Religious Discourse, Power Relations, and Interreligious Illumination

Abstract

This chapter explores the extent to which a sociological inquiry of the comparative study of religion would be mutually beneficial through reciprocal illumination in reference of Francis Clooney’s comparative theology. Then, it is concerned with problematizing the Buddhist text of Bodhicaryavatara (The Way of the Bodhisattva) in connection with the Buddhist principle of dependent origination, in which a Christian critical, constructive commentarial work should come into focus. In view of a Christian commentarial interpretation, I further attempt to problematize the elective affinity of the bodhicitta idea via the Heart Sutra in its affirmative context as well as in Imperial Japanese accommodation. This sociological inquiry facilitates a hermeneutical project for developing the comparative study of Buddhist compassion and the Christian symbol of theologia crucis for mutual illumination and common practice.