Programmatic Foundations of the New Comparative Theology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14422/ee.v101.i398.y2026.004Keywords:
comparative theology, interreligious theology, comparative method, confessional fidelity, relational hermeneutics, religious alterity, theological epistemologyAbstract
A significant portion of the theological work carried out over the past three decades in the field of religious diversity bears the distinctive imprint of what has come to be known as «the New Comparative Theology». At present, however, it remains difficult to delineate a definitive systematic profile of this mode of theological reflection, due to divergent interpretations of its status within theology itself, the plurality of levels involved in the comparative process, and differing understandings of its relationship to particular confessional identities. This article seeks to explore and clarify the defining boundaries of this no longer entirely novel project of interreligious theology by identifying its categorical elements, epistemic principles, and methodological approach, thereby uncovering its potential as a fertile space for theological reflection, discernment, and constructive engagement.
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