Immigration is one of the most hotly debated topics today. But, the question involves more than politics and emotion; it includes such critical issues as law, justice, human rights, human dignity, and freedom. Strangers in This World is a collection that brings together an international consortium of scholars to reflect on the religious, political, anthropological, and social realities of immigration through the prism of the historical and theological resources, insights, and practices across an array of religious traditions. The volume, reflecting the diversity of religious cultures, is nevertheless unified in arguing that immigration is an important aspect of the major religions and is found at their core. The contributors unfold this important dimension of the religious traditions and explore the ways that the theme of immigration connects to vital points of theological reflection and practice in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Native American religious traditions. At root, the volume is about our collective journey together as immigrant peoples who have stories and settlements to share, as well as challenges and struggles to overcome, that may be faced through the resources our many faiths offer.
Hussam S. Timani is associate professor of philosophy and religious studies at Christopher Newport University. Allen G. Jorgenson is associate professor of systematic theology and associate clean at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. Alexander Y. Hwang is associate dean of international faculty at Universite Protestante au Coeur du Congo.
Foreword; Introduction-Alexander Y. Hwang; Part I: Hindu and Buddhist Perspectives and Encounters; 1. Rethinking Christian Mission with the Chinmaya Mission-Reid Locklin; 2. Entering the Buddha's Pure Land-John Thompson; 3. Choices and Challenges-Karma Lekshe Tsomo; 4. Missionary Immigrants-Jonathan Seitz; Part II: Abrahamic Tradition; 5. Singing the Songs of the Lord in a Strange Land-Daniel Maoz; 6. Islamic Theology of Immigration-Muhammad Shafiq; 7. Muslim Immigrant Theology-Hussam S. Timani; 8. Gothic "Immigrants" in the Roman Empire-Craig R. Davis; 9. White Protestant Efforts to Convert Italian Immigrants-Linda Mercadante; 10. Journeying Before God with a Divided Heart-Kristine Suna-Koro; Part III: First Americans and First Immigrants; 11. Welcoming the Stranger-Randy Woodley; 12. A Shared Na rrative-Ray Aldred; 13. Immigration-Allen G. Jorgenson; Part IV: Current Immigration issues; 14. Lutheran Civil Disobedience-Laura Alexander; 15. The Morning After-Alan Aja; 16. Blending Past and Future-Marc Pugliese and Joseph Bracken; 17. immigration as/and Mental Illness-Ronald W. Baard; Afterword-Francis X. Clooney, SJ.
