Buddhism, Interreligious Dialogue, Yagi Seiichi, Japanese Buddhism 

Swidler has translated from the original German an important book by a Japanese Christian scholar who grapples with the relationship of Buddhist and Christian concepts, interpreting the Easter event in a way that eliminates Christian absolutist claims. Yagi's original work is penetrating and technical enough that many readers will need Swidler's introduction (the first half of this book) to clarify the context of Buddhist-Christian dialog, the history of both Buddhism and Christianity in Japan, and Yagi's theology--a theology that presumes dialog as a way of arriving at human and Christian truth. The entire book is an excellent introduction both to interfaith dialog and to this creative Protestant Japanese practitioner--all explained by a leading Roman Catholic theologian of dialog. Essential for academic and seminary libraries; recommended for large public libraries.