Buddhism Christianity and the Question of Creation

Is the world created by a divine creator? Or is it the constant product of karmic forces? The issue of creation was at the heart of the classic controversies between Buddhism and Hindu Theism. In modern times it can be found at the centre of many polemical debates between Buddhism and Christianity. Is this the principal barrier that separates Buddhism from Christianity and other theistic religions? The contributions to Part One explore the various aspects of traditional and contemporary Buddhist objections against the idea of a divine creator as well as Christian possibilities to meet the Buddhist critique. Part Two asks for the potential truth on both sides and suggests a surprising way that the barrier might be overcome. This opens a new round of philosophical and theological dialogue between these two major traditions with challenging insights for both. Contributors: José I. Cabezón, John P. Keenan, Armin Kreiner, Aasulv Lande, John D'Arcy May, Eva K. Neumaier, Perry Schmidt-Leukel, Ernst Steinkellner. Contents: Introduction, Perry Schmidt-Leukel. Part One Buddhist and Christian Perspectives on the Issue of Creation: Hindu doctrines of creation and their Buddhist critiques, Ernst Steinkellner; Three Buddhist views of the doctrines of creation and creator, José Ignacio Cabezón; Buddhist forms of belief in creation, Eva K. Neumaier; Creation and the problem of evil, Armin Kreiner; Refuting some Buddhist arguments about creation and adopting Buddhist philosophy about salvation history, John P. Keenan; Creation and process theology: a question to Buddhism, Aasulv Lande; Buddhists, Christians and ecology, John D'Arcy May. Part Two The Unbridgeable Gulf? Towards a Buddhist-Christian Theology of Creation, Perry Schmidt-Leukel: Preparing the ground; Buddhist criticism and its motives; Bridging the gulf; Conclusion. Index.