Pluralism in the World Religions: A Short Introduction

From the challenges facing Christianity to the future of Islam in a multi-cultural world, this is a coherent introduction to the teachings and debates within the various traditions on the subject of religious pluralism. Drawing on a combination of scripture, scholarship and the words of great thinkers past and present, Harold Coward evaluates six major world faiths and their attitudes towards pluralism and religious tolerance. balancing the historical context of each religion with its responses to the modern pressures of globalisation and multi-cultural living, he tackles complex and problematic areas in an accessible manner, to produce a succinct survey of the issues and arguments surrounding inter-religious relationships. Among the key topics covered are: Muslim relations with the West and white Christianity; the Jewish Diaspora within the multi-cultural world; assimilation and mutual criticism within Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism; the future of religion: possibilities for reaching new levels of tolerance and understanding. A timely book, this introductory text should be of interest to students, academics and the general reader alike.