Table of Contents

Preface Introduction: Altruism and the Study of Religion William Scott Green 1. Altruism in Greco-Roman Philosophy Robert M. Berchman 2. Altruism in Classical Judaism Jacob Neusner and Alan J. Avery-Peck 3. Altruism in Christianity Bruce Chilton 4. Altruism in Islam Th. Emil Homerin 5. Altruism in Classical Buddhism Todd Lewis 6. Altruism in Contemporary Buddhism: Thich Nhat Hanh's Socially Engaged Buddhism Bradley S. Clough 7. Altruism in Japanese Religions: The Case of Nichiren Buddhism Ruben L. F. Habito 8. Altruism in Classical Hinduism Richard H. Davis 9. Altruism in Chinese Religions Mark Csikszentmihalyi Epilogue William Scott Green Contributors Acknowledgements Index

Promotional Information

These careful textual studies disclose the reward structure ingredient in the world's great religious traditions. Their impact is theologically provocative, to say the least. Stunning! -- Barbara DeConcini, executive director, American Academy of Religion A fascinating assessment of the 'place' of altruism in religion. Generally perceived as a religious value, it is surprising to learn that altruism as generally defined in the West is either irrelevant or in tension with the fundamental concerns of most of the world's major religious traditions. It is not that the world religions neglect duty to others, benevolence, charity, and the like, but rather that our contemporary understanding of altruism is not capable of accounting for these values in their local contexts. The conference from which this book proceeds was a very interesting intellectual experiment and has provided a valuable collection of essays. -- Don Wiebe, professor in the faculty of divinity at Trinity College, University of Toronto and cofounder of the North American Association for the Study of Religion

About the Author

Jacob Neusner is research professor of theology and senior fellow at the Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard College. He is the editor of God's Rule: The Politics of World Religions and is the author of several books on Judaism. Bruce Chilton is Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion and director of the Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard College. He is the author of several books including Rabbi Jesus: An Intimate Biography and Rabbi Paul: An Intimate Biography.

Reviews

"A fascinating assessment of the 'place' of altruism in religion. Generally perceived as a religious value, it is surprising to learn that altruism is generally defined in the West as either irrelevant or in tension with the fundamental concerns of most of the world's major religious traditions. It is not that the world religions neglect duty to others, benevolence, charity, and the like, but rather that our contemporary understanding of altruism is not capable of accounting for these values in their local contexts." - Don Wiebe, professor in the Faculty of Divinity at Trinlty College, University of Toronto and cofounder of the North American Association for the Study of Religion "These careful textual studies disclose the reward structure ingredient in the world's great religious traditions. Their impact is theologically provocative, to say the least. Stunning!" - Barbara Deconcini, executive director, American Academy of Religion"