Revelation, history, and the dialogue of religions

Book Description

In an era where religious traditions often seem to speak past one another, David Carpenter offers a thoughtful exploration of how different faiths understand divine communication. This scholarly yet accessible work examines a fundamental question that touches every spiritual seeker: how does the divine reveal itself to humanity, and what can we learn by comparing these experiences across traditions?

Carpenter brings together two remarkable figures separated by geography and culture but united in their profound insights into revelation. St. Bonaventure, the medieval Christian theologian known for his Logos theology, provides one lens for understanding how divine truth manifests in human experience. Bhartrhari, the classical Indian grammarian and philosopher of language, offers a parallel perspective from the Hindu tradition on how sacred knowledge emerges through linguistic and spiritual processes.

Rather than treating revelation as a static concept, Carpenter presents it as a dynamic, living process that unfolds through language and within the specific historical contexts of religious communities. This approach invites readers to consider how their own spiritual understanding develops through dialogue, tradition, and personal experience.

For those interested in interfaith dialogue, comparative spirituality, or deepening their understanding of how divine wisdom operates across cultures, this work provides valuable insights into the universal human quest for transcendent truth while respecting the unique characteristics of different religious paths.