Problems and Perspectives in Religious Discourse: Advaita Vedanta Implications

Religious discourse uses ordinary language in an extraordinary way. This book surveys Western and Indian discussions of the nature and aspects of religious discourse. It presents the first cross-cultural elucidation of Advaita Vedanta Implications as religious discourse.

Table of Contents:
Preface Special Feature of the Work Reasons Theme was Chosen Contributions of the Work Acknowledgments I. Introduction The World of Advaita Vedanta The Problem Two Assertions Religion and Language II. Advaita and Religious Discourse Certainty Advaita vis-a-vis Religious Discourse Logic of Religious Discourse Qualifications for Religious Knowledge How Religious Knowledge is Conveyed Advaita vis-a-vis Other Systems The Nature of Religious Discourse Three Assertions Consequences III. Advaita Vedanta: A Perspective What is Advaita Vedanta Perspective Key Concept IV. Advaita Vedanta Prospectus Religious Discourse The Problem Indirect Approaches The Gap Religious Discourse--Its 'Use' Peculiarities of Religious Discourse The Theme of Advaita Vedanta Sankara's Solution Advaita and Language V. Methods and Perspectives Introduction Method Methodology Relation to Epistemology Language and Knowledge Brahman--Atman Brahman--The Objective Vision Is the Absolute Known or Not? Atman --TheSubjective Vision Atman is Brahman VI. East and West Introduction Part 1 Part 2 VII. Advaita's Solution Introduction Two Approaches to Religious Discourse Consequences of the Two Approaches Two Levels of Language A Two-Level Theory of Religious Discourse Can the Absolute Be Signified Directly? Second-Level Problems Satkaryavada and Asatkaryavada One Level Language--Absolute Language Language About the Absolute VIII. Retrospect of Results Comment Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author :
John A. Grimes is Assistant Professor at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. His publications include A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy, published by SUNY Press, Sapta Vidha Anupapatti: The Seven Great Untenables; and Quest for Certainty: A Comparative Study of Heidegger and Sankara.

Review :
"This is an important and original book. It is a fine exposition of the questions about religious language and the problem of talking about the transcendent. I know of no one better able to expound an Advaitin viewpoint than Dr. Grimes." -- Ninian Smart, University of California, Santa Barbara "The author has illumined some very important problems in the philosophy of religion and the East-West Dialogue. Good examples are, what kind of meaning does religious discourse have? Is there a difference in the meaning of Advaita Vedanta statements from those in exoteric Judeo-Christian traditions and from those in esoteric traditions such as the mysticism of Meister Eckhart and Jacob Boehme? John Grimes does a masterful job of discussing such profound and difficult western scholars as Anthony Flew, John Hick, and A. J. Ayer as well as important Indian philosophers such as as Gaudand Sankara. Grimes's comments scintillate on every page. "Even for a person totally skeptical of religious discourse, this book is significant comparative philosophy and religion. Grimes shows parallels between Wittgenstein and Sankara. His insights into Nagarjuna show fascinating parallels between Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta. This is one of the most important books that I have read dealing with the relationship of logical positivism and empiricism to Indian philosophy. Grimes's discussion of pragmatism in relation to Advaita Vedanta is very interesting indeed." -- Judy D. Saltzman, California Polytechnic State University