The Persistence of Religion: Comparative Perspectives on Modern Spirituality

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In the nineteenth century, Nietzsche famously announced that God was dead. In the twentieth century, increasing reliance on science and technology led to a widespread rejection of belief on the grounds of its irrationality. Yet religion has not died. In fact, the opposite has occurred: it has persisted and proliferated. Despite the relentless pursuit of scientific advancement, in the twenty-first century we now see religious influence everywhere. In this wide-ranging dialogue, two leading commentators on religion address - from their different but complementary traditions of Christianity and Buddhism - the continuing appeal of spirituality to people eager to explore fundamental questions of meaning. The authors indicate that science, for all its benefits, has limits of explanation. It may be able to show how, but not necessarily why. Yet belief too must not go unchallenged, since, as Ikeda says, 'religion can become either a medicine or a poison'. What then is the proper role of religion in a world plagued by intolerance and extremism The authors point to its place in dialogue, education and peacebuilding. They emphasise the centrality of non-violence, and the inspiring examples of Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. In so doing they recount formative experiences of involvement in the civil rights movement and protest against Vietnam (Cox) and personal exposure to the misery and destruction of war (Ikeda). Their joint vision of a just and true religious sensibility makes a vital contribution to the fields of religion, peace studies and ethics.

Author Bio

Harvey G. Cox is Hollis Professor of Divinity at Harvard University. One of the most famous theologians in America and beyond, his many influential books include The Secular City (1965), which became an international bestseller, Many Mansions: A Christian's Encounter with other Faiths (1998) and When Jesus Came to Harvard: Making Moral Decisions Today (2004). His research and teaching interests focus primarily on the interaction of religion, culture and politics. Among the issues he explores in his work are urbanisation, theological developments in world Christianity, Jewish-Christian relations, and spiritual movements - especially Pentecostalism - in a global setting. Daisaku Ikeda is President of Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist organization with some twelve million adherents in 192 countries and regions throughout the world. He is the author of over 80 books on Buddhist themes, and received the United Nations Peace Award in 1983. His work to restore Chinese-Japanese relations as well as his contributions to world peace, cultural exchange and education have been widely recognised. The world's academic community has awarded him more than 250 academic degrees.