No Mere Dialogue

THEOLOGIAN PUBLISHES INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ORIENTATION TOWARD WORLD RELIGIONS
No Mere Dialogue: Engaging World Religions by Lawrence Folkemer

___________________

Folkemer, a Systematic Theologian, traces his quest into the realm of world religions guided by classic Christian sources and theologians who were foundational figures as Christians began to encounter interreligious dialogue. The study first treats the theme Proclamation and Dialogue in ten theses underlining the communication of the Gospel and the significance of interreligious dialogue. Second, he examines selected biblical passages as the ground for understanding the theme of Christian proclamation and religious dialogue. Third, he treats some of the Christian theologians in the patristic period of Christianity who in their theological formulations dealt with Greek and Roman philosophy and religious thought. Finally, Folkemer discusses four major issues in interreligious encounter, namely, God and the world, textual sources, incarnation and Christology, and salvation.

___________________

(Gettysburg, Penna.) Dr. Lawrence Folkemer, Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg published a new book designed to help Christians understand and engage Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism. Entitled No Mere Dialogue: Engaging World Religions, the treatise serves as a general introduction to world religions and the religious pluralism of the modern world.

The book, published by Thomas Publications, goes on sale on Wednesday, October 28th at the Lutheran Theological Seminary Bookstore on Seminary Ridge in Gettysburg, PA for $15.

The book offers a Christian point of view by a Christian Theologian who for many years had engaged in the study of world religions and taught the subject in universities and theological seminaries in the Unites States and India. In addition to his teaching at the Gettysburg Seminary, Folkemer taught at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., the University of Madras and United Theological College in Bangalore, India. Folkemer traces his quest into the realm of world religions guided by classic Christian sources and theologians who were foundational figures as Christians began to encounter interreligious dialogue.

The study first treats the theme Proclamation and Dialogue in ten theses underlining the communication of the Gospel and the significance of interreligious dialogue. Second, he examines selected biblical passages as the ground for understanding the theme of Christian proclamation and religious dialogue. Third, he treats some of the Christian theologians in the patristic period of Christianity who in their theological formulations dealt with Greek and Roman philosophy and religious thought. Finally, Folkemer discusses four major issues in interreligious encounter, namely, God and the world, textual sources, incarnation and Christology, and salvation.

Folkemer, 93, is a graduate of Gettysburg College and Gettysburg Seminary and completed his PhD degree at Hartford Theological Seminary in 1946. As a pastor and theologian, he founded the Religion Department at George Washington University, Washington, DC (1947-1954) and served as senior pastor of Reformation Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC before teaching at the Seminary (1960-1985). He was also a founder of the Washington Theological Consortium and first director of Gettysburg Seminary’s Lutheran House of Studies in the nation’s capital. He retired in 1985.

 _____________________
Contact the Seminary Bookstore:  717.338.3005 to order