Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

1 Types of Comparative Theology 9

1.1 Comparing Theologies 11

1.2 Confessional Comparative Theology 18

1.3 Meta-Confessional Comparative Theology 25

1.4 Between Confessional and Meta-Confessional Comparative Theology 30

2 The Status of Other Religions in Comparative Theology 43

2.1 Exclusivism and Comparative Theology 45

2.2 Particularism and Comparative Theology 49

2.3 Closed Inclusivism and Comparative Theology 54

2.4 Open Inclusivism and Comparative Theology 57

2.5 Pluralism and Comparative Theology 61

2.6 Postcolonialism and Comparative Theology 65

2.7 Dialogue between Perceptions of the Religious Other 70

3 Comparative Theological Hermeneutics 79

3.1 Understanding the Other through the Self 81

3.2 Understanding the Self through the Other 89

3.3 Participation and Understanding 93

3.4 Dynamics of Interreligious Borrowing 97

3.5 The Problem of Syncretism 101

3.6 The Problem of Hegemony 104

4 Types of Learning in Comparative Theology 115

4.1 Intensification 116

4.2 Rectification 121

4.3 Recovery 124

4.4 Reinterpretation 129

4.5 Appropriation 134

4.6 Reaffirmation 137

5 Comparative Theology and Confessional Theology 149

5.1 Comparative Theology as Constructive Theology 151

5.2 The Hybrid Religious Identity of the Comparative Theologian 153

5.3 The Problem of Choice in Comparative Theology 157

5.4 Discernment in Comparative Theology 160

5.5 The Target Public of Comparative Theology 166

5.6 Comparative Theology and Apologetics 169

5.7 Importance of Comparative Theology for Confessional Theology 172

5.8 The Place of Comparative Theology within Confessional Theology 176

5.9 Comparative Theology beyond Confessional Theology 178

Conclusion 185

Bibliography 191

Index 207