Journal of Interreligious Studies

From the Editor-in-Chief

Axel Marc Oaks Takács — 2024-10-08

Issue 43 is a rolling submissions issue with four articles, two book review essays, and five book reviews.

Searching for “the” Method

Albert Frolov — 2024-10-08

This paper examines the methodologies of Bernard Lonergan and Oliver Freiberger to the (comparative) study of religion and theology. Lonergan’s “Transcendental Method” grounds itself in an individual’s conscious intentionality seeking objective reality and opening itself up to the ensuant sense of commitment, while Freiberger’s method emphasizes the acts of redescription and category-formation performed by the comparativist without delving into the question of objective reality or one’s existential commitment. Lonergan’s approach explains the fuller range of operations naturally performed by any (comparative) scholar, accounting for the fundamental orientation of all human beings to philosophical, ethical, and/or religious values. Freiberger’s approach, in contrast, offers its valuable insights to the descriptive and explanatory elements of comparison, attempting to retain the ideal of scholarly neutrality despite recognizing the universality of cultural and personal biases. Integrating both, I offer a framework for bridging the epistemic and axiological gap between comparative religious studies and (comparative) theology.

Categorizing Representative Nondualisms

David H Nikkel — 2024-10-08

Nondualism in the context of this article refers to a metaphysics where there exists one all-encompassing, all-integrating whole. This project categorizes nondualisms, those with provenances both in Asian and Western contexts, including panentheisms, according to several opposing options: (1) the whole is undifferentiated versus differentiated. The next four opposing categories relate to nondualisms with differentiation within or from the ultimate form of divinity, whether those differentiated realities be the world, nature, entities, and/or humans and other sentient beings. The issue is whether these differentiated realities (2) are divine or nondivine (3) possess some degree of indeterminate freedom or are subject to determinism (4) affect or do not affect the ultimate divine fulfillment and (5) are ontologically dependent on, or independent from, the ultimate divine. The final categorization concerns whether the ultimate divine is (6) personal or transpersonal. East Asian religions have typically conceptualized the ultimate divine as transpersonal. Little has been written on East Asian religions as panentheisic, but I will argue that Daoism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Ruism (Confucianism) warrant classification as transpersonal panentheisms. To conclude, I will propose a panentheism with both personal and transpersonal elements informed by current science.

Boko Haram

Mary Lilian Akhere Ehidiamhen — 2024-10-08

This essay offers a just peace analysis and some paths forward to transforming the conflict with Boko Haram in Nigeria. The first part describes the social context of Boko Haram and assesses some of the root causes. The second part identifies some of the existing practices to respond to Boko Haram and how some of these practices illuminate and actualize just peace norms. The third part offers a constructive contribution by exploring how a just peace framework might support existing local mechanisms and offer innovative approaches toward transforming this conflict. Some of these approaches include deeper interreligious relations, needs-based analysis, strategic nonviolent resistance, unarmed civilian protection, restorative justice, a more robust civil society, and economic justice.

Religious, Social, Cultural Significance of the Usage of Orhue (Chalk) at Birth in Edo

Michael M. Oboh — 2024-10-08

Orhue (indigenous powder, chalk) has several uses in African traditional culture and religion, especially among the Edo people of Nigeria. However, some Christians reject its usage and regard it as fetish or demonized substance. This rejection is related to colonization and modernity. This paper investigates Orhue’s meaning, purpose, and implications for the practice of Christianity; uses qualitative research methodology. It reveals that religiously orhue serves as a means of appreciating God (Osanobua), celebrating His providence, and expressing His holiness and blessings. Socially, it unifies people in a shared sense of solidarity. Culturally, it announces the birth of a child and the welcoming of the newborn. This essay examines contextualization and some of its related concepts—inculturation, enculturation, and absorption—in order to decolonize and formulate bases for its Christian application. As an exercise in contextual theology, it concludes that a faithful usage of orhue strengthens Christianity’s social expression, cultural participation, preservation, worship, and evangelism.

Religious Diversity, Secularization, and Indifference

Hans Gustafson — 2024-10-08

A book review essay on Beyond Doubt: The Secularization of Society. By Isabella Kasselstrand, Phil Zuckerman, and Ryan T. Cargun. Aaron Rosen. New York, NY: New York University Press, 2023. 227 pages. $30.00 (paperback). ISBN 9781479814282.

Returning to the Central Question of the Humanities

Axel Marc Oaks Takács — 2024-10-08

A book review essay on Metaphysical Institutions: Islam & the Modern Project. Caner K. Dagli. Suny Press. 2024. ix+391pp. ISBN: 978-1-438-49700-6. $99.00 (hardback). $34.95 (paperback).

Everyday Wisdom: Interreligious Studies in a Pluralistic World

Matthew Maruggi — 2024-10-08

Book review: Everyday Wisdom: Interreligious Studies in a Pluralistic World. By Hans Gustafson. Fortress Press, 2023. 392 pages. $45.00 (paperback). ISBN 9781506486949.

Interreligious Studies: An Introduction

C. Denise Yarbrough — 2024-10-08

Book Review: Interreligious Studies: An Introduction. By Rachel S. Mikva. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023. xi+356 pages. $105.00 (hardcover); $34.99 (paperback); $34.99 (eBook). ISBN 9781108826600.

Judging Jewish Identity in the United States

Dennis Wieboldt — 2024-10-08

Book Review: Judging Jewish Identity in the United States. By Annalise E. Glauz-Todrank. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2023. vii-xii+247 pages. $115.00 (hardcover); $39.99 (paperback); $37.50 (eBook). ISBN 9781666923032.

Homegrown Hate: Why White Nationalists and Militant Islamists Are Waging War Against the United States

Hannah Thorpe — 2024-10-08

Book Review: Homegrown Hate: Why White Nationalists and Militant Islamists Are Waging War Against the United States. By Sara Kamali. University of California Press, 2021. 440 pages. $29.91 (hardcover), $24.95 (paperback), and 29.95 (e-book). ISBN 9780520360020.

Multireligious Reflections on Friendship: Becoming Ourselves in Community

Thomas Goodhue — 2024-10-08

Book Review: Multireligious Reflections on Friendship: Becoming Ourselves in Community. Edited by Anne-Marie Ellithorpe, Laura Duhan-Kaplan, and Hussam S. Timani. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2023. 239 pages. ISBN 978-1-66691-735-2. (hardback) $105; (eBook) $45.