One Earth Many Religions: Multifaith Dialogue and Global Responsibility

by Paul F. Knitter

One of the world's foremost exponents of the "pluralist" position as the most adequate Christian theological account of religious diversity turns to a new and urgent issue facing the community of world religions. For Paul Knitter, the spectre of environmental and social injustice looms over any serious discussion of humankind's future. As urgent as it is to have peace among the world's believers to achieve peace among nations, it is urgent that these communities unite in understanding and defending of the earth.
In One Earth Many Religions Knitter looks back at his own "dialogical odyssey" and forward to the way that interfaith encounters and dialogue must focus attention on new challenges. Nothing less than enlisting the commitment of the world's religions on the task of saving our common home will do. In making that case, Knitter makes clear the complex structurespolitical, economic, and social as well as religious - that face those who approach this task. While articulating a "this-worldly soteriology" necessary to overcome our eco-human plight, Knitter offers practical considerations on actions and projects that have and should have been undertaken to stem the tide of environmental and human suffering.
The global crisis is both at the center of One Earth Many Religions and a test case for Knitter and others engaged in the dialogue of religions. Can religious differences concerning the nature of the transcendent themselves be transcended in order to promote eco-human well-being? The issue seems basic and clearif interreligious dialogue cannot effect such a change, then one must question whether religion is of any use whatsoever.

Genres: Theology, Religion

232 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 1995

About the author

Paul F. Knitter is the Paul Tillich Professor Emeritus of Theology, World Religions and Culture at the Union Theological Seminary in New York and a leading theologian of religious pluralism. He is professor emeritus of Theology at Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, where he taught for 28 years before moving to Union. His research and publications primarily address religious pluralism and interreligious dialogue, including No Other Name? A Critical Survey of Christian Attitudes toward World Religions (1985), One Earth Many Religions: Multifaith Dialogue and Global Responsibility (1995), Jesus and the Other Names: Christian Mission and Global Responsibility (1996), Introducing Theologies of Religions (2002), and Without Buddha I Could Not Be A Christian (2009). He serves on the board of the International, Interreligious Peace Council. Knitter holds a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and a doctorate from the University of Marburg, Germany.

Reviews

[Andrew]

It's about 13 or 14 years since I read this book the first time. I've been reading it with my Theology of Religions class, and once again it is feeding good discussion. In some ways it's a bit wild and woolly, but that is in many ways a feature that spurs student questioning. I like it.