Ninian Smart on World Religions: Traditions and the Challenges of Modernity v.2
Published on 17. June 2009
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-0-7546-6638-7 (ISBN)
Description
Ninian Smart came to public prominence as the founding Professor of the first British university Department of Religious Studies in the late 1960s. His pioneering views on education in religion proved hugely influential at all levels, from primary schools to academic teaching and research. An unending string of publications, many of them accessible to the general public, sustained a reputation that became worldwide. Here, for the first time, a selection of Ninian Smart's wide-ranging writings is organised systematically under a set of categories which both comprehend and also illuminate his varied output over a career spanning half a century. The editor, John Shepherd, was Principal Lecturer in Religion and Philosophy at St Martin's College, Lancaster. He first met Smart as a postgraduate student, and recently helped establish the Ninian Smart Archive at Lancaster University.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 169 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-7546-6638-7 (9780754666387)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
John J. Shepherd is Principal Lecturer in Religious Studies at St Martin's College, Lancaster, UK.
Content
Preface; Section 7 Individual Traditions: i Buddhism: Mysticism and scripture in Theravada Buddhism; Theravada and processes: Nirvana as a meta-process; The dramatic effect of the Buddha on Western theories of religion. ii Hinduism: Indian arguments about the existence of God; The analogy of meaning and the tasks of comparative philosophy; Swami Vivekananda as a philosopher; Integral knowledge and the 4 theories of existence. Iii Chinese Religions/Worldviews: Reflections on Chinese religious and other worldviews in regard to modernization; Maoism and religion; The bounds of religion and the transition from the Tao to Mao. iv Christianity: Myth and transcendence. v Islam Islamic responses to the West; Salman Rushdie in a plural world. Vi Shamanism: The 21st century and small peoples. vii New Religious Movements: Distinctively Californian spiritual movements.; Section 8 Worldview Analysis: Religions in the Modern World: Religion and polity: reflections on the history of religions and the analysis of politics - a question of definition; Religion and nationalism in India and Sri Lanka; Buddhism, Sri Lanka, and the prospects for peace; The importance of diasporas.; Section 9 Christian Theology of Religions and Interfaith Dialogue: Revelation, reason and religions; The relation between Christianity and other great religions; God's body; Soft natural theology Section 10 Plurality of Religions: Religious Interpretations: The convergence of religions; A contemplation of absolutes; Models for understanding the relations between religions; Pluralism.; Section 11 Plurality of Religions: Ethico-Political Implications: On knowing what is uncertain; The epistemology of pluralism: the basis of liberal philosophy; Does a universal standard of value need to be higher-order?; Worldview-pluralism: an important paradox and its possible solution.; Section 12 Conclusion: An ultimate vision. Appendix 1 Additional Publications by Ninian Smart (grouped according to section); Appendix 2 The Ninian Smart archive and bibliography, John J. Shepherd; Index.