Chapter 25 Theology without Walls
In: A Companion to Comparative TheologySearch for other papers by Jerry L. Martin in
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Abstract
Theology is often defined as the articulation of truths within one’s own tradition. But, if theology seeks to understand as much as we can about divine or ultimate reality, and if revelations, enlightenments, and insights into that reality are to be found in more than one tradition, then that conception of theology is too narrow. What is needed is a theology without confessional constraints, a Theology Without Walls (TWW). It will be a transreligious theology and, in spite of that term, its materials and evidences will not be limited to religions. The TWW project was initiated by Jerry Martin in 2014, but post-war developments – including fruitful debates over Hick’s pluralism – prepared the way. Concepts, language, and methods developed by comparative religion and comparative theology, including Neville’s Comparative Religious Ideas Project, provide crucial intellectual resources. Recent work by scholars who have contributed to TWW are briefly described, including Cruz, Denny, Diller, Heim, Knitter, Lee, Long, Mercadante, Neville, Richardson, Thatamanil, Voss Roberts, and Wildman. Challenges facing this new “research programme” (Lakatos) include questions about sources, questions, and methods. Such issues are not decided prior to a project, but in the doing of it.