Modern Indian Responses to Religious Pluralism

Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications
Author: Harold Coward
Language: English
Edition: 1991
ISBN: 9788170302964
Pages: 356
Cover: Hardcover
Dimensions: 23 cm x 15 cm
Weight: 470 gm

About the Book

This thought-provoking book examines India’s 2500-year history of religious pluralism, offering profound insights into how various religious communities interact and coexist in modern India. A collection of essays by a distinguished group of scholars, including J.F.T. Jorden, J.N. Pankratz, R.D. Baird, and others, this work addresses how Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and Tibetan Buddhism have responded to the challenges of living side by side with different faiths.

In Part One, the focus is on Hinduism, the dominant religion in India. The book delves into Hindu responses to religious pluralism, examining the influence of significant movements such as the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Aurobindo, Gandhi, and Bhaktivedanta. Special attention is given to how modern Hinduism has adapted to the awareness of living in a global, pluralistic world.

In Part Two, the book shifts to the perspectives of other religious communities in India. It explores the Parsis, Indian Muslims, Sikhs, and Indian Christians, with a special focus on Christian responses in Calcutta. Finally, the Tibetan Buddhist community living in exile in India is also examined, offering insights into the diversity of responses to religious pluralism in this unique context.

This book is essential for scholars and students of religious studies and Indian philosophy, offering valuable comparative perspectives on religious coexistence and tolerance in one of the world’s most pluralistic societies.