The Love is God (1994)

Perspective

Participants in the conference "The Love of God in the World's Religions" wrote papers on their own religion or their research specialty. The papers were written in advance and circulated to all participants. In the conference itself, each presenter spent a few minutes highlighting or outlining the paper. The bulk of the time was spent in discussion. The results were incorporated in a final draft of the paper and these final products are presented here, along with one additional paper.

The subject has many facets as does the very word "love." Participants had a free hand to explore any dimension of this they wished, such as grace, forgiveness, love on a human level, love for God, God's love for persons. Some general descriptions were included in the discussion to share basic elements of a religious tradition. Some, for example, believe in Hell or eternal punishment after death. Questions arose on how this relates to the love of God. How do love and justice or love and duty relate in a given tradition?

The schedule of papers in the conference followed two lines of history and these are repeated here. In one track, there is the development of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Unificationism. One could call this the western religious sequence, though all four originate in Asia and they are spread around the globe. The other track is Hinduism, Sikhism, Confucianism and Mahayana Buddhism. One could say this is the eastern and south eastern division of world religions but these traditions continue to spread into the western world as well.

Judaism is presented by Thompson in biblical terms, especially Moses and the prophets. Early post-biblical Judaism is included but the main focus is on Hasidism in its third form in the person of Baal Shem Tov. Hasidism is sometimes seen as a form of mysticism. The love of God is central to historic Judaism, but it had more emphasis in one era or another.

Roman Catholicism is highlighted by Thomas McGowan who em-phasizes the three paths of Hinduism-knowledge, works, devotion. Thomas Merton is an example of one who practiced monastic devotion, gathered knowledge and in the end, reached out to others.

Osborne Scott's presentation of Protestant traditions is at first startling in the claim that there is no "protestant" concept of the love of God. The Protestant tradition is inherited, primarily from Roman Catholicism and