Religion And Culture In Dialogue: East And West Perspectives (sophia Studies In Cross-cultural Philosophy Of Traditions And Cultures (15))

This volume addresses the issue of the human encounter with the Mystery of God and the purpose of human life. It explores major themes from diverse cultural and philosophical traditions, starting with questions about the possibility of belief in God, His transcendence as seen in both East and West, and ending with questions about ethics and about personhood, human dignity and human rights. Taking an eclectic approach, the chapters in this book each uniquely address aspects of the human encounter with the Mystery of God, drawing from specific cultures and traditions, and using a particular philosophical and theological style. Together, the chapters provide a fresh approach and a synergy that ensures that each topic contributes something new to the dialogue between religion and culture. Dedication 6 Preface 8 Acknowledgements 10 Contents 12 Contributors 14 Introduction 18 Chapter 1: Proglomena: Globalisation, Cultural Identity and Diversity 23 1.1 Cultural Identity 28 1.2 Globalisation and Identity 32 References 35 Part I: The Nature of Belief 37 Chapter 2: ‘I hope I believe in God’: Some Implications for Contemporary Ethics 38 2.1 Introduction 38 2.2 Conceptions of God 39 2.3 Cognitive Status of Ethics 44 2.4 The Ethical Life 46 2.5 Conclusion 48 References 49 Chapter 3: Ethical Beliefs 50 3.1 Introduction 50 3.2 The Ethics of Belief 51 3.3 Ethical Disagreements 52 3.4 The Test of Reason Applied 55 3.5 Conclusion 59 References 60 Chapter 4: Faith, Philosophy and the Elemental 61 4.1 Introduction 61 4.2 Beyond Polarisation and Synthesis: Rethinking the Contemporary Debate 62 4.3 Peperzak’s Existential Archaeology of Thought 64 4.4 Engaging Peperzak’s Archeology of the Primal 68 4.5 Religion and Philosophy as Modes of Determinate Discourse 72 4.6 Conclusion: Faith, Reason and the Elemental 75 References 75 Part II: Dialogues Between Culture and Tradition 77 Chapter 5: The Nature of Religious Dialogue, the Diversity Argument and Religious Pluralism 78 5.1 Dialogue Among Religions: Some Preliminary Points About Its Importance and the Parties to It 78 5.2 What Exactly Is ‘Dialogue’: Some Preliminary Points 80 5.3 The Diversity Argument 82 5.3.1 The Argument from the Diversity of Religions 82 5.3.2 Comments on the Argument 83 5.3.3 Standard Responses to the Diversity of Religions 85 5.3.4 What Is the Best Response to the “Problem of Religious Diversity” Argument? 87 5.3.5 Pluralism and Inter-religious Dialogue 90 References 95 Chapter 6: Aquinas’ Natural Law Versus Ethical and Cultural Pluralism 96 6.1 The Problem 96 6.2 The Subject of the First Practical Principle 98 6.3 Possibilities for Ethical Pluralism 100 6.4 Cultural Pluralism 102 6.5 Dawson’s Narrative of Culture 104 6.6 Conclusion 110 References 110 Part III: Eastern Perspectives on God and Ethics 112 Chapter 7: God and Conceptions of Immanence and Transcendence in Aquinas and Mèngzǐ 113 7.1 Introduction 113 7.2 Aquinas’s Account of God 118 7.3 Mèngzǐ and Confucian Conceptions of God 122 7.4 Conclusion 126 References 127 Chapter 8: The Confucian Filial Duty to Care (xiao 孝) for Elderly Parents 129 8.1 Introduction 129 8.2 How Strong Is the Sense of Filial Duty of Care (xiao) in Chinese Communities? 130 8.3 Historical Underpinnings of the Filial Duty of Care (xiao) 132 8.4 Filial Piety as Originating in Worship of Ancestors as Petitioners of Shangdi 135 8.5 Key Concepts in the Confucian Ethical Vision 137 8.6 Ren, the Golden Rule and the Filial Duty of Care (xiao) 139 8.7 Conclusion 143 References 144 Chapter 9: A Daughter’s Filiality, A Courtesan’s Moral Propriety and a Wife’s Conjugal Love: Rethinking Confucian Ethics for Women in the Tale of Kiều (Truyện Kiều) 146 9.1 Introduction 146 9.2 Nguyễn Du: His Life and Achievements 150 9.3 A Synopsis of Truyện Kiều 153 9.4 What Happens When One Reads Truyện Kiều Intratextually? 155 9.5 New Insights from an Intratextual Reading of the Character of Thúy Kiều 158 9.5.1 Education (văn) 158 9.5.2 Moral Propriety (lễ-giáo) 159 9.5.3 Filiality (hiếu) 161 9.5.4 Female Chastity (tiết) 162 9.5.5 Mutual Respect (kính), Reciprocity (thư) & Equality (tề) in Conjugal Relations 163 9.6 Conclusion 165 References 167 Part IV: Human Dignity and Rights 169 Chapter 10: The Patristic Notion of Person and Its Importance for Modern Culture 170 10.1 Radical Novelty About the Human in the Christian Message 171 10.2 Constitution of the Concept of Person as the New Description of the Human Being 172 10.3 Freedom as the Decisive Aspect of Person 176 10.4 Person and/as Reality: The Need for a New Understanding of the Human Being and the World Today 180 References 181 Chapter 11: Questioning Human Dignity: The Dimensions of Dignity Model as a Bridge Between Cosmopolitanism and the Particular 182 11.1 The Component Dimensions of Dignity Model 184 11.2 Dignity in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights 185 11.2.1 The Existential Component Dimension: The Dignity We Have and the Dignity We Acquire 185 11.2.2 The Cognitive-Affective Component Dimension: Inherent Worth and Self-Worth 187 11.2.3 The Behavioral Component Dimension: The Moral Good and the Morally Good 189 11.2.4 The Social Component Dimension: Others’ Dignity and My Dignity 191 11.3 Conclusion 192 References 193 Chapter 12: Human Rights, Religious Culture, and Dialogue 195 12.1 Introduction 195 12.2 The Model of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 196 12.2.1 Rights and Values in the UDHR 196 12.2.2 Background to the UDHR 198 12.2.3 Duties 199 12.2.4 Implications 200 12.3 A Christian Model 200 12.3.1 Implications 202 12.4 A Model from Buddhism 202 12.4.1 Contexts 203 12.4.2 Challenges to Human Rights 203 12.4.3 Contemporary Tibetan Buddhism 204 12.4.4 Theravada Buddhism 206 12.4.5 Implications 208 12.5 A Model of Human Rights in Islam 209 12.5.1 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Islam 210 12.5.2 Implications 212 12.6 Conclusion 213 References 215 Chapter 13: Life Experience, Values and Education 218 13.1 Contemporary Problems of Education: Functions, Mission, Humanistic Essence 219 13.2 Life Experience: The Role of Values at the Education Systems 224 13.3 Understanding, Conscience and Role of Philosophy in the Process of Education 226 References 229 Index 231 Proglomena: Globalisation, Cultural Identity And Diversity / Janis Talivaldis Ozolins / I Hope I Believe In God: Some Implications For Contemporary Ethics -- Bernadette Tobin / Ethical Beliefs / Peter Drum -- Faith, Philosophy And The Elemental. / Richard J. Colledge -- The Nature Of Religious Dialogue, The Diversity Argument And Religious Pluralism -- John G. Quilter / Aquinas' Natural Law Versus Ethical And Cultural Pluralism / John F.x. Knasas -- God And Conceptions Of Immanence And Transcendence In Aquinas And Mengzi / Janis Talivaldis Ozolins -- The Confucian Filial Duty To Care (xiao) For Elderly Parents / T. Brian Mooncy And John N. Williams -- A Daughter's Filiality, A Courtesan's Moral Propriety And A Wife's Conjugal Love: Rethinking Confucian Ethics For Women In The Tale Of Kieu (truyfn Kiev) / Jonathan Y. Tan -- The Patristic Notion Of Person And Its Importance For Modern Culture / Dan Chitoiu -- Questioning Human Dignity: The Dimensions Of Dignity Model As A Bridge Between Cosmopolitanism And The Particular / David G. Kirchhoffer -- Human Rights, Religious Culture, And Dialogue / William Sweet -- Life Experience, Values And Education / Maija Kule Janis Talivaldis Ozolins, Editor. Research Report. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xxi Proglomena: Globalisation, Cultural Identity and Diversity....Pages 1-14 Front Matter....Pages 15-15 ‘I hope I believe in God’: Some Implications for Contemporary Ethics....Pages 17-28 Ethical Beliefs....Pages 29-39 Faith, Philosophy and the Elemental....Pages 41-56 Front Matter....Pages 57-57 The Nature of Religious Dialogue, the Diversity Argument and Religious Pluralism....Pages 59-76 Aquinas’ Natural Law Versus Ethical and Cultural Pluralism....Pages 77-92 Front Matter....Pages 93-93 God and Conceptions of Immanence and Transcendence in Aquinas and Mèngzǐ....Pages 95-110 The Confucian Filial Duty to Care (xiao 孝) for Elderly Parents....Pages 111-127 A Daughter’s Filiality, A Courtesan’s Moral Propriety and a Wife’s Conjugal Love: Rethinking Confucian Ethics for Women in the Tale of Kiều (Truyện Kiều) ....Pages 129-151 Front Matter....Pages 153-153 The Patristic Notion of Person and Its Importance for Modern Culture....Pages 155-166 Questioning Human Dignity: The Dimensions of Dignity Model as a Bridge Between Cosmopolitanism and the Particular....Pages 167-179 Human Rights, Religious Culture, and Dialogue....Pages 181-203 Life Experience, Values and Education....Pages 205-217 Back Matter....Pages 219-225