Renowned Theologian to Lead Discussion on Multiple Religious Belonging

Paul F. Knitter, author of Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian, will lead a discussion about multiple religious belonging on Thursday, April 19, at 4 p.m. in the Pappert Lecture Hall of the Bayer Learning Center.

“Knitter is maybe the preeminent Catholic scholar of interreligious work,” said Dr. Aimee Light, assistant professor of theology. “He’s been responsible for thinking through the standard typology of approaches to religious multiplicity—inclusivism, exclusivism and pluralism—and moving the conversation beyond this typology.”

A leading advocate of globally responsible interreligious dialogue, Knitter is the Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions and Culture at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He has written more than 10 books on the subject. In Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian, Knitter explains his struggle with his Christian faith and how his study of Buddhism helped him through it.

Light noted that the discussion will focus on the question of whether what Knitter describes in his book is multiple religious belonging. “We will discuss whether he is exploring Buddhism in his practice of comparative theology or if he is actually practicing multiple religious belonging,” she explained.

The event will feature a panel discussion with Light and other faculty members, including assistant theology professors Dr. Marinus Iwuchukwu, Dr. Daniel Scheid and Dr. Elisabeth Vasko.

The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Light at 412.396.1031.