God Mystery Diversity
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Gordon Kaufman presents in brief compass his historicist approach to Christian theology and central Christian mysteries, especially as they impinge on today's radically pluralistic religious and cultural scene and the moral challenges presented globally by it.
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Summary: Humanistic criterion
Comment: In chapter 1 he raises what I think is the crucial question which is: "Is there not some way to acknowledge the cultural relativity of each religious tradition but still maintain that in and through the great religions ultimate truth of some sort is to be found?"
What I understand from Kaufman is that to take Acts 4:12; Mt 11:27 and Jn 14:16 and others literally is to raise barriers to religious dialogue since that would mean Christians have all the Truth. In that case Christians would have to consider all other religions as not only inferior but untruthful. Kaufman rightfully, in my opinion, states that the texts above, as well as many others, are human historical statements that are made in finite situations by finite persons. I must observe that if one accepts the idea that they are historical then Kaufman's book is very illuminating and helpful. However if one maintains that such texts are given directly by God as is maintained by Islam regarding the Qu'ran or by The Church of Jesus Christ concerning the book of Moroni then no discussion is possible because, in such an opinion, God dictated it and that concludes the matter.
Kaufman is opposed to absolutism and is saying that a humanistic criterion is needed as the vehicle to approach the diversity of beliefs on this shrinking planet. Of course it is not shrinking but communications via TV, the Internet and radio as well as transportation, Jet travel, etc. makes it appear to us to be shrinking.
Kaufman is a pluralist. For me his writing, while excellent, is repetitive. I thoroughly agree with him. There is one comment by Kaufman in III of the chapter on "The Meaning of Christ in Our Pluralistic Age" which holds that Jesus was an imminent eschatologist. The Jesus Seminar scholars would correct that by saying that Jesus, at first, bought into John the Baptist's imminent eschatology but did not stay with it. That is a minor critique. Genuine dialogue is his formula for achieving the goal of pluralism.
Technical Details
Binding: PaperbackDewey Decimal Number: 230
EAN: 9780800629595
ISBN: 0800629590
Label: Augsburg Fortress Publishers
Manufacturer: Augsburg Fortress Publishers
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 248
Publication Date: 1996-03-01
Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishers
Studio: Augsburg Fortress Publishers
