A World Theology: The Central Spiritual Reality of Humankind

In this book the authors, a Christian theologian and an atheistic Buddhist philosopher, examine the five major world religions--Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam--in order to demonstrate that each is a particular expression of one, common "world theology." They argue that each of these religions is centrally concerned with the same basic attempt to define the meaning and purpose of human life, and to comprehend a spiritual reality. Each is a culture-specific expression of a universal religious phenomenon, and the differing conceptualizations of the spiritual in these religions can be understood as symbolic expressions of one spiritual reality, which transcends the bounds of any one religious expression. Explaining both the symbolic differences and the essential commonalities of the major world religions, the authors argue that these religions should be considered mutually complementary rather than contradictory. This book points the way toward integrating the world's religions in a systematic manner in order to arrive at a common, world theology.