This book has grown out of a twofold concern--to follow the author's quest into the nature of the great Mystery of the universe which we call God, and to share this quest with others who are willing to search for a better approach to God than the one with which most Christian people have been indoctrinated.
Kenneth J. Dale lived much of his life in a culture which was fed by two religious streams: one pantheistic (Japanese Shintoism) and the other atheistic (Buddhism). These caused the author to reflect deeply on the place of the Christians' "Heavenly Father" in such a context. Come on a journey of exploration that moves from the outer bounds of the universe to the inner recesses of the heart.
Kenneth J. Dale is Professor Emeritus of Japan Lutheran College and Seminary in Tokyo, where he taught for thirty-five years. This will be his tenth published book, with subjects ranging from studies in Buddhism and cross-cultural issues to counseling and Christian spirituality. Several of them have been translated and published in Japanese. He is now retired in Claremont, CA.
“All thoughtful people sometimes reflect on issues that are fragmented in academia into theology, philosophy, history, and science. The fragmentation into separate fields advances academic specializations, but it makes it very difficult for both academics and lay thinkers to work out realistic and relevant answers to the real human questions. Lay thinking is generally discouraged, and fragmented scholarship is often irrelevant. . . . We are very fortunate that there are a few exceptions. None is more helpful than Ken Dale. He focuses on questions that arise for Christians or ex-Christians who cannot make sense of simple traditional answers to important existential questions.”
—John B. Cobb Jr., The Center for Process Studies
“Kenneth Dale invites readers to share his own quest for an authentic understanding of God. . . . He poses questions, paradoxes, and possible ways forward with short, pithy paragraphs notable for their engaging conversational style and honesty. Along the way the reader learns about various currents and issues in both traditional and contemporary theology.”
—Bob Hurd, Seattle University, liturgical music composer