Evil and the Response of World Religion / Edition 1

by William Cenker

Overview

Evil is as problematic today as it was for the founders of the world's religions or the philosophers of the ancient world. In Evil and the Response of World Religions, William Cenkner has gathered 19 essays--from authorities such as Peter C. Phan, Wande Abimbola, Riffat Hassan, Paul Badham, Chandra Wikramagamage, and Mary Ann Stenger--which reflect not only the wisdom of the West, Asia, and Africa, but also contemporary insights from feminist, liberationist, and ecological perspectives. All writers face a similar enigma as human potential increases along with the possibility of human depravity.

Religions, both East and West, have responded to the problem of evil through their shamans, prophets, and wisdom figures with understanding and profound consideration. Each tradition, either collectively or through individual thinkers, has something distinct and important to say. The purpose this book is to identify causes and possible solutions to particular manifestations of evil--such as war, racism, consumerism, and family fragmentation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	2901557787537
Publisher:	Paragon House Publishers
Publication date:	04/03/1998
Series:	IRFWP Congress Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

WILLIAM CENKNER is an Indologist and professor of the history of religions. He is former dean of the school of religious studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Table of Contents

Introduction
By William Cenkner
1. The Priestly Conceptions of Evil in the Torah
By Gene G. James
2. From Myth to Psyche to Mystic Psychology: The Evolution of the
Problem of Evil in Judaism
By Sheldon R. Isenberg
3. Providence and the Problem of Evil in Jewish Thought
By David J. Goldberg
4. The Discovery of Christian Meaning in Suffering: Transformation and Solidarity
By Jane Mary Zwerner
5. The Ambiguity of the Symbol of the Cross: Legitimating and Overcoming Evil
By Mary Ann Stenger
6. The Problem of Evil: An Islamic Approach
By Muhammad Al-Ghazali
7. Feminist Theology as a Means of Combating Injustice Toward Women in Muslim Communities and Culture
By Riffat Hassan
8. A Theoretical Explanation of Evil in Theravada Buddhism
By Medagama Vajiragnana
9. Mara as Evil in Buddhism
By Chandra Wikramagamage
10. Three Levels of Evil in Advaita Vedanta and a Holographic Analogy
By Stephen Kaplan
11. Hindu Understandings of Evil: From Tradition to Modern Thought
By William Cenkner
12. A New Understanding of the Bhagavad Gita: Trinitarian Evil
By Francis Xavier D'Sa
13. Evil in Yoruba Religion and Culture
By E. O. Oyelade
14. Gods Versus Anti-Gods: Conflict and Resolution in the Yoruba Cosmos
By Wande Abimbola
15. Prophecy and Contemplation: The Language of Liberation Theology Against Evil
By Peter C. Phan
16. The Unification Understanding of the Problem of Evil
By Anthony J. Guerra
17. Ecological Evil and Interfaith Dialogue: Caring for the Earth
By M. Darrol Bryant
18. Divine Goodness and Demonic Evil
By David Ray Griffin
19. Towards a Global Theodicy
By Paul Badham