A Bag of Needments
Geoffrey Parrinder and The Study of Religion
Published on 1. June 1998
Book
Paperback/Softback
181 pages
978-3-906757-58-2 (ISBN)
Description
Professor Geoffrey Parrinder has been a founder of the modern discipline of Religious Studies, and one of its most distinguished exponents. His work in African Traditional Religion has been especially significant. He was the first person to create a regular course in African Traditional Religion at university level, and taught many of those who have developed his insights further.
He has also made distinguished contributions in the field of Indian Religions. His controversial interpretation of Buddhism as a religion is still underestimated. He started his career as a Methodist missionary, then became a teacher in Nigeria and finally taught at King's College London, where he had a personal chair. A Christian theologian, he nevertheless has sought, and to a remarkable extent has succeeded, in interpreting the faith of others in an impartial and fair-minded way.
He will be remembered as one of the twentieth century's most distinguished scholars of Religious Studies.
He has also made distinguished contributions in the field of Indian Religions. His controversial interpretation of Buddhism as a religion is still underestimated. He started his career as a Methodist missionary, then became a teacher in Nigeria and finally taught at King's College London, where he had a personal chair. A Christian theologian, he nevertheless has sought, and to a remarkable extent has succeeded, in interpreting the faith of others in an impartial and fair-minded way.
He will be remembered as one of the twentieth century's most distinguished scholars of Religious Studies.
Reviews / Votes
«This study is a fine tribute to a remarkable scholar and Christian minister.» (The Expository Times)«The Rev Dr Martin Forward's 'A Bag of Needments: Geoffrey Parrinder and the Study of Religion'...is timely, for Parrinder deserves more recognition than he has had from the Christian tradition which inspired his work. 'A Bag of Needments' is neither hagiography nor biography but combines deep appreciation for Parrinder's achievement with critical analysis of his methodology...I recommend this book. It gives Parrinder the plaudit he deserves and it is witness to the ever-developing dynamics within inter-faith encounter through the eyes of one who is taking the mantle of Parrinder and - dare I say it - spreading it.» (Elizabeth J. Harris, Methodist Recorder)
More details
Person
The Author: Martin Forward has taught Islam at the universities of Leicester, Bristol and Cambridge. At present, he is Academic Dean at Wesley House, Cambridge. He teaches Jewish Christian Relations in Cambridge University's Faculty of Divinity, of which he is a member. He is the author of Muhammad: A Short Biography (Oxford, Oneworld, 1997). He also edited Ultimate Visions (Oxford, Oneworld, 1995), a collection of essays by distinguished scholars of Religious Studies from many faiths, who explain why they believe what they do.
Content
Contents: Life - Attitude to other faiths - Comparativist - African Religion - Jesus and The Quran - Avator and Incarnation - Evaluation of his achievements.