APOL_525___Book_Critique

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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY Book Critique Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a Globalizing Age By: Harold A. Netland Submitted to Dr. David H. Campbell, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of the course. APOL 525 Pluralism and World Religions by August 8, 2020 This study source was downloaded by 100000820478826 from CourseHero.com on 09-26-2023 09:27:46 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/67992770/APOL-525-Book-Critiquedocx/

Introduction Globalization can simply be described as the spread of information across national and cultural borders. Since the beginning of time, society has created and accepted many diverse religions. Religious pluralism represents the idea that many religions offer a path to salvation. Religion, in one form or another, is inescapable and the world is often difficult to conceptualize without it. The relationship between globalization and religion is filled with new possibilities and challenges. Through globalization, religion can be more easily accessed and widely more acceptable. Christianity & Religious Diversity explores how religions have changed in a globalized world and how Christianity is one of the most unique among them. This paper will summarize, analyze, and evaluate, Christianity & Religious Diversity , while discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the book. Summary In the Introduction, Netland states, “This book is an attempt to clarify certain basic concepts, to show how religions have been shaped by modernization and in turn adapted to it, and to explore some of the epistemological issues arising from Christian’s new awareness of religious diversity.” 1 According to Netland, the motivation behind this book is to offer a more responsible way of explaining theology that goes further than just a biblical explanation. His book is divided into two parts: Religion(s) in a Modern, Globalizing World and Christian Commitments in a Pluralistic World. Part 1: Religion(s) in a Modern, Globalizing World – Religion as a social construct. Rethinking Religions – Chapter 1 is designed to provide the basic framework for understanding religions. Netland asserts that there is a theological and phenomenological way to understand religion. A theological perspective of religion is that human beings are created by 1 Harold A. Netland, Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a Globalizing Age (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015), x. 1 This study source was downloaded by 100000820478826 from CourseHero.com on 09-26-2023 09:27:46 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/67992770/APOL-525-Book-Critiquedocx/

God. There are several themes to a theological perspective including creation, sin, grace, and death. It is noted in this section that no matter your religious affiliation, you are inherently religious. It is also understood that everyone has a basic view of God. 2 This perspective is about specific values and teachings. A phenomenological perspective towards religion is ascertained by careful observation in religious communities. From this perspective, you draw insight into the religion through traditions and investigations. This is distinct from theological perspectives as well as historical perspectives because these phenomena cannot be explained by God. This perspective is favored by Netland over the theological understanding of religion. Secularization, Globalization, and the Religions – Chapter 2 examines ways religion has changed and the effects of modernization and globalization. In this chapter, Netland addresses three fundamental shifts in the world because of modernization and globalization: designed to provide the basic framework for understanding religions. Netland asserts that there is a theological and phenomenological way to understand religion. A theological perspective of religion is that human beings are created by God. There are several themes to a theological perspective including creation, sin, grace, and death. It is noted in this section that no matter your religious affiliation, you are inherently religious. It is also understood that everyone has a basic view of God. 3 This perspective is about specific values and teachings. Buddhism in the Modern World – Chapter 3 gives an overview of Buddhism and how Europeans came to believe it as a religion. This chapter discusses the three main schools of Buddhism, including Theravada Buddhism, Vajrayana Buddhism, and Mahayana Buddhism. It also discusses the three schools of Mahayana Buddhism including Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism. Noted with coming to America in the 1840s, Buddhism became a philosophically sophisticated and spiritually profound movement that detached from 2 Ibid., 8. 3 Ibid., 8. 2 This study source was downloaded by 100000820478826 from CourseHero.com on 09-26-2023 09:27:46 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/67992770/APOL-525-Book-Critiquedocx/

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