Emptiness and Presence in a Non-substantialist Formulation of Trinitarian Doctrine
This paper examines the ideas of emptiness (śūnyatā) and presence (svabhāva) in the discourses of Indian Madhyamika thinkers in comparison with the work of prominent Kyoto School philosopher and key figure in Buddhist-Christian dialogue, Masao Abe (1915–2006). Madhyamika’s negative dialectic and Abe...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Brill
2018
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In: |
Journal of reformed theology
Year: 2018, Volume: 12, Issue: 2, Pages: 127-142 |
IxTheo Classification: | AX Inter-religious relations BL Buddhism KDD Protestant Church NBC Doctrine of God VA Philosophy |
Further subjects: | B
Emptiness
two truths
trinitarian
personhood
nothingness
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Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
Summary: | This paper examines the ideas of emptiness (śūnyatā) and presence (svabhāva) in the discourses of Indian Madhyamika thinkers in comparison with the work of prominent Kyoto School philosopher and key figure in Buddhist-Christian dialogue, Masao Abe (1915–2006). Madhyamika’s negative dialectic and Abe’s oeuvre are applied to the trinitarian theology of Scottish theologian and churchman Thomas Forsyth Torrance (1913–2007), even as Torrance’s oeuvre is allowed to recast and illuminate notions of emptiness in light of the trinitarian faith. In this movement of ideas, the dynamic interpretations and reinterpretations of the doctrine of emptiness by Indian thinkers are brought to bear on Abe’s thought and, in turn, on Torrance’s trinitarian theology. In this way, the metaphysical basis of trinitarian doctrine is drawn into sharper focus even as an emptiness-based, non-substantialist, onto-relational theology of the Trinity emerges as a potentially viable account of the nature of the triune Godhead. |
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ISSN: | 1569-7312 |
Contains: | In: Journal of reformed theology
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15697312-01202010 |