The Gift of Responsibility
The Promise of Dialogue among Christians, Jews, and Muslims
Published on 6. August 2008
Book
Paperback/Softback
328 pages
978-0-8264-2839-4 (ISBN)
Description
This book argues that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, locked as they have been over the centuries in many kinds of mutual enmity and violence, now need to join resources to resist the destructive economic and political forces now on the loose across the globe, some of which distrust among these faiths has tended to intensify. Such a project requires relational practices among the faiths, all of them based on mutual moral commitments that draw on the respective communities' scriptural traditions of covenantal promise-keeping. That is, each tradition has a gift of responsibility, both to its God and to its people. Mudge wants to plumb the resources of each of these religions and encourage them to be responsible in taking these gifts seriously.Such relational practices are hardly used as resources in interreligious dialogue. Mudge contends that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are called to practice moral hospitality and covenantal humanism in order to foster justice and responsibility in societies around the globe.
Reviews / Votes
"The Gift of Responsibility is a critical study of the responsibility of people of the Abrahamic faiths to their traditions, to one another, and to the modern world. In this well-written book, Lewis Mudge lays out the essential steps for developing what he calls "the next ecumenism," which will open new opportunities for Christian theologians in the twenty-first century. Mudge argues that followers of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam must seek to overcome their long history of mistrust and join hands to fight the deleterious economic and political forces that threaten to destroy our new global village. Such a daunting task requires that good relations develop among religions. Mudge advocates moral hospitality and covenantal humanism as practical steps for creating justice, peace, and wholeness in the world." -- Akintunde E. Akinade, International Bulletin of Missionary Research * International Bulletin of Missionary Research * "Mudge's Perspectives and convictions are clearly presented. One may not agree with every observation and suggestion he makes, but for people interested in interreligious dialogue that seeks mutual understanding and grounds for collective action, this book is highly recommended." --Michael T. Shelley, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Interpretation, October 2009 -- Michael T. Shelley, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago * Interpretation *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
500 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8264-2839-4 (9780826428394)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Lewis S. Mudge is Robert Leighton Stuart Professor of Theology Emeritus at San Francisco Theological Seminary and author of The Church as Moral Community.
Content
Foreword; Introduction: Humanity's Fate and the Abrahamic Faiths; Chapter One: Can Religious Communities Help Modernity Save Itself?; Chapter Two: Learning Interfaith Lessons from Christian Ecumenism; Chapter Three: Toward a Parallel Hermeneutics of the Abrahamic Texts; Chapter Four: Practicing Moral Hospitality: The Givens and the Gift; Chapter Five: Fostering Just Social Contracts; Chapter Six: Covenantal Humanism: Signs of a New Humanity on Earth.