This book is a study of contemporary Buddhist-Christian encounter in Thailand. Case studies, which include a Buddhist nationalist group, a charismatic church movement, and a village community, describe the variety and nature of Buddhist-Christian relations. Arising issues - nationalism, identity, notions of the religious other - are discussed with regard to Thai history and modern society. The book also highlights cultural notions of avoidance and the Buddhist concept of friendship as Thai offerings to the field of interreligious dialogue. The study is based on qualitative research and draws on different academic disciplines, including religious studies, theology, and political studies. It makes a distinctive contribution to the fields of Thai Studies and global Buddhist-Christian Studies.

This book is a study of three of Asia's most respected contemporary theologians--Kosuke Koyoma, Choan-Seng, and Aloysius Pieris. It gives an introduction to Asian Buddhism and the Christian dialogue with Buddhists in Asia. Furthermore, it examines the work of each theologian in detail, looking at the method and content of their dialogue, and outlining its impact upon their respective theologies. The book provides a critique of their dialogue and engages with the theological issues that have emerged. In areas such as religious identity, theological method and liberation theology it is shown that their conversation with Buddhism contributes to the development of a genuinely Asian theology, and moreover raises important challenges to the worldwide theological community, churches and to those engaged in interreligious dialogue. Contents: Koyama--C.S. Song--A. Pieris--Interreligious dialogue--Christian--Buddhist dialogue--Asian theology--Asian theology--Asian christology--Asian missiology--Theory and praxis--Religious identity--Asian liberation theology.