The Emptying God ; A Buddhist-Jewish-Christian Conversation

Pages: 241Back of the BookMasao Abe is widely acknowledged as a leader in the worldwide dialogue on Buddhism. A profound scholar of Buddhism and of Christian theology, his critical and constructive reflections culminate in the seminal essay which is the cornerstone of this volume. Seven eminent scholars respond to the challenge of Abes construal of Kenotic God and Dynamic Sunyata. Abe demonstrates powerfully the dynamism of the Buddhist appreciation of the divine Emptiness at the heart of being. His essay suggests how the doctrine of sunyata can provide a needed corrective to the reified understanding of God prominent in Jewish and Christian traditions. Abe opens the way for new and deeper engagement of these traditions with the wisdom of Buddhism. Leading Christian and Jewish theologiansThomas J.J. Altizer, Eugene Borowitz, John B. Cobb, Jr., Catherine Keller, Schubert M. Ogden, Jurgen Moltmann, and David Tracy respond to Abes challenge. From perspectives as diverse as American feminism, post-Holocaust Judaism, process thought, and hermeneutics, they reply to Abes proposals for considering God to be intrinsically self-emptying. Abe responds to these essays in a conclusion. Provocative and illuminating, The Emptying God shows how interfaith dialogue, at its very best, provides materials for the mutual transformation of all traditions. An extremely important new contribution Everyone interested in this dialogue will want to study Masao Abes unfolding of the basic Buddhist concept of sunyata and its relation to the concept of God, and the various responses which follow. This book is an event by taking seriously the Buddhist, Christian, and Jewish traditions at the same time. Professor Abes work, deeply rooted in the Zen philosophy an