417 - Incarnation in Hinduism and Christianity

Incarnation in Hinduism and Christianity
By Daniel E. Bassuk
Basingstoke, England, Macmillan Press, 1987. 232 pp. $35.00.

Two great religious traditions, the Christian and the Hindu, lay claim to belief in incarnation. Christians and Hindus have not only worshiped the divine appearing in human form, they have reflected deeply on the reality of incarnation. Yet, as is often the case in the history of religions, the beliefs that link two traditions at the same time divide them deeply and decisively. The doctrine of incarnation is a meeting point at which the unity and diversity of the human religious story become evident in all their depth and wonder. There is a great and dramatic study to be made of Hindu and Christian texts on incarnation. Regrettably, this book is not such a study. It is not even really a good start on one. It is a treatment of incarnation from the perspective of the recent discussions on "the myth of the God-man" in British and American theology mixed with journalistic reports on popular religious figures in Hinduism. This work lacks the intellectual sophistication of modern studies in Indian religion and philosophy. It proceeds by a kind of naive optimism about religion. The desire for harmony and goodwill is commendable. The intellectual pathways sketched towards it are regrettably unconvincing. This book is a weak contribution to the Library of Philosophy and Religion, a series of usually distinguished works.

Donald G. Dawe, Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va.