A Critical Study Of Masao Abe's Theory On Interfaith Dialogue
Abstract
This paper briefly introduces and analyzes Masao Abe of contemporary religious dialogue Theoretical Issues. First of all, the world's various religions for the contemporary situation, Abe pointed out that at present the most fundamental goal of interreligious dialogue is mutual creative transformation of inter-religious, the only way religion as a whole to respond effectively to the challenges of contemporary anti-religious ideology; Second, for intra-religious diversity issues, Abe made a Buddhist "three Shenfo" theory as an integration of various religions of the world's diversity and unity of the working hypothesis. I believe this hypothesis to some extent, demonstrated the interaction between learning and religion into the possibility and necessity, but on the other hand reflects a degree of superiority of Buddhism, it is difficult to Buddhism and other religions truly "equal" provide a theoretical basis for the mutual transformation. This essay contains a brief introduction and analysis of Masao 'Abe's theory on interfaith dialogue. First, according to Abe, the most serious challenge faced by all religions today is the anti-religious ideologies which question the legitimacy of religion as a whole. To cope with the challenge, interfaith dialogue must go beyond mutual understanding and engage in mutual transformation. Only then the authentic meaning of religious faith can be found and religion as a whole can respond to the anti-religious forces efficiently. Second with respect of the pluralistic situation of world religions, Abe proposed the three-body doctrine in Buddhism as a working hypothesis to deal with the unity and diversity of religious pluralism. On one hand, this proposal offers a theoretical basis for the mutual learning and mutual transformation of religions . On other hand it implies a superiority of Buddhism and to some extent hinders the equal mutual transformation of Buddhism and other religions