THE INTERFAITH IMPERATIVE

Globally we seem torn between local, exclusive forms of religion, which can cause immense spiritual and physical damage to people, and a bland secularism that confines the religions to safe havens, each offering its own private options for spirituality within a secularized global politic. In this context the religions tolerate one another but cannot engage in mutually challenging and transforming dialogue. Thompson argues that it is only through dialogue that the distinctive truths of the faiths emerge. Moving beyond the threefold paradigm that has limited dialogue, and challenging modern secularism and postmodern relativism alike, he argues for a dialogue-based realism that is rooted in the Christian doctrines of creation and Trinity. Turning to recent theological approaches, Thompson both affirms and criticizes narrative and postliberal theologies, liberation theology, and the revival of negative theology. The transfiguration of Jesus provides a model for the way theology proceeds in dialogue, from an initial naivety, through metaphysical construction and deconstruction, to a new metaphorical interillumination. Thompson sets forth a utopian hope for the interreligious city of God, shining with the divine, interilluminative rainbow light reflected from the many faiths, including the secular faith. Ross Thompson critically scrutinizes the current debate in all its complexity and diversity. Thompson develops his own engaging and challenging path that will not leave the reader unmoved, whatever their own approach. His commitment to carrying on conversations from within traditions that become transformed by those conversations shows a fine sensibility that is both interdisciplinary and also profoundly theological.  --Gavin DCosta, Professor of Catholic Theology, Bristol Ross Thompson sets himself a challenging task