David B. Burrell

A proposal designed to illustrate the worth of explicitly tradition-directed inquiry, as well as the fruitfulness of comparative inquiries in philosophical theology.

"Towards a Jewish-Christian-Muslim Theology delineates the ways that Christianity, Islam, and the Jewish tradition have moved towards each another over the centuries and points to new pathways for contemporary theological work. Explores the development of the three Abrahamic traditions, brilliantly showing the way in which they have struggled with similar issues over the centuries. Shows how the approach of each tradition can be used comparatively by the other traditions to illuminate and develop their own thinking. Written by a renowned writer in philosophical theology, widely acclaimed for his comparative thinking on Jewish and Islamic theology. A very timely book which moves forward the discussion at a period of intense inter-religious dialogue"-- "Religious debate among Jewish, Christian, and Islamic scholars has acquired urgent new dimensions in recent years. Yet over the course of 1400 years, what have the Abrahamic traditions really learned from each other? Brilliantly demonstrating the ways that Christianity, Islam, and the Judaism have struggled with similarly intractable issues over the centuries, Towards a Jewish-Christian-Muslim Theology offers insightful new pathways for productive theological work, along with deep insights into the topic of faith itself. Burrell uses exercises in 'creative hermeneutics' to show how each tradition struggles with complex issues, and how comparative inquiry illuminates those issues to the benefit of each tradition. For each key topic explored, renowned religious scholar and theologian David B. Burrell shows how intellectual trends of their day may be read to extend the reach of each tradition itself. By illuminating the actual and potential interaction among the dominant monotheistic religions, Towards a Jewish-Christian-Muslim Theology offers inspiration for continued theological dialogue and hope for people of all faiths in the 21st century"--

"Creatio ex nihilo is a foundational doctrine in the Abrahamic faiths. It states that God created the world freely out of nothing - from no pre-existent matter, space or time. This teaching is central to classical accounts of divine action, free will, grace, theodicy, religious language, intercessory prayer and questions of divine temporality and as such, the foundation of a scriptural God but also the transcendent Creator of all that is. This edited collection explores how we might now recover a place for this doctrine, and with it, a consistent defence of the God of Abraham in philosophical, scientific, and theological terms. The contributions span the religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and cover a wide range of sources, including historical, philosophical, scientific and theological. As such, the book develops these perspectives to reveal the relevance of this idea within the modern world"--Provided by publisher. "Creatio ex nihilo is a foundational doctrine in the Abrahamic faiths. It states that God created the world freely out of nothing - from no pre-existent matter, space or time. This teaching is central to classical accounts of divine action, free will, grace, theodicy, religious language, intercessory prayer and questions of divine temporality and as such, the foundation of a scriptural God but also the transcendent Creator of all that is"--Provided by publisher.

Papers chiefly presented at a conference titled "Religion, culture, and women's human rights in the Muslim world," held Sept. 9-10, 1994 at the American University in Washington, D.C., and sponsored by Sisterhood Is Global Institute.