God Is Samoan: Dialogues between Culture and Theology in the Pacific (Pacific Islands Monograph Series)

Christian theologians in the Pacific Islands see culture as the grounds on which one understands God. In this pathbreaking book, Matt Tomlinson engages in an anthropological conversation with the work of "contextual theologians," exploring how the combination of Pacific Islands culture and Christianity shapes theological dialogues. Employing both scholarly research and ethnographic fieldwork, the author addresses a range of topics: from radical criticisms of biblical stories as inappropriate for Pacific audiences to celebrations of traditional gods such as Tagaloa as inherently Christian figures. This book presents a symphony of voices-engaged, critical, prophetic-from the contemporary Pacific's leading religious thinkers and suggests how their work articulates with broad social transformations in the region. Each chapter in this book focuses on a distinct type of culturally driven theological dialogue. One type is between readers and texts, in which biblical scholars suggest new ways of reading, and even rewriting, the Bible so it becomes more meaningful in local terms. A second kind concerns the state of the church and society. For example, feminist theologians and those calling for "prophetic" action on social problems propose new conversations about how people in Oceania should navigate difficult times. A third kind of discussion revolves around identity, emphasizing what makes Oceania unique and culturally coherent. A fourth addresses the problems of climate change and environmental degradation to sacred lands by encouraging "eco-theological" awareness and interconnection. Finally, many contextual theologians engage with the work of other disciplines- prominently, anthropology-as they develop new discourse on God, people, and the future of Oceania. Contextual theology allows people in Oceania to speak with God and fellow humans through the idiom of culture in a distinctly Pacific way. Tomlinson concludes, however, that the most fruitful topic of dialogue might not be culture, but rather the nature of dialogue itself. Written in an accessible, engaging style and presenting innovative findings, this book will interest students and scholars of anthropology, world religion, theology, globalization, and Pacific studies Christian theologians in the Pacific Islands see culture as the grounds on which one understands God. In this pathbreaking book, Matt Tomlinson engages in an anthropological conversation with the work of "contextual theologians," exploring how the combination of Pacific Islands' culture and Christianity shapes theological dialogues. Employing both scholarly research and ethnographic fieldwork, the author addresses a range of topics: from radical criticisms of biblical stories as inappropriate for Pacific audiences to celebrations of traditional gods such as Tagaloa as inherently Christian figures. This book presents a symphony of voices-engaged, critical, prophetic-from the contemporary Pacific's leading religious thinkers and suggests how their work articulates with broad social transformations in the region. Each chapter in this book focuses on a distinct type of culturally driven theological dialogue. One type is between readers and texts, in which biblical scholars suggest new ways of reading, and even rewriting, the Bible so it becomes more meaningful in local terms. A second kind concerns the state of the church and society. For example, feminist theologians and those calling for "prophetic" action on social problems propose new conversations about how people in Oceania should navigate difficult times. A third kind of discussion revolves around identity, emphasizing what makes Oceania unique and culturally coherent. A fourth addresses the problems of climate change and environmental degradation to sacred lands by encouraging "eco-theological" awareness and interconnection. Finally, many contextual theologians engage with the work of other disciplines- prominently, anthropology-as they develop new discourse on God, people, and the future of Oceania.Contextual theology allows people in Oceania to speak with God and fellow humans through the idiom of culture in a distinctly Pacific way. However, Tomlinson concludes, the most fruitful topic of dialogue might not be culture, but rather the nature of dialogue itself. Written in an accessible, engaging style and presenting innovative findings, this book will interest students and scholars of anthropology, world religion, theology, globalization, and Pacific studies

In its role as a scriptural charter, vinaya has justified widely dissimilar approaches to religious life as Buddhist orders in different times and places have interpreted it in contradictory ways. In the resulting tension between scripture and practice, certain kinds of ceremonial issues (such as those involving lineage, seniority, initiation, purification, repentance, visualization, vows, ordination) acquire profound social, psychological, doctrinal, and soteriological significance in Buddhism. Going Forth focuses on these issues over a wide sweep of history - from early fifth-century China to modern Japan - to provide readers with a rich overview of the intersection of doctrinal, ritual, and institutional concerns in the development of East Asian Buddhist practices.

Despite the crucial importance of vinaya, especially for understanding Buddhism in East Asia, very little scholarship in Western languages exists on this fascinating topic. The essays presented here, written by senior scholars in the field, go beyond the timeworn method of relying on prescriptive accounts in the scriptures to describe what imaginary Buddhists must have done (or do). Rather, they address how actual people responded to local social and cultural imperatives by reading scripture in innovative ways to give new life to tradition. They place real people, practices, and institutions at the center of each account, revealing both diversity and unity, continuity and transformation, in Buddhist customs. The result is a well-integrated, accessible work - relevant for Buddhist studies, but with wider implications for anyone interested in East Asian cultural heritage.

La 4e de couverture indique : "Christian theologians in the Pacific Islands pay close attention to culture, seeing it as the grounds on which one understands God and engages in dialogue with others. In this pathbreaking book, Matt Tomlinson engages in an anthropological dialogue with the work of these theologians, asking how the combination of culture and Christian theology opens up new conversations while limiting others. The kinds of dialogues that Pacific theologians engage in, Tomlinson writes, range from radical critiques of biblical stories as inappropriate for Pacific audiences to celebrations of traditional gods such as Tagaloa as essentially Christian figures. This book presents a symphony of voices-engaged, critical, prophetic-from the contemporary Pacific's leading religious thinkers, and suggests how their work articulates with broad social transformations in the region..." "Christian theologians in the Pacific Islands pay close attention to culture, seeing it as the grounds on which one understands God and engages in dialogue with others. In this pathbreaking book, Matt Tomlinson engages in an anthropological dialogue with the work of these theologians, asking how the combination of culture and Christian theology opens up new conversations while limiting others. The kinds of dialogues that Pacific theologians engage in, Tomlinson writes, range from radical critiques of biblical stories as inappropriate for Pacific audiences to celebrations of traditional gods such as Tagaloa as essentially Christian figures. This book presents a symphony of voices-engaged, critical, prophetic-from the contemporary Pacific's leading religious thinkers, and suggests how their work articulates with broad social transformations in the region"-- Provided by publisher Christian theologians in the Pacific Islands see culture as the grounds on which one understands God. In this groundbreaking book, Matt Tomlinson engages in an anthropological conversation with the work of ""contextual theologians,"" exploring how the combination of Pacific Islands' culture and Christianity shapes theological dialogues.