World Christianity Encounters World Religions

Edmund Chia, originally from Malaysia, headed the interreligious and ecumenical office of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences from 1996 to 2004. He then served on the faculty of the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago for seven years and, since 2011, has been teaching at the Australian Catholic University in Melbourne. He has an MA in religion from the Catholic University of America and a PhD in intercultural theology from the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands.Archbishop Michael Louis Fitzgerald, MAfr, was ordained priest as a member of the Society of Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) in 1961, and he obtained his doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University (1965) and a BAhons in Arabic from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University (1968). He served on the General Council of the Missionaries of Africa (1980–1986) and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. He was ordained bishop in 1992 and was raised to the rank of archbishop in 2002. From 2006 to 2012, he was apostolic nuncio in Egypt and delegate to the League of Arab States. He is author (with R. Caspar) of Signs of Dialogue (1992); Dieu rêve d'unité (2005); (with John Borelli) of Interfaith Dialogue (2006), and of numerous articles.

• ContentsForeword Archbishop Michael L. FitzgeraldPreface PART 1 CHRISTIANITY, RELIGION, AND DIALOGUE1. From Christianity to World Christianity IntroductionJewish Roots of ChristianityBirth and Development of ChristianityChristian Diversity and DenominationsEastern ChristianityProtestants and Reformed ChurchesFree Churches and New Christian MovementsThe Advent of World ChristianityChristianity as World ReligionConclusionSuggestions for Further Reading2. From Religion to World Religions IntroductionA Case for ReligionSpiritual but Not ReligiousThe Idea of ReligionThe Study of ReligionThe Science of ReligionThe Invention of World ReligionsThe World’s ReligionsJudaismIslamHinduismBuddhismJainismSikhismConfucianismTaoismConclusionSuggestions for Further Reading3. Principles and Methodology for Dialogue IntroductionDefinition of Interfaith DialogueReasons for Interfaith DialogueForms of Interfaith DialogueAttitudes for Enhancing Interfaith DialogueStrategies for Enhancing Interfaith DialogueConclusionSuggestions for Further ReadingPART 2 SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION4. The Bible and Other Religions IntroductionThe Bible as Word of GodThe Problem of Biblical InterpretationUniversality in Hebrew ScripturesThe Tower of Babel and DiversityParticularity in Hebrew ScripturesThe New Testament as New CovenantParticularity in the Gospel of MatthewUniversality in the Gospel of LukeJesus as the One and Only SaviorConclusionSuggestions for Further Reading5. Christian History and Other Religions IntroductionThe Age of the ApostlesThe Age of the Church FathersSalvation of Those in the Pre-Christian EraNo Salvation outside the ChurchThe Age of ChristendomThe Age of the CrusadesThe Age of MissionThe Age of DialogueConclusionSuggestions for Further Reading6. Vatican II Christianity and Interfaith Dialogue IntroductionPope John XXIII: Aggiornamento Pope Paul VI: Ecclesiam Suam Nostra Aetate and Other Conciliar DocumentsPope John Paul II: Assisi World Day of PrayerPope Benedict XVI: Dominus Iesus Pope Francis: Evangelii Gaudium ConclusionSuggestions for Further Reading7. Asian Christianity and Interfaith Dialogue IntroductionEarly Presence of Other Religions in AsiaChristianity in Precolonial AsiaColonial Christianity in AsiaIndependence and the Quest for Indigenous IdentitiesAdvent of Asian ChristianityThe Asian Church and the Triple DialogueDialogue with the Cultures of AsiaDialogue with the Religions of AsiaDialogue with the Poor of AsiaAsian Theses on Interreligious DialogueConclusionSuggestions for Further ReadingPART 3 THEOLOGIES AND PRAXES8. Global Movement for Christian Unity IntroductionThe Scandal of Christian DivisionEcumenism and the Vision of Ecclesial UnityThe Modern Ecumenical MovementCatholicism’s Cautious Approach to EcumenismVatican II’s Embrace of EcumenismCatholic Documents and the Ecumenical VisionFruits and Challenges of EcumenismThe New or Wider

"Dr. Chia discusses the changing shape of world Christianity and the history and theology of interfaith dialogue as an astute scholar and a leader of dialogue for decades. This book is a summa in the best sense: comprehensive, erudite, clearly organized, and yet accessible and not jargonish. It is a gift to students, teachers, and the church and deserves to be widely read."Kwok Pui-Lan, Visiting Professor at Candler School of Theology, Emory University