World Cultures and World Religions: The Coming DialogueThe meeting of Christianity and the non-Christian religions, the impact of East on West, and West on East, the clash of cultures and the movement of divine and human forces that are changing the pattern of man's life, form the basis of Kraemer's magisterial book. He deals historically with the world situation as he sees it because history determines the mood in which East and West approach this 'coming dialogue'. In a series of masterly chapters Kraemer surveys the position of the world's religions deeply enmeshed in socio-cultural systems that create both barriers to change but impetus towards evolution. The dialogue with the 'grand, elusive, Eastern systems of humanist thinking' demands searching thought, fundamental re-adjustment of methods and readiness to find fresh points of contact. It will, however, vindicate the personal conception of the living God as manifest in Jesus Christ. The 'key word of Oriental philosophies is Harmony, glossing over the glaring disharmonies of man's life.' This is, the heart of the dialogue that Kraemer discusses backed by his vast experience and learning. Kraemer provides a formative and fundamental tool for Christians and all who are aspire to an intelligent and penetrative understanding of the religious and cultural life of the world. |
Contents
Chapter Page | 9 |
RELIGIONS WITH THE WEST IN THE PAST | 26 |
THE NEW SITUATION IN THE NINETEENTH | 59 |
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONS | 82 |
THE CULTURAL RESPONSE OF THE EAST TO | 99 |
HINDU INDIA | 126 |
THE BUDDHIST WORLD | 156 |
CHINA AND JAPAN | 172 |
THE WESTERN RESPONSE TO EASTERN CULTURES | 228 |
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE POLITICAL REVOLUTION | 272 |
THE COMING WORLDCIVILIZATION | 321 |
THE TERMS OF THE COMING DIALOGUE | 345 |
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19th century amongst apprehension Arab Asia Asian attitude Averroes became Buddha Buddhism centre Ceylon China Chinese Christian Missions colonial conception Confucianism cultural and spiritual cultures and religions divine dominant dynamic East and West Eastern economic Emperor especially Europe expression fact faith fundamental Ghazzali gnostic Government Hindu Hinduism Hu Shih human ideals ideas important India influence intellectual interest interpretation Islamic world Japan Japanese Koran living Mahayana mainly manifest means mediaeval meeting mind missionary modern monism moral movement Muslim world mystical nature non-Christian Oriental Pakistan peculiar philosophy political present principle problem radical reason reform regard religion religion and culture religious respect response Resurgence rôle scholars secular sense Shinto Shintoism significance situation social society speaking theological Theosophical thinking tion tradition true truth understanding universal Vedanta Western civilization Western culture Western Invasion Western world whole word writers