Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies Frederick J. Streng Book Award 2012

The winner of the 2012 Frederick J. Streng Book Award is Paul Knitter’s work Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian (Oneworld, 2009). Knitter is the Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, Religions, and Culture at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Earlier works include No Other Name? A Critical Survey of Christian Attitudes toward World Religions; The Myth of Christian Uniqueness: Toward a Pluralistic Theology of Religions (co-edited with John Hick); and Buddhist Emptiness and Christian Trinity: Essays and Explorations (co-edited with Roger Corless).

One of the endorsements for the book came from SBCS member John Makransky: “A ground-breaking work of inter-religious dialogue, comparative theology, and social ethics. The rarest combination of theological acumen, humility, and humor. Like a thrilling mystery, the insights of each section build to the final chapter, a tour de force, in which Knitter rediscovers the very meaning of serving others. A must-read for anyone who wants to renew their faith and rediscover their humanity in intimate dialogue with the faiths of others.”

In a 2010 review of the book in this journal, Peter Huff writes, “More confession than apology, it is an original and valuable addition to the growing literature on the still uncharted territory of hyphenated religious identity.”

The Frederick J. Streng Award for Excellence in Buddhist-Christian Studies is selected annually by a panel of three. Books may be nominated up to five years after publication and must meet several criteria. They should be inspired by and relevant to Buddhist-Christian relations and must make an original contribution to Buddhist-Christian dialogue. Nominations through November are welcome for the following year’s award, so nominations received by the end of November 2013 will be considered for the 2014 award.