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Elizabeth Harris
Building a Culture of Compassion
Building a Culture of Compassion
Essays Celebrating 25 Years of the Vesak Message to Buddhists
Kodithuwakku Janaka Indunil (ed.)
This is a collection of 21 articles on Buddhist-Christian relations, published through the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) to commemorate the 25 years that the PCID has sent a message to Buddhists at Vesak. These messages are included at the end of the book. The articles are divided into three sections: History; Thematic Issues, which includes a section on Buddhist Responses to Buddhist-Christian Dialogue; Contemporary Issues.
Buddhist Responses to Religious Diversity
Buddhist Responses to Religious Diversity
Theravāda and Tibetan Perspectives
Douglas Duckworth, Abraham Vélez de Cea, Elizabeth J. Harris (eds.)
Buddhist Responses to Religious Diversity approaches these questions and others from perspectives representing Theravādin and Tibetan traditions of Buddhism.
Buddhist attitudes toward other religious traditions (and its own) are unquestionably diverse, and have undergone changes throughout historical eras and geographic spaces, as Buddhists, and traditions Buddhists have encountered, continue to change (after all, all conditioned things are impermanent). The present time is a particularly dynamic moment to take stock of Buddhist attitudes toward religious others, as Buddhist identities are being renegotiated in unprecedented ways in our increasingly globalized age.
Religion, Space and Conflict in Sri Lanka
Religion, Space and Conflict in Sri Lanka: Colonial and Postcolonial Contexts.
Elizabeth J. Harris
This study uses the lens of space to examine inter-religious and inter-communal conflict in colonial and postcolonial Sri Lanka, demonstrating that colonial patterns of interaction can throw light on the post-colonial, particularly on post-war developments in the north and east of the country, when Buddhist symbolism was developed in the largely non-Buddhist former war zones. Within the 'colonial' part of the book, particular emphasis is given to the impact of the building of Christian schools and churches in predominantly Buddhist space, and British development of the Buddhist ancient city of Anuradhapura.
Buddhism for a Violent World: A Christian Reflection
Buddhism for a Violent World: A Christian Reflection.
Elizabeth J. Harris
Fusing autobiography, conversations with Buddhists and academic research into Buddhism, this book explores what Buddhist thought and practice can offer a fractured world. Elizabeth studied Buddhism for nearly eight years in Sri Lanka during the country's ethnic war and uses this experience to reflect on Buddhism's message in contexts of violence and suffering. In the last chapter, she reflects on Buddhist-Christian mistrust in Sri Lanka and some of the pioneering initiatives by Sri Lankan Christians to change mistrust into trust.
Theravada Buddhism and the British Encounter
Theravada Buddhism and the British Encounter: Religious, missionary and colonial experience in nineteenth century Sri Lanka.
Elizabeth J. Harris
This major new work explores the British encounter with Buddhism in nineteenth century Sri Lanka, examining the way Buddhism was represented and constructed in the eyes of the British scholars, officials, travellers and religious seekers who first encountered it.
What Buddhists Believe
What Buddhists Believe.
Elizabeth J. Harris
Based on interviews undertaken for a BBC World Service radio series (The Way of the Buddha) that Elizabeth wrote and presented, this book seeks to give an innovative introduction to Buddhism through the words of Buddhists. It covers six themes from 'The Buddha' to contemporary issues such as 'Buddhism and Social Engagement' and 'Women in Buddhism'.