Faith and Freedom: An Interfaith Perspective

In this book, David Burrell, one of the foremost philosophical theologians in the English–speaking world, presents the culmination of his work on creation and human freedom. Drawing on his philosophical and theological insights from the last twenty years, he develops an integrated argument with far–reaching consequences for capitalist cultures.

Engaging with the Islamic, Judaic and Christian traditions, and with modern and pre–modern systems of thought, Burrell dismantles the libertarian approach to freedom that dominates Western politics and economics, proposing that alongside freedom of choice we need freedom of consent. The author s rigorous approach, wry humor and generous spirit are evident throughout.

Preface.

Prologue.

Acknowledgements.

Part I: Creator/Creation Relation:.

1. Distinguishing God from the World.

2. The Unknowability of God in al–Ghazali.

3. Why not Pursue the Metaphor of Artisan and View God′s Knowledge as Practical?.

4. Maimonides, Aquinas and Gersonides on Providence and Evil.

5. Aquinas′ Debt to Maimonides.

6. Creation and `Actualism′: The Dialectical Dimension of Philosophical Theology.

7. Aquinas and Scotus: Contrary Patterns for Philosophical Theology.

8. From Analogy of ′Being′ to the Analogy of Being.

Part II: Divine Freedom and Human Freedom:.

9. The Challenge to Medieval Christian Philosophy: Relating Creator to Creatures.

10. Freedom and Creation in the Abrahamic Traditions.

11. Al–Ghazali on Created Freedom.

12. Creation, Will and Knowledge in Aquinas and Duns Scotus.

Part III: Interfaith Encounter:.

13. God, Religious Pluralism, and Dialogic Encounter.

14. The Christian Distinction Celebrated and Expanded.

15. Incarnation and Creation: The Hidden Dimension.

16. Assessing Statements of Faith: Augustine and Etty Hillesum.

Index

David Burrell is Hesburgh Professor of Philosophy and Theology at Notre Dame University. His previous books include Knowing the Unknowable God: Ibn–Sina, Maimonides, Aquinas (1986), Freedom and Creation in Three Traditions (1993), and two translations of Al–Ghazali.

outstanding examples of rigorous theological and philosophical reflection undertaken with one eye on the signs of the times , without collapsing into an occasionalist relevance that will leave them silent a few years hence. Indeed, they are probably two of the most important books that I have read in the past five years, making an indelible impression on the trajectory of my own work. ( Journal of Theological Studies, April 2010) "Collected essays can be problematic creatures. The fruit of years of patient reflection often turns out to lack any real coherence or focus. With the work of David Burrell any such fears quickly turn out to be ill–founded... Those who know and value his work will be grateful to the editor of this series for bringing togther in one volume a number of articles previously published in professional journals. Those new to it now have a useful if intellctually demanding commentary on this fascinating world." "Pervading this book is precisely that spirit of wonder and intellectual delight which touches all Burrell′s work – and the man himself" Journal of Contemporary Religion "This book will appeal to students with an interest in cosmology, the relationship between faith and reason, the nature of human freedom and areas of common ground or near common ground among scholarsof the three Abrahamic traditions." Reviews in Religion and Theology