1st Edition

Public Theology, Religious Diversity, and Interreligious Learning

    226 Pages
    by Routledge

    226 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This book describes the relationship of Christian Public Theology to other religions and their ways of contributing to the common good. It also promotes mutual learning processes in public education to strengthen the public role and responsibility of religions in pluralistic societies. This volume brings together not only public education and public theology, but also scholars from a variety of disciplines such as philosophy, cultural studies, and sociology, and from different parts of the world. By doing so, the book intends to widen the horizon and provide fresh impulses for public theology as well as the discourse on public religious education.

    1 Introduction



    Manfred L. Pirner





    Part A. Public Theology from Diverse Religious and Non-religious Perspectives





    2 Contributions of Religions to the Common Good in Pluralistic Societies from a Christian Perspective? Some Critical Remarks



    Dirk J. Smit





    3 The Contribution of Religions to the Common Good in Pluralistic Societies: A Jewish Perspective, Exemplified by the Concept of Tikkun Olam



    Sabrina Worch





    4 The Contribution of Religions to the Common Good in Pluralistic Societies: An Islamic Perspective



    Abdullah Sahin





    5 Islamic Contributions to the Universal Conception of the Common Good in Multi-confessional Societies: Hermeneutical Foundations



    Mohammed Nekroumi





    6 Towards Enlightenment: Buddhism’s Contribution to Common Good through Establishing Contemplative Culture



    Heesoon Bai





    7 The Contributions of Religions to the Common Good: Philosophical Perspectives



    Manfred L. Pirner





    8 Contributions of Religions to the Common Good in a Pluralistic Society: an Empirical Answer from a Sociological Perspective



    Gert Pickel & Annette Schnabel





    9 Monotheism – Curse or Blessing? 



    Jan Assmann





    Part B. The Challenge of Interreligious Dialogue and Learning





    10 Public Theology and Interreligious Dialogue.



    Heinrich Bedford-Strohm





    11 Public Theology or Religious Studies? Deliberations on the Basis of Multifaith Religious Education



    L. Philip Barnes





    12 Public Religious Pedagogy and Interreligious Learning



    Bernd Schröder





    13 The Public Church and Public Religious Education as Forms of ‘Protestant Presence’ – Confessional and Interreligious Perspectives



    Thomas Schlag





    14 Islamic Education in Europe: An Opportunity for Equal Rights or a Way to Control Islam?



    Jenny Berglund





    15 The Contribution of Public Religious Education to Promoting Peace: Perspectives from Israel



    Zehavit Gross





    16 The Contribution of Interreligious NGOs and Interfaith Initiatives to Public Education



    Johannes Lähnemann





    17 The Spirituality of Mindfulness – a Religious Contribution to Public Education



    Werner Haussmann

    Biography

    Manfred L. Pirner is Professor, Holder of the Chair of Religious Education, and Director of the Research Unit for Public Religion and Education (RUPRE) at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.





    Johannes Lähnemann is emeritus Professor of Religious Education at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, and Chairman of the Peace Education Standing Commission of Religions for Peace (RfP).





    Werner Haussmann is senior lecturer at the Chair of Religious Education at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, and Deputy-Director of the Research Unit for Public Religion and Education (RUPRE).





    Susanne Schwarz is senior researcher at the Chair of Religious Education at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, and Coordinator of the Research Unit for Public Religion and Education (RUPRE).