Beyond Dialogue

Book excerpt: Christian Reflection about other religions has often misinterpreted the truth of the other Ways. The Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of churches stress that Christians can gain an appreciative understanding of other traditions only through meaningful dialogue with believers of other faiths. This book, however, emphasizes the need for Christians to go beyond dialogue, to reach for a mutual transformation of Christianity and other religions. By way of example, the author explores with originality the Christian encounter with Mahayana Buddhism. He offer an original view of how Christianity and Buddhism can appropriately transform one another when both partners are truly respected as equal. Both contributing, both benefiting. John Cobb boldly challenges us "to hear in an authentic way the truth which the other has to teach us" and to be transformed by that truth.