A thoughtful but only semi-persuasive attempt at a rapprochement
between Buddhism and Christianity. Johnston is an Irish Jesuit, a
long-time resident of Japan, and a sensitive writer on mysticism,
East and West. But it takes more than solid ecumenical
qualifications to bridge the gap between the two religions.
Johnston opens by sensibly suggesting that Buddhist-Christian
dialogue should be based not on metaphysics but on "transcendental
method." Both partners can agree that to live authentically humans
have to be attentive, intelligent (the spirit of inquiry rather
than a high IQ), reasonable, responsible, and committed. The last
is important, as Johnston insists that the dialoguer must not
temporarily bracket his own convictions to meet the other person
half way. Building on this five-part schema, he works out a series
of fruitful comparisons. Buddhism, he notes, "is totally centered
on union, on oneness, on non-dualism, and it claims that my
greatest sin is my separated self" - all of which is easily
translatable into Christian terms. But Johnston overstresses the
possibilities of harmony by too often neglecting the here-and-now
dissonances. What, for instance, is the Buddhist to make of the
Christian obsession with history, with the kingdom of heaven on
earth, with personal guilt, substitutionary atonement, eternal
salvation, orthodoxy and heresy, etc.? And aren't some branches of
Buddhism (Hinayana, say) likely to remain a closed book for
practically all Christians? A bit too pious and far too optimistic,
but defnitely worth listening to. (Kirkus Reviews)
This book is based on eight lectures the author was invited to give
in Oxford in the fall of 1980 in honor of the late Martin D'Arcy,
Master of Campion Hall. All are concerned with mysticism or
mystical theology. The first chapter treats of the
Buddhist-Christian dialogue, which future generations will surely
regard as a high point in the evolution of the religious
consciousness of mankind.
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