| This dissertation considers the problem of the “Other” in general, and how to prepare for the coming of the Other in particular. The Other here represents every individual as well as every religious tradition and culture. Three theoretical frameworks have recently received considerable attention as responses to the problem: exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism. The dissertation argues that none of the three responses is comprehensive enough to explain the radical diversity of religious traditions. The underlying cause for their insufficiency lies, among others, in their inclination to mold their theories according to an a priori theory building process.; The purpose of this study is twofold: first, to deconstruct the current stance, which categorizes a priori the diverse conceptual schemes as if they were impenetrable and clearly circumscribed totalities in themselves; and second, to present a hermeneutical framework that leads the discussion to a more open-ended dialogical understanding—an understanding that results in the recognition that the knower cannot know everything a priori, nor can he or she be certain about what he or she knows in an absolutist sense.; The first chapter deals with the problem of understanding on the practical level by analyzing Al-Biruni's understanding of other (Hindu) religious traditions and culture to show its relevance for our contemporary situation. By taking the previous chapter as an incipient paradigm, the second chapter examines the problem on the theoretical level by utilizing Gadamer's notion of the “fusion of horizons” as a visual metaphor to elucidate the meaning of understanding (verstehen). The third chapter gives a brief exposition of the current modes of encountering the Other in the discourse on interreligious understanding. The final chapter attempts to highlight some of the common elements of each theoretical framework and to give a more general critique with a view to exploring the possibility of moving beyond the typical interpretations of exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism. |
