Intercultural Theology

Book Description

Christianity stands at a crossroads, moving beyond its traditional European-centered identity toward recognition as a truly global movement rich with cultural diversity. In this thoughtful exploration, Judith Gruber examines how this transformation is giving birth to a new theological discipline called Intercultural Theology.

Gruber begins by tracing the historical roots of this emerging field, analyzing two key areas that shaped its development. She explores how missionary work brought Western Christianity into contact with other cultures during the colonial period, and examines contextual theologies that celebrate local cultural expressions of faith while sometimes struggling to maintain Christianity's universal dimensions.

The author then ventures into constructive territory, proposing a fresh approach that bridges systematic theology with insights from cultural studies. This interdisciplinary method reveals the complex reality beneath Christianity's dominant narratives, uncovering multiple, sometimes conflicting expressions of Christian faith across cultures. Rather than retreating into simplified definitions of Christian identity, Gruber embraces this cultural plurality as an opportunity for deeper understanding.

Drawing on the philosophical insights of Paul Ricoeur, Michel Foucault, and Michel de Certeau, she develops a framework that honors both Christianity's unity and its remarkable cultural diversity. This approach offers readers a way to think about faith that neither ignores cultural differences nor abandons the search for common ground, opening new pathways for understanding Christianity in our interconnected world.