Religious diversity is a persistent theological predicament for Christian thinkers. Historically, theologians have wrestled with the relationship between believing Christians and religious others. The clash between the Christian doctrine of salvation and non-Christian belief systems often comes down to the question, can non-Christians be ‘saved’? In a pluralist world, a second question arises: can believers of divergent traditions reconcile their theological differences? Is the logical answer that one believer abandon her faith convictions and promote a relativistic mindset?
This book draws upon original research, documenting conversations by women in an interreligious dialogue group, to show that when believers converse in honesty, empathy, and patience–in short, when engaged in virtuous dialogue–they can bridge the gap left by theory. When believers from different faiths come together in open conversation, it need not lead to relativism but, instead, can lead to strengthened belief. Sharing convictions with people who believe differently, sincere believers find they often come to hold their own core beliefs with newfound strength.
Sobre o autor
Terrence W. Tilley is Professor of Theology and Chair of the Department at Fordham University. His other books include Talking of God, Story Theology, The Evils of Theodicy, Inventing Catholic Tradition, History, Theology and Faith, and The Disciples’ Jesus: Christology as Reconciling Practice.