Recent Publications

Only available in German

One of the most comprehensive volumes on Myanmar's identity politics to date, this book discusses the entanglement of ethnic and religious identities in Myanmar and the challenges presented by its extensive ethnic-religious diversity. Religious and ethnic conjunctions are treated from historical, political, religious and ethnic minority perspectives through both case studies and overview chapters. The book addresses the thorny issue of Buddhist supremacy, Burmese nationalism and ethnic-religious hierarchy, along with reflections on Buddhist, Christian and Muslim communities. Bringing together international scholars and Burmese scholars, this book combines the perspectives of academic observers with those of political activists and religious leaders from different faiths. Through the breadth of its disciplinary approach, its focus on identity issues and its inclusion of insider and outsider perspectives, this book provides new insights into the complex religious situation of Myanmar.

Published 2021
Bloomsbury Academic
312 pages
ISBN: 9781350187405

The Sri Lankan Methodist theologian, Dr. Lynn Alton de Silva (16 June 1919 – 22 May 1982), was a major pioneer in Buddhist-Christian dialogue and was one of those who paved the way for the World Council of Churches‘ commitment to inter-faith work. In this book, representatives of the WCC, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Ecumenical Institute for Study and Dialogue in Colombo, together with friends, companions and a family member pay tribute to his outstanding work and personality. Picking up major topics of de Silva’s work in Buddhist-Christian dialogue, renowned and rising specialists also highlight the continuing significance of his ideas and relate them to the ongoing process of the encounter between the two religious traditions.

With contributions by Wesley Ariarajah, Thomas Cattoi, Jude Lal Fernando, Marshal Fernando, James Fredericks, Elizabeth Harris, Petrus Höhensteiger, Indunil J.K. Kankanamalage, Kurt Gakuru Krammer, Gudrun Löwner, Andreas Nehring, Joseph O’Leary, Aloysius Pieris, Peniel Rajkumar, Perry Schmidt-Leukel, Shantha de Silva, André Van der Braak, Annewieke Vroom, Amos Yong.

Published 2021
EOS-Verlag
394 pages
ISBN: 978-3-8306-8081-9

Only available in German

As an expansion of his earlier Gifford Lectures, Perry Schmidt-Leukel argues that interreligious theology as a discipline carries the promise of being the theology of the future even though severe barriers to religious pluralism exist within each major faith tradition. He shows nevertheless that possibilities for a pluralist understanding exist in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Chinese religions.

Published 2017
Orbis Books
304 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-626-98230-7

Only available in German

The Bodhicaryavatara ("Entering the Course towards Awakening") is an Indian Mahayana Buddhist companion to the path of a Bodhisattva, someone motivated by the altruistic "spirit of awakening". Unlike many other Buddhist scriptures, much of this text is written in the very touching form of personal reflections. Despite its late composition (7th-8th century CE), the Bodhicaryavatara quickly gained widespread recognition and high appraisal in various parts of the Buddhist world and even beyond. Today it is one of the most widely translated Buddhist texts. The 14th Dalai Lama has emphasized the special impact of this scripture on his own spirituality, and a number of Western scholars have praised it as a true gem among the world's religious classics. After many commentaries by Buddhist scholars throughout the centuries, this is the first commentary from a Christian perspective, exploring the deep resonances between the "spirit of awakening" and the "spirit of Christ."

Published 2019
Peeters Publishers
586 Pages
ISBN: 978-9-042-93848-9
 

Only available in German

Renowned scholars in the field of comparative and interreligious theology respond to Perry Schmidt-Leukel's novel approach to the understanding of religious diversity, using fractals (patterns found in science and nature). Conversation partners from multiple faith traditions include Alan Race, Paul Knitter, Francis Clooney, John Makransky, and Ephraim Meir.

Published 2019
Orbis Books
208 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-626-98338-0
 

Perry Schmidt-Leukel's fractal theory, according to which fractal patterns emerge in religious diversity, is the focus of his new book. The book illustrates this theory using the example of an analysis of the typological differences between Buddhism and Christianity. It is based on five lectures given by the author in 2017 at the invitation of Minzu University in Beijing. Published in Beijing, the book contains the text of the lectures in English and Chinese translation.


Published 2020
Religious Culture Publishing House
279 Pages

Only available in German