"Consists of the Gifford lectures, given in the University of Glasgow in 1993-4, and of the Selwyn lectures, given at St. John's College, Auckland, in 1993"--Acknowledgements.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
Introductionpage 1
Part I: Towards a Comparative Theologypage 3
A. Theological Knowledgepage 3
B. Revelation and Reasonpage 15
C. Theology as a Comparative Disciplinepage 36
Part II: Primal Disclosurespage 50
A. Primal Revelationspage 50
B. The Role of Imaginationpage 69
C. From Primal to Canonical Traditionspage 87
Part III: Four Scriptural Traditionspage 111
A. Judaismpage 111
B. Vedantapage 134
C. Buddhismpage 156
D. Islampage 173
Part IV: Christian Reflections: Revelation as Historical Self-Manifestationpage 193
A. Incarnation and Historypage 193
B. Inspiration and Revelationpage 209
C. Taking History on Faithpage 232
D. Incarnation as Revelationpage 258
Part V: Religion after Enlightenmentpage 283
A. The Scientific World-Viewpage 283
B. Authority and Autonomypage 302
C. Religious Diversitypage 310
D. The Structure of Revelationpage 324
Index of Authorspage 345
Index of Subjectspage 348

Since Thomas Aquinas first defined theology as revelation--or the rational elucidation of revealed truth--the idea has played a fundamental role in the history of Western theology. This book provides a new and detailed investigation of the concept, examining its nature, sources, and limitations in all five of the major scriptural religions of the world: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
Beginning with an examination of the nature of theology, Keith Ward looks at religion in its early historical manifestations, and considers the idea of revelation as found in the great canonical traditions of the religions of the world. In the process, he develops a distinctly Christian idea of revelation as divine self-expression in history. Finally, he explores how conceptions of revelation must be revised in light of modern historical and scientific thought, and proposes a new and positive theology of revelation for the future.
Religion and Revelation includes discussions of the work of most major theologians including Aquinas, Tillich, Barth, Temple, Frazer, and Evans Pritchard. It should be of interest to scholars and students of comparative religion, philosophers of religion, theologians, and anthropologists.