Through the lens of a Christian minister, immersed in the global interfaith movement and trained in the discipline of religious philosophy, this book develops a social ethic that is based on function. By using the concept of a functional paradigm, the book explores the way religious language works to create subjective mental states. These mental states represent various degrees of truth for the adherents, but due to their subjective nature, the truths cannot be objectively verified. This results in conflicting truth claims by religious adherents from different religious traditions. However, because the truth claims function in the various traditions to teach social values, function and morality are areas in which common ground can be found and explored.

Contents

Introduction

1. Metaphorical Coherence

2. The Functional Trinity

3. Buddhism : A Functional Religious Tradition

4. The Functional Paradigm and Interfaith Challenges

Epilogue: Internal Function

Rev. Dr. Richard A. Rose is Chair of the Philosophy and Religion Department at the University of La Verne. Dr. Rose completed his undergraduate degree in Philosophy at Pacific Christian College, earned the Master of Divinity degree at Howard University School of Divinity and the Ph.D. degree from the Claremont Graduate School. His scholarship focuses on interfaith dialogue and the pivotal role of new educational models in advancing social justice and inter-religious understanding. Dr. Rose serves as the Director of the University of La Verne's Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies Program; through satellite locations non-traditional age students earn their B.A. degree in an ecumenical setting. As an ordained Elder in the A.M.E. Church, Dr. Rose also serves as the Assistant Pastor at COR A.M.E. Church in Irvine, CA.