerged. Developments in th? debate on inter-religious dialogue in missionary conferences in Asia and in the World Council o f Churches reveal the confrontation between Asian and European th eo lo g ies. I t is shown th at De S ilv a 's d ia lo g ic a l 2 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 3 concerns arose out o f e x is te n tia l contact with S ri Lankan Buddhism, and th a t the resurgence o f Buddhism and the tra n s itio n in C h ristian missionary attitudes led to a Sri Lankan expression of Christianity. Chapter II describes De Silva's holistic dialogical approach in contrast to theoretical Western approaches. The basic ingredients essential to authentic dialogue and its objective-, as spelled out by De Silva, are noted. In his appraisal of the Buddhist approach to dialogue, dialogical exchanges with Buddhist thought leaders, and use of Buddhist terms, a practised theology of dialogue emerges. Chapter III describes the translational nature of De Silva's dialogical theology. The process of conveying concepts from one religious context to another is traced in his use of Tilakkhana (the three signata of Buddhism) as a conceptual framework in the develop­ ment of: (1) a Christian-Buddhist estimate of man—the relation between anatta (non-self) and the Christian teaching about the sp irit, C2) an inclusivist Christology—Christ as Dharma-Loqos, and his sal- vi^ir -ole in the religions, and (3) anatta and the indispensability o f God. Chapter IV evaluates De Silva's treatment of Christianity and Buddhism as complementary systems and s ifts out th a t which is theologically decisive for authentic inter-faith dialogue. It deals with the Buddhist response to De Silva and assesses his dia­ lectical approach. It is shown that the salvific status accorded to other religions is crucial to Asian Christian self-understanding on the questions of church and mission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE TO BUDDHIST TERMS ............................................ v ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vi l T INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... 1 The Problem.................................................................................... 7 Methodological Considerations ............................................ 9 Aim of Study............................................................................... 9 R elevan ce................... ............................................................. 10 Method and P l a n ...................................................................... 11 Chapter I . THE MATRIX OF AN INDIGENOUS THEOLOGY................................... 14 The Historical Setting.............................................................. 14 Inter-Religious Dialogue— the Debate in the World Council o f C h u rch es................................................ 23 Buddhist-Christian Dialogue in Sri Lanka ...................... 34 I I . A PRACTISED THEOLOGY OF DIALOGUE............................................ 62 Dialogical Approach, Leitm otifs, and "the Rules of the Gam e".................................................................................... 63 A H o lis tic Approach .............................................................. 65 Commi tment...................................................................................