Comparative Theology: Thinking Across Traditions

Edited by Loye Ashton, Tougaloo College and John J. Thatamanil, Union Theological Seminary

This series invites books that engage in constructive comparative theological reflection that draws from the resources of more than one religious tradition. It offers a venue for constructive thinkers, from a variety of religious traditions (or thinkers belonging to more than one), who seek to advance theology understood as “deep learning” across religious traditions.

A variety of models exist at present for comparative theology. Some argue that comparative theology is best understood as situated learning in which a thinker within a particular religious tradition engages in the work of “crossing over and coming back,” thereby enriching the home tradition with fresh creative/critical insights. Others argue that comparative theology is a mode of public truth-seeking inquiry: the theologian may belong to a given tradition but writes to and for any interested inquirer regardless of tradition. This series leaves such differing viewpoints open and invites authors to take them up as they engage in the work of comparative theology.

This series is interested mainly in rich comparative studies that bring two, or more, traditions into a conversation. Nonetheless, we also welcome and encourage works that explore methodological questions such as: What is comparative theology? Is comparative theology different in kind from constructive or systematic theology? Just who is the comparative theologian, and what is his/her relationship to the traditions from which s/he learns?