Transcendence and Violence: The Encounter of Buddhist, Christian, and Primal TraditionsThe first two parts of this book present four detailed historical studies, filled with Geertzian "thick description," of the encounters of Christianity and Buddhism (universal religions with a high quotient of "transcendence") with various primal religious traditions ("biocosmic" or "immanentist") of the Asian-Pacific region, namely, Aboriginal Australia and Melanesia (Christianity) and Sri Lanka and Japan (Buddhism). In each case, the encounters represented a failure of the "great" traditions. In the third, constructive and theological part of the book, the author shows how an acknowledgment of these failures may provide a back door to dialogue. |
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Aboriginal culture Aboriginal religion absolute Ahrens Asia Asian assimilation Australian become biocosmic Bodhisattva Buddha Buddha-nature Buddhadasa Buddhism and Christianity Buddhism in China cargo cults Catholic century Ch'en chap Chinese Buddhist Philosophy Christ Christian Christianity's Christology Church civilization concept Confucian context criticism dharma dialogue divine doctrine Dogen economic ecumenical emperor encounter enlightenment ethic failure faith fundamental global Goroka human Ibid identity ideology immanence indigenous interreligious Islands Japan Japanese Jesus Lotus Sutra magic Mahayana meaning meditation Melanesian Melanesian Institute Melanesian Religion missionaries modern monks moral movement myth mythic nation nature non-violent Pacific Papua New Guinea peace political practice primal traditions problem Pure Land question realization relationship religious traditions ritual sacred sangha sense Shinto Sivaraksa social society spirits Sri Lanka story Stranger Sulak Sivaraksa sunyata Swearer symbol Tambiah Tanabe teaching Thai Thailand theology transcendence Trompf truth understanding University Press village violence Western Zürcher