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Irish School of Ecumenics

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Trinity College Dublin
Dublin 2
Ireland

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Professor John D'Arcy May

Professor John D'Arcy May

Fellow Emeritus, School of Religion

www.tcd.ie/ise

Biography

Born Melbourne, Australia, 1942. Visiting professor in Fribourg, Switzerland (1982); Frankfurt, Germany (1988); Wollongong, Australia (1994); Tilburg, Netherlands (1996); Australian Catholic University, Sydney (2001); Visiting Fellow, Centre for the Study of Religions, Istituto Trentino di Cultura, Trento, Italy (April-May 2006); Visiting Professor, Zentrum fuer interkulturelle Theologie und Studium der Religionen, Universitaet Salzburg (2008); Distinguished Research Fellow, Asia-Pacific Centre for Interreligious Dialogue, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne (October-December 2009). STUDY TRIPS: . July 1999 Annual Lotus Sûtra conference of Rissho Kosei-kai in Bandai-san, Japan; paper on "The Lotus Sûtra as Sacred Space: The Social Functions of a Religious Text". . April 1998 Visit to Japan with a group organised by International Interfaith Centre, Oxford, as guests of the Buddhist lay organisation Rissho Kosei-kai, including Buddhist and Shinto religious centres in Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Nagoya and formal interreligious dialogue meetings. . Dec. 1997 - April 1998 Study leave in Thailand (Spirit in Education Movement), Australia (Australian Catholic University, Sydney; Australian National University, Canberra), Hawai'i (University of Hawai'i at Mânoa, Honolulu). . July 1992 Visits to Pacific Conference of Churches, Pacific Theological College, Pacific Regional Seminary and ecumenical organisations, Suva, Fiji. . Mar. 1991 Visits to centres of Buddhist-Christian development cooperation, Bangkok and northeast Thailand. . Mar. 1986 Visits to local churches and development centres, Jayapura, Irian Jaya, and Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), Jakarta; visits to centres of Buddhist-Christian dialogue, Hong Kong. . Aug.-Sept. 1985 Visits to centres of Aboriginal ministry and theology, Darwin, Alice Springs and Townsville, Australia. . Oct.-Dec. 1983 Visits to member schools of Melanesian Association of Theological Schools, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. . July 1982 Visits to ecumenical centres in Port Moresby, Goroka and Lae, PNG. . Aug. 1979 Visits to centres of Buddhist-Christian dialogue in Sri Lanka as guest of Fr Aloysius Pieris SJ and Rev. Lynn de Silva. . Mar. 1977 Visits to Departments of Religious Studies in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Research Fellow

Email: mayjd@tcd.ie

John D’Arcy May was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1942. He holds the degrees of STL (Università Gregoriana, Rome, 1969); Dr. theol. (Ecumenics) (Münster, 1975); Dr. phil. (History of Religions) (Frankfurt, 1983). He was wissenschaftlicher Assistent at the Catholic Ecumenical Institute, Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Münster, 1975-1982; Ecumenical Research Officer with the Melanesian Council of Churches, Port Moresby, and Research Associate at the Melanesian Institute, Goroka, Papua New Guinea, 1983-87; Director, Irish School of Ecumenics, Dublin, 1987-1990; Associate Professor of Interfaith Dialogue, ISE, 1987-2007.

He is now a Senior Research Fellow of ISE and a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin. He is also Adjunct Professor of Australian Catholic University’s Asia-Pacific Centre for Interreligious Dialogue in Melbourne. He has been a visiting professor in Fribourg, Switzerland (1982); Frankfurt, Germany (1988); Wollongong, Australia (1994); Tilburg, Netherlands (1996); Australian Catholic University, Sydney (2001); Istituto Trentino di Cultura, Centro per le Studie Religiose, Italy (2006); Zentrum für interkulturelle Theologie und Studium der Religionen, University of Salzburg (2008); and the Asia-Pacific Centre for Interreligious Dialogue, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne (2009).

Publications

Meaning, Consensus and Dialogue in Buddhist-Christian Communication: A Study in the Construction of Meaning (Berne: Peter Lang, 1984);

[ed.] Living Theology in Melanesia: A Reader (Goroka: The Melanesian Institute,1985); Christus Initiator. Theologie im Pazifik (Düsseldorf: Patmos, 1990);

[ed.] Pluralism and the Religions: The Theological and Political Dimensions (London: Cassell, 1998);

After Pluralism: Towards an Interreligious Ethic (Münster-Hamburg-London: Lit Verlag, 2000);

Transcendence and Violence: The Encounter of Buddhist, Christian and Primal Traditions (New York and London: Continuum, 2003);

[ed.] Converging Ways? Conversion and Belonging in Buddhism and Christianity (St Ottilien: EOS Verlag, 2006).

Research Interests

His current research interests concern the emergence of Buddhist theology and the possibility of a ‘collaborative’ Buddhist-Christian theology, and the reconception of the ecumenical and ecumenics.

Areas of expertise

Religious pluralism, ethics in multicultural societies, Buddhism and the Christian dialogue with Asian religions, Religion in Australasia and the Pacific islands, religion and ecology

Education

Ph.D., History of Religions, University of Frankfurt
Dr. Theol. In Ecumenics, University of Munster
S.T.L., Gregoriana University, Rome

Select publications

Converging Ways? Conversion and Belonging in Buddhism and Christianity. Sankt Otillien: EOS, 2007.

Transcendence and Violence: The Encounter of Buddhist, Christian and Primal Traditions, London & New York: Continuum, 2003.

After Pluralism: Towards an Interreligious Ethic, Munster: LIT Verlag, 1999.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

  • Political Theology Revisited in, editor(s)John O'Grady, Cathy Higgins and Jude Lal Fernando , Mining Truths: Festschrift in Honour of Geraldine Smyth OP - Ecumenical Theologian and Peacebuilder, St Ottilien, EOS Verlag, 2015, pp537 - 554, [John D'Arcy]Book Chapter, 2015
  • John D'Arcy, Buddhologie und Christologie. Unterwegs zu einer kollaborativen Theologie , Innsbruck-Wien, Tyrolia Verlag, 2014, 160ppppBook, 2014
  • May Buddhists Hope? A Christian Enquiry" in, editor(s)Peter Admirand , Loss and Hope: Global, Interreligious and Interdisciplinary Perspectives, London, Bloomsbury, 2014, pp95 - 108, [John D'Arcy]Book Chapter, 2014
  • Only Connect? Ecumenism Encounters the Religions in, editor(s)Andrew Pierce and Oliver Schuegra , Den Blick weiten: Wenn Ökumene den Religionen begegnet / Dialogue inside-out: Ecumenism Encounters the Religions, Leipzig, Evangelische Verlagsanstalt,, 2014, pp313 - 328, [John D'Arcy]Book Chapter, 2014
  • John D'Arcy, Social Justice and the Churches: Challenges and Responsibilities, Adelaide, Australian Theological Forum, 2014, 168ppppBook, 2014
  • John D'Arcy, Time and History as Parameters of Liberation: Some Indications from Levinas and Nāgārjuna, Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, 27, (1), 2014, p20 - 34Journal Article, 2014
  • Buddhists, Christians and Ecology in, editor(s)Perry Schmidt-Leukel , Buddhism, Christianity and the Question of Creation: Karmic or Divine?, Aldershot, Ashgate, 2006, pp93 - 107, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2006
  • The Religions and the Powers in West Papua in, editor(s)Michael Biehl and Amélé Adamavi-Aho Ekué , Gottesgabe. Vom Geben und Nehmen im Kontext gelebter Religion. Festschrift zum 65. Geburtstag von Theodor Ahrens, Frankfurt, Lembeck, 2005, pp199 - 213, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2005
  • Alternative a Dio? Le religioni nella sfera pubblica globale in, editor(s)Antonio Autiero , Teologia nella Città, Teologia per la Città: La dimensione secolare della scienze teologice, Bologna, Edizioni Dehoniane, 2005, pp95 - 109, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2005
  • John D'Arcy May, The Dialogue of Religions: Source of Knowledge? Means of Peace?, Current Dialogue, (43), 2004, p11 - 18Journal Article, 2004
  • Universalitaet oder Partikularitaet der Menschenrechte? Eine interreligioese Perspektive in, editor(s)Jan Jans , Fuer die Freiheit verantwortlich. Festschrift fuer Karl-Wilhelm Merks zum 65. Geburtstag, Fribourg, Academic Press Friebourg, 2004, pp148 - 161, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2004
  • Cosmic Religion and Metacosmic Soteriology: The 'Completion' of Interreligious Dialogue by Primal Traditions in, editor(s)Robert Crusz, Marshal Fernando, Asanga Tilakaratne , Encounters with the Word: Essays to Honour Aloysius Pieris SJ on his 70th Birthday, Colombo, Ecumenical Institute for Study and Dialogue, 2004, pp351 - 364, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2004
  • John D'Arcy May, Transcendence and Violence: The Encounter of Buddhist, Christian and Primal Traditions, New York and London, Continuum, 2003, 225ppBook, 2003
  • John D'Arcy May, Linda Hogan, Constructing the Human: Dignity in Interreligious Dialogue, Concilium, 2003, p78-89-Journal Article, 2003
  • John D'Arcy May, God in Public: The Religions in Pluralist Societies, Bijdragen: International Journal in Philosophy and Theology, 64, (3), 2003, p249 - 264Journal Article, 2003
  • Internalising the Primal Other: Aboriginal Religion and European Christianity in, editor(s)Andrew Pierce and Geraldine Smyth OP , The Critical Spirit: Theology at the Crossroads of Faith and Culture. Essays in Honour of Gabriel Daly OSA, Dublin, Columba Press, 2003, pp79 - 96, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2003
  • John D'Arcy May, Education as Initiation? Some South Pacific Perspectives, Journal of Religious Education, 50, (2), 2002, p45 - 52Journal Article, 2002
  • Mehr als Schulung. Religioeses Lernen als Identitiaetsstiftung im Suedpazifik in, editor(s)Engelbert Gross, Klaus Koenig , Religioeses Lernen der Kirchen im globalen Dialog, Muenster-Hamburg-London, LIT Verlag, 2001, pp107 - 121, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2001
  • John D'Arcy May, A Rationale for Reconciliation, Uniting Church Studies, 7, (1), 2001, p1 - 13Journal Article, 2001
  • Verantwortung Coram Deo? Europa zwischen saekularer und interreligisoeser Ethik in, editor(s)Karl-Wilhelm Meks , Verantwortung - Ende oder Wandlungen einer Vorstellung? Orte und Funktionen der Ethik in unserer Gesellschaft, Muenster-Hamburg-London, LIT Verlag, 2001, pp193 - 207, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2001
  • Verantwortung Coram Deo? Europa zwischen saekularer und interreligioeser Ethik in, editor(s)Karl-Wilhelm Merks , Verantwortung - Ende oder Wandlungen einer Vorstellung? Orte und Funktionen der Ethik in unserer Gesellschaft, Muenster-Hamburg-London, LIT Verlag, 2001, pp193 - 207, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2001
  • John D'Arcy May, Catholic Fundamentalism? Some Implications of Dominus Iesus for Dialogue and Peacemaking, Horizons: The Journal of the College Theological Society, 28, (2), 2001, p271 - 293Journal Article, 2001
  • John D'Arcy May, Strange Encounters: On Transcending Violence by Transcending Difference, Studies in World Christianity, 6, (2), 2000, p271 - 244Journal Article, 2000
  • John D'Arcy May, After Pluralism: Towards an Interreligious Ethic, Muenster-Hamburg-London, LIT Verlag, 2000, 155ppBook, 2000
  • John D'Arcy May, European Union, Christian Division? Christianity's Responsibility for Europe's Past and Future, Studies, 89, 2000, p118 - 129Journal Article, 2000
  • Contested Space: Alternative Models of the Public Sphere in the Asia-Pacific in, editor(s)Neil Brown, Robert Gascoigne , Faith in the Public Forum, Adelaide, Australian Theological Forum, 1999, pp78 - 108, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 1999
  • Initiation, Initiationsverlust und Initiationsersatz im Suedpazifik in, editor(s)Thomas Schreijaeck , Menschwerden im Kulturwandel. Kontexte kultureller Identitaet als Wegmarken interkultureller Kompetenz: Initiation und ihre Inkulturationsprozesse, Luzern, Edition Exodus, 1999, pp456 - 471, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 1999
  • John D'Arcy May, Pluralism and the Religions: The Theological and Political Dimensions, London, Cassell, 1998, 99ppBook, 1998
  • John D'Arcy May, Development Without Violence: Some Buddhist and Christian Sources for Development Ethics , Seeds of Peace, 13, (1), 1997, p18-25-Journal Article, 1997
  • John D'Arcy May, Development Without Violence: Some Buddhist and Christian Sources for Development Ethics , Seeds of Peace, 13, (1), 1997, p18 - 25Journal Article, 1997
  • Gibt es eine buddhistische Wirtschaftsethik? in, editor(s)Maria Hungerkamp, Matthias Lutz , Grenzueberschreitende Ethik. Festschrift fuer Prof. Dr. Johannes Hoffmann anlaesslich seines 60. Geburtstags, Frankfurt, IKO-Verlag fuer Interkulturelle Kommunikation, 1997, pp65 - 82, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 1997
  • Pomirenje I oprostaj u Irskoj in, editor(s)Nobosja Popov , Trauma i katarza u istorijskom pamcenju, Belgrade, Srpska Strana Rata, 1996, pp713 - 725, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 1996
  • John D'Arcy May, Instrumentalisierung des Christentums durch die Politik? Das Beispiel Nordirland, Una Sancta, 50, 1995, p141 - 150Journal Article, 1995
  • John D'Arcy May, What Do Socially Engaged Buddhists and Christian Liberation Theologians Have to Say to One Another?, Dialogue, 21, 1994, p1 - 18Journal Article, 1994
  • John D'Arcy May, 'Rights of the Earth' and 'Care for the Earth': Two Paradigms for a Buddhist-Christian Ecological Ethic, Horizons: The Journal of the College Theological Society, 21, 1994, p48 - 61Journal Article, 1994
  • Menschenrecte als Landrechte im Pazifik: Vier Fallstudien in, editor(s)Johannes Hoffmann , Universale Menschenrechte im Widerspruch der Kulturen. Das eine Menschenrecht fuer alle und die vielen Lebensformen, Bd. II, Frankfurt, IKO-Verlag fuer Interkulturelle Kommunikation, 1994, pp213 - 237, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 1994
  • Australien I: Allgemeine Einfuehrung; III. Kirchengeschichte; IV. Kirche und Theologie in der Gegenwart; V. Theologie und Theologen in Australien; VI. Statistik, Lexikon fuer Theologie und Kirche, Freiburg, Herder, 1994, pp1273 - 1284, [John D'Arcy May]Item in dictionary or encyclopaedia, etc, 1994
  • John D'Arcy May, Human Rights as Land Rights in the Pacific, Pacifica: Australian Theological Studies, 6, 1993, p61 - 80Journal Article, 1993
  • Is Interfaith Dialogue Undermining Ingterchurch Dialogue? in, editor(s)Oliver Rafferty SJ , Reconciliation: Essays in Honour of Michael Hurley, Dublin, Columba Press, 1993, pp159 - 175, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 1993
  • Is Interfaith Dialogue Undermining Interchurch Dialogue? in, editor(s)Oliver Rafferty SJ , Reconciliation: Essays in Honour of Michael Hurley, Dublin, Columba Press, 1993, pp159 - 175, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 1993
  • Australien VI. Kultur, Religion, Bildung, Staatslexikon, Freiburg-Basel-Wien, Herder, 1993, pp838 - 840, [John D'Arcy May]Item in dictionary or encyclopaedia, etc, 1993
  • The Trinity in Melanesia: The Understanding of the Christian God in a Pacific Culture in, editor(s)James Byrne , The Christian Understanding of God Today. Theological Colloquium on the Occasion of the 400th Anniversary of Trinity College, Dublin, Dublin, Columba Press, 1993, pp154 - 165, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 1993
  • John D'Arcy May, Syncretism or Synthesis? An Anticipatory Sketch of Religious Change in the Pacific, South Pacific Journal of Mission Studies, 1, (4), 1991, p18 - 21Journal Article, 1991
  • Papua-Neuguinea, Evangelisches Kirchenlexikon, III, Goettingen, Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, 1991, pp1035 - 1037, [John D'Arcy May]Item in dictionary or encyclopaedia, etc, 1991
  • Synkretismus oder Synthese? Eine antizipatorische Skizze des religioesen Wandels im Pazifik in, editor(s)Hermann Pius Siller , Suchbewegungen. Synkretismus - kulturelle Identitaet und kirchliches Bekenntnis, Darmstadt, Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1991, pp185 - 192, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 1991
  • John D'Arcy May, Christus Initiator. Theologie im Pazifik, Duesseldorf, Patmos, 1990, 151ppBook, 1990
  • John D'Arcy May, Political Ecumenism: Church Structures and the Political Process, Studies, 79, 1990, p396 - 405Journal Article, 1990
  • John D'Arcy May, Oekumene im Uebergang. Gedanken zur Grundlegung oekumenischer Theorie und Praxis aus westkirchlicher Sicht, Una Sancta, 45, 1990, p274 - 280Journal Article, 1990
  • Bernard Narokobi, Lo bilong Yumi Yet: Law and Custom in Melanesia, Goroka, PNG; Suva, Fiji, The Melanesian Institute; University of the South Pacific, 1989, 173ppBook, 1989
  • John D'Arcy May, Living Theology in Melanesia: A Reader, Goroka, PNG, The Melanesian Institute, 1985, 310ppBook, 1985
  • John D'Arcy May, Meaning, Consensus and Dialogue in Buddhist-Christian Communication: A Study in the Construction of Meaning, Berne-Frankfurt-New York, Peter Lang, 1984, 348ppBook, 1984
  • On Trying to Be a Theologian in, editor(s)Gesa E. Thiessen, Declan Marmion , Theology in the Making: Biography, Contexts, Methods, Dublin, Veritas, 2005, pp112 - 120, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2005
  • "Gender and Culture as Dimensions of Bodiliness" in, editor(s)Harm Goris , Bodiliness and Human Dignity: An Intercultural Approach, Munster-Berlin, LIT Verlag, 2006, pp45 - 57, [Linda Hogan and John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2006
  • "Interreligious Studies in the University: Help or Hindrance to Peace?" in, editor(s)Toh Swee-hin and Virginia Cawagas , Cultivating Wisdom, Harvesting Peace, Brisbane, Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University, 2006, pp291 - 298, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2006
  • John D'Arcy May, "Human Dignity, Human Rights, and Religious Pluralism", Buddhist-Christian Studies, 26, 2006, p51 - 60Journal Article, 2006
  • "Rootedness: Reflections on Land and Belonging" in, editor(s)Werner G. Jeanrond and Andrew D. Mayes , Recognising the Margins: Developments in Biblical and Theological Studies. Essays in Honour of Sean Freyne, Dublin, Columba Press, 2006, pp146 - 159, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2006
  • "Buddhists, Christians and Ecology" in, editor(s)Perry Schmidt-Leukel , Buddhism, Christianity and the Question of Creation: Karmic or Divine?, Aldershot, Ashgate, 2006, pp93 - 107, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2006
  • Linda Hogan and John D'Arcy May, "Social Ethics in Western Europe", Theological Studies, 68, 2007, p154 - 171Journal Article, 2007
  • John D'Arcy May, Converging Ways? Conversion and Belonging in Buddhism and Christianity, St Ottilien, EOS Verlag, 2007, 206 ppBook, 2007
  • "Nothingness-qua-Love? The Implications of Absolute Nothingness for Ethics" in, editor(s)Jerald D. Gort, Henry Jansen, Hendrik M. Vroom , Probing the Depths of Evil and Good: Multireligious Views and Case Studies, Amsterdam, Editions Rodopi, 2007, pp135 - 150, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2007
  • "Was haben die Kirchen hinterlassen? Zwischen einheimischem Christentum und neuer Christenheit im Pazifik" in, editor(s)Thomas Schreijaeck , Theologie interkulturell. Glaubenskommunikation in einer gewandelten Welt, Paderborn-Munich-Zurich, Schoeningh, 2009, pp245 - 253, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2009
  • "Schoepfung erzaehlen. Moeglichkeiten narrativer Buddhologie - auch fuer die Christologie" in, editor(s)Thomas Proepper, Michael Raske, Juergen Werbick , Mystik - Herausforderung und Inspiration., Ostfildern, Matthias-Gruenewald-Verlag, 2008, pp128 - 138, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2008
  • Political Religion: Secularity and the Study of Religion in Global Civil Society in, editor(s)Basia Spalek and Alia Imtoual , Religion, Spirituality and the Social Sciences: Challenging Marginalisation, Bristol, Policy Press, 2008, pp9 - 22, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2008
  • Creator Spirit: A Narrative Theology of the Trinity in Interreligious Relations in, editor(s)Declan Marmion and Gesa Thiessen , Trinity and Salvation: Theological, Spiritual and Aesthetic Perspectives, Bern Oxford, Peter Lang, 2009, pp161 - 180, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2009
  • Jakarta and Jayapura: The Dialogue of Religions and 'Papua Land of Peace' in, editor(s)Carole M. Cusack and Christopher Hartney , Religion and Retributive Logic: Essays in Honour of Professor Garry W. Trompf, Leiden and Boston, Brill, 2010, pp19 - 42, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2010
  • Sympathy and Empathy: The Compassionate Bodhisattva and the Love of Christ in, editor(s)Jerald D. Gort, Henry Jansen, Wessel Stoker , Crossroad Discourses between Christianity and Culture, Amsterdam and New York, Rodopi, 2010, pp395 - 411, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2010
  • John D'Arcy May, Preamble to a new era in Indigenous-Christian relations? Some theological issues, Uniting Church Studies , 16, (1), 2010, p59-61Journal Article, 2010
  • Towards a 'Collaborative Theology' - Buddhist and Christian in, editor(s)Lindsay Falvey , Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: Four Papers from the Parliament of the World's Religions, Bangkok, Inter-verity Press, 2010, pp18-30 , [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2010
  • John D'Arcy May, Die ökumenische Alternative. Die eine bewohnte Erde neu denken, Salzburger Theologische Zeitschrift , 14, (2), 2010, p187-202Journal Article, 2010
  • John D'Arcy May, Linda Hogan, Ecumenics as Intercultural and Interreligious Encounter, Search: A Church of Ireland Journal , 33, (3), 2010, p177-184Journal Article, 2010
  • Linda Hogan & John May, Visioning Ecumenics as Intercultural, Interreligious, and Public Theology, Concilium, 2011, (1), 2011, p70 - 84Journal Article, 2011
  • The Dialogue of Religions: Source of Knowledge? Means of Peace? in, editor(s)Ariane Hentsch Cisneros and Shanta Premawardhana , Sharing Values: A Hermeneutics for Global Ethics, Geneva, Globalethics.net, 2011, pp207-226 , [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2011
  • Time and Narrative in Buddhism and Christianity in, editor(s)Clemens Mendonca and Bernd Jochen Hilberath , Religion and Culture: A Multicultural Discussion. Festschrift in Honour of Francis X. D'Sa, SJ , Pune: Institute for the Study of Religion, 2011, pp290-299 , [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter, 2011
  • Buddhism and Christianity: Christian Perspective, Daniel Patte, The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2010, pp152-153 , [John D'Arcy May]Item in dictionary or encyclopaedia, etc, 2010
  • Buddhist Scriptures and the Bible, Daniel Patte, The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2010, pp153-154 , [John D'Arcy May]Item in dictionary or encyclopaedia, etc, 2010
  • On Trying to Be a Theologian in, editor(s)Gesa E. Thiessen, Declan Marmion , Theology in the Making: Biography, Contexts, Methods, Dublin, Veritas, 2005, pp112 - 120, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter
  • John D'Arcy May, A Catholic Theology of Religious Pluralism: The Recent Work of Jacques Dupuis SJ, Priests and People, 18, (1), 2004, p28 - 30Journal Article
  • The Space In Between: Mission as Reconciliation in, editor(s)Geraldine Smyth OP , Distance Becomes Communion: A Dominican Symposium on Mission and Hope, Dublin, Dominican Publications, 2004, pp76 - 87, [John D'Arcy May]Book Chapter
  • John D'Arcy May, Visible Unity as Realised Catholicity, Swedish Missiological Themes, 92, (1), 2004, p55 - 61Journal Article
  • John D'Arcy May, Loving Nothingness? Possibilities of Prayer in Buddhism and Christianity, Swedish Missiological Themes, 92, (3), 2004, p371 - 381Journal Article
  • John D'Arcy May, The Elusive Other: Recent Theological Writing on Religious Pluralism, Studies in Interreligious Dialogue, 13, (1), 2003, p114 - 124Journal Article
  • John D'Arcy May, Living Buddha, Living Christ? Interreligious Dialogue and the Crisis of Christology, South Pacific Journal of Mission Studies, (26), 2002, p25 - 31Journal Article
  • John D'Arcy May, Ethic of Survival or Vision of Hope? The Aim of Interreligious Dialogue, Dharma World, 29, 2002, p25 - 28Journal Article
  • John D'Arcy May, Der Osten des Westens. Europa vor der Herausforderung des interreligioesen Dialogs, Ost-West. Europaeische Perspektiven, 3, 2002, p243 - 253Journal Article
  • John D'Arcy May, Muslims in the Free Society, Doctrine and Life, 56, (6), 2006, p22 - 28Journal Article
  • John D'Arcy May, "Muslims in the Free Society", Doctrine and Life, 56, (6), 2006, p22 - 28Journal Article
  • John D'Arcy May, Converging Ways? Conversion and Belonging in Buddhism and Christianity, St Ottilien, Germany, EOS Verlag, 2007, 206 pp.ppBook

Research Expertise

After completing a study of how Buddhist and Christian traditions have interacted with indigenous or 'primal' religions in the Asia-Pacific (Aboriginal Australia, Melanesia, Thailand, Japan), in particular how these 'universalist' religions were not immune to complicity in violence, I have been developing two lines of enquiry: 1. A re-thinking of the ecumenical perspective in a broader sense, showing how the 'globalisation of ethics' through the religious traditions, whether transcendent-universal or ethnic-local, can lead to an ethical globalisation, involving among other things an expansion of the concept of human rights to embrace community and ecological responsibility; 2. Exploring the possibility of 'collaborative theology' in which Buddhist and Christian thinkers would engage with one another, such that religious symbolisations of transcendence, in particular Buddhist conceptions of Absolute Nothingness and Dynamic Emptiness, would correlate with Christian theistic attempts to ground ethics in a transcendental commitment which takes account of history and creation.

  • Title
    Thinking God in Europe Today
    Summary
    Three 10-day conferences studied Naming and Thinking God in Europe Today (Vienna, 2003), Postcolonial Europe in the Crucible of Cultures: Empowering God in a World of Conflict (Leuven, 2004); and Translating God(s): Thinking the Divine in Interreligious Encounter (Paris, 2005).
    Funding Agency
    European Union, participating universities
    Date From
    2003
    Date To
    2005
  • Title
    Theologie Interkulturell
    Summary
    The project carries on intercultural dialogue between European and non-European theologies by inviting a visiting professor from a cultural context outside Western Europe for a series of lectures and seminars, in the course of which an interdisciplinary symposium is held (I was the visiting professor in 1988, lecturing on Theology in the Pacific).
    Funding Agency
    University of Frankfurt and external donors
    Date From
    1976
    Date To
    ongoing
  • Title
    European Society for Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies (ESITIS)
    Summary
    The project aims to stimulate research and publication in religious aspects of multiculturalism in Europe and beyond.
    Funding Agency
    Not yet determined
    Date From
    2006

Recognition

  • Elected Fellow of Trinity College Dublin 2004
  • Three Faith Forum, Ireland
  • Irish Council of Christians and Jews
  • International Association for Mission Studies (IAMS)
  • Advisory Board, Centre for Intercultural Ethics, University of Tilburg, Netherlands 2008t
  • International Advisor, Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies (SBCS)
  • Australian Association for the Study of Religion (AASR) present
  • Board member,European Network for Buddhist-Christian Studies present
  • American Academy of Religion (AAR)
  • President, European Network of Buddhist-Christian Studies 2010
  • British and Irish Association for Mission Studies (BIAMS)
  • Adjunct Professor, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne 2009-2011
  • Acting Director, Irish School of Ecumenics Adjunct Professor, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, 2009-2011 2005
  • Acting Director, Irish School of Ecumenics Adjunct Professor, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, 2009-2011 2005
  • Adjunct Professor, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne 2009-2011