This book describes the relationship of Christian Public Theology to other religions and their ways of contributing to the common good. It also promotes mutual learning processes in public education to strengthen the public role and responsibility of religions in pluralistic societies. This volume brings together not only public education and public theology, but also scholars from a variety of disciplines such as philosophy, cultural studies, and sociology, and from different parts of the world. By doing so, the book intends to widen the horizon and provide fresh impulses for public theology as well as the discourse on public religious education.
Table of Contents:
1 Introduction
Manfred L. Pirner
Part A. Public Theology from Diverse Religious and Non-religious Perspectives
2 Contributions of Religions to the Common Good in Pluralistic Societies from a Christian Perspective? Some Critical Remarks
Dirk J. Smit
3 The Contribution of Religions to the Common Good in Pluralistic Societies: A Jewish Perspective, Exemplified by the Concept of Tikkun Olam
Sabrina Worch
4 The Contribution of Religions to the Common Good in Pluralistic Societies: An Islamic Perspective
Abdullah Sahin
5 Islamic Contributions to the Universal Conception of the Common Good in Multi-confessional Societies: Hermeneutical Foundations
Mohammed Nekroumi
6 Towards Enlightenment: Buddhism’s Contribution to Common Good through Establishing Contemplative Culture
Heesoon Bai
7 The Contributions of Religions to the Common Good: Philosophical Perspectives
Manfred L. Pirner
8 Contributions of Religions to the Common Good in a Pluralistic Society: an Empirical Answer from a Sociological Perspective
Gert Pickel & Annette Schnabel
9 Monotheism – Curse or Blessing?
Jan Assmann
Part B. The Challenge of Interreligious Dialogue and Learning
10 Public Theology and Interreligious Dialogue.
Heinrich Bedford-Strohm
11 Public Theology or Religious Studies? Deliberations on the Basis of Multifaith Religious Education
L. Philip Barnes
12 Public Religious Pedagogy and Interreligious Learning
Bernd Schröder
13 The Public Church and Public Religious Education as Forms of ‘Protestant Presence’ – Confessional and Interreligious Perspectives
Thomas Schlag
14 Islamic Education in Europe: An Opportunity for Equal Rights or a Way to Control Islam?
Jenny Berglund
15 The Contribution of Public Religious Education to Promoting Peace: Perspectives from Israel
Zehavit Gross
16 The Contribution of Interreligious NGOs and Interfaith Initiatives to Public Education
Johannes Lähnemann
17 The Spirituality of Mindfulness – a Religious Contribution to Public Education
Werner Haussmann
About the Author :
Manfred L. Pirner is Professor, Holder of the Chair of Religious Education, and Director of the Research Unit for Public Religion and Education (RUPRE) at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.
Johannes Lähnemann is emeritus Professor of Religious Education at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, and Chairman of the Peace Education Standing Commission of Religions for Peace (RfP).
Werner Haussmann is senior lecturer at the Chair of Religious Education at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, and Deputy-Director of the Research Unit for Public Religion and Education (RUPRE).
Susanne Schwarz is senior researcher at the Chair of Religious Education at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, and Coordinator of the Research Unit for Public Religion and Education (RUPRE).
