The Gospel of John and the Religious Quest
Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Imprint: Pickwick Publications
The Gospel of John and the Religious Quest argues that at its origin the Fourth Gospel was part of a dialogue with various religious traditions, and that to this day it is being used in active dialogue with those who live in traditions other than the Christian.
In the first part of the book, Johannes Nissen analyzes a number of texts selected both for their central importance to John's theology and for their special relevance in today's religious quests and encounters. These texts focus on John's images of Life--water, bread, light, way, and tree--but also treat concepts that are crucial to the Fourth Gospel--Word, Truth, and Love.
In the second part, Nissen focuses on significant issues for current readers of the Gospel: the relation between incarnation and inculturation; models for dialogue with other religions; images of Christ; truth and love as criteria for dialogue; and the experience of faith in the light of the Fourth Gospel.
Johannes Nissen is Associate Professor of Practical Theology at the University of Aarhus, Denmark. He has published a number of books and articles, especially on hermeneutics, the Bible and ethics, New Testament and mission, Christian religious education, and diaconia.
"Seeing how the religious quest was important for the Gospel of John, the reader is invited into a creative reading of the Gospel that opens a meeting place for religious seekers today. The author strikes a balance between experience and theological reflection and shows a way to maintain genuine Christian integrity together with openness towards other traditions."
--Mogens S. Mogensen, Consultant in Intercultural Studies
"What a brilliant idea to read the Gospel of John in light of today's religious quest and the encounter of religions. You not only get an innovative reading of the Gospel, that in its origin was part of a similar dialogue in a very diverse religious landscape, but in addition the book and Johannes Nissen inspire to engage in actual dialogue with the religious diversity of our time."
--Viggo Mortensen, Emeritus Professor of Global Christianity, University of Aarhus
"I warmly congratulate Nissen on this splendid book, which will enrich several disciplines: New Testament, mission, and interreligious relations. In conversation with scholars from around the world, especially the Indian subcontinent, the author convincingly opens up the Fourth Gospel as a fertile resource for Christian encounter and dialogue with other faiths."
--Kirsteen Kim, Professor of Theology and World Christianity, Leeds Trinity University