Encountering God: A Spiritual Journey from Bozeman to Banaras

by Diana L. Eck

Diana Eck's work has become increasingly important in our ever-changing communities, as people of different faiths must negotiate how to live together peacefully. In Encountering God, Eck shows why dialogue with people of other faiths is crucial in today"s interdependent world—globally, nationally, and even locally. She reveals how her own encounters with other religions have shaped and enlarged her Christian faith toward a bold new Christian
pluralism.

"In a splendid exposition of non-Christian approaches to God, Eck encourages an increased religious literacy that she suggests will contribute richness and diversity to our national identity."
—Publishers Weekly

Diana L. Eck is professor of comparative religion and Indian studies at Harvard University, and author of A New Religious America. She was involved in the interfaith dialogue program of the World Council of Churches for fifteen years.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Theology, Spirituality, Christian, Memoir, Read For School

259 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 1993

Reviews

[Ellyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was inspired by the author's experiences growing up a Methodist in Montana and then traveling to Banaras (Varanasi) in India as a college student, where she studied and learned about Hinduism. The book spends a considerable amount of time describing Hindu beliefs and practice, and I think the texture, vibrancy, and mystery of Hinduism is really brought to light, which is cool because it is a hard religion for many Westerners (myself included) to grasp. The primary purpose of the book is to promote the need for interreligious dialogue in our multicultural, interdependent world and to talk about all that we have in common and all that we can gain from understanding, respecting, and getting to know each other's faiths. I most enjoyed the author's personal reflections on how her Christian faith has been deepened and enriched by her encounters with Hindus and people of a variety of other faiths; I think I would have enjoyed the book more if it was less scholarly and more personal reflection (although that's just me and not meant to be a criticism of the book). I read the book during a recent trip to India, including a stop in Varanasi, and it was incredibly cool to be reading the author's words with the Ganges in front of me. I could also relate to the author's experiences on a personal level, since I grew up with a strong Catholic worldview which was then quite shaken by the semester I spent in India in college. Overall, it's not the easiest read, but definitely well worth it.

[zia · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed this a lot! sparked some great conversations on pluralism + interfaith cooperation from a practical and theological lens

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subtitle is deceptively modest: this book is a well-wrought, short systematic theology infused with the perspective-transforming lessons of Diana Eck's long and deep experience in inter-religious engagement. It is enriched by the aspects of memoir--Eck's "spiritual journey"--as they serve to sharpen her proposals as to what doctrine and practice (especially practice) ought to become in an imagined "world house" in which religions are connective tissues among us, instead of weapons to shatter and sever (apologies for the mixed metaphor).

I first read this book in 1992, as I led a group of American undergraduates on a comparative religion study abroad program that began in Taiwan, passed to India, and ended in Turkey. It stands up still today.

Some of the most persistent questions that emerge for me from Encountering God have to do with the recognition that no-one, I think, is just an exclusivist, inclusivist, or pluralist. So I ask myself, to whom in the world do I respond exclusivistically, determined to keep them out of my life? To whom in the world do I respond inclusivistically, appreciating them as valuable--although mainly for somehow adding to the sense that my own way of life, my own agenda, is right? And to whom in the world do I respond pluralistically, recognizing their difference from--and perhaps even the deficiency of--my way of life, my agenda? Further, in light of my answers to those questions, I have to ask, how might I better imagine and so better be part of thriving world community?

Highly recommended.

[Vijay Gopal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to read - wise, lucid and balanced. Diana does a brilliant job of explaining how we can understand other religions and enrich understanding of our own religion. In these troubled times, her book provides much needed clarity in bringing inter-faith understanding. If you are a Hindu, this will help you understand and appreciate aspects of Hinduism. If you are a Christian, then it will help explain aspects of other religions - particularly Hinduism - that may be puzzling to you. In general, this book helps you expand your horizons and make you a more aware, thoughtful and receptive person to people of other faiths.

I would have loved to give this 5 stars - the only reason for taking off a star is that it could have been edited to be crisper. But all in all, a wise, book, written in a reader-friendly way and is much needed for bringing greater understanding among people of different faiths.

[Jeffrey Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of an apologia for the World Council of Churches ecumencial viewpoint. I liked the author's combination of personal story and academic presentation -- it lengthens the book but strengthens her argument. The last chapters comprise a long plea for pluralism and ecumenism that seemed superfluous to this reader, and probably to most -- anyone who would have stayed with the book that far would not need those last chapters to convince us of the need for pluralism and acceptance.
Still, this book should be part of every India-hand's bookshelf, if only to remind us of India's deep spirituality, explained in universal terms.

[Jonelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diana Eck has spent a lifetime studying India, its culture and especially its faiths. As a lifelong Protestant, she discusses how her personal faith has been enriched by studying these faiths, especially Hinduism. Eck has much to say that everyone should listen to when it comes to whether your God is my God, and vice versa.

[Soraya Keiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most thought-provoking books I've ever read. I think I'm left with even more questions than I had before, but I'm learning to be okay with that. Some parts dragged, but overall this book was full of highlights. Definitely great for class discussion and wrestling with my own faith journey.

[Jeffrey Aubuchon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eck wrote the book when I was in high school. Now, thirty years later and living in Nepal, I appreciate her earlier experiences in India. As a scholar of comparative religion, she moves effortlessly between discussions of Hinduism and Christianity while cognizant of her own story and bias. Highly recommended for the armchair traveler as well as the spiritually curious.

[Rhonda Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening

I love this book and thank the author for taking me on this journey with her. I appreciate the concept of pluralism and highly recommended this book for anyone who is a seeker.

[ASC Library]

291.172 Eck

[Ptaylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read quite a while ago in a church book group. I recall that it was excellent.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book exploring faith in our pluralistic world. Eck is an elegant writer.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thoughtfully written and thought provoking book. Ms. Eck explores religious plurality, the idea that differing religions can be seen and viewed as equals. She talks about a number of religions but most of the book is based on her experience as a Methodist from Montana spending time in and doing research on Banaras, India, and Hinduism. In the last chapter she makes a great point about how in pretty much every other discipline (economics, science, politics, etc.) differing points of view come together to try and find common ground but not religions. Eck states that if we don't find a way to come together we'll never solve the conflicts that we face.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book overall, Eck isn't always clear when she's leaving a "History of Religions" approach to her subjects and going into either personal reflection (although that's mostly clear) or her own Theology... which is where it gets muddled. She was a Christian writing for Christians, so if you're not Christian this could piss you off in some places, if you are Christian please don't take everything she says about other wisdom traditions to be ultimate truth. That last line's a pun, read the book and you'll get it. ;)

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took an adult ed class at my Presbyterian Church on using spiritual practices from other religions for prayer and the speaker recommended this book. It was very helpful in thinking about interfaith issues and the importance of real communication about these topics in our "shrinking" world. Personally it is kind of a stretch for me, but her honesty about her own movement between the inclusivist and pluralist points on the spectrum helped.

"What kind of faith grows by speaking and proclaiming without having to listen, perhaps even be challenged, by the voices of others?"

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really nice comparative religion book, comparing Christianity and Hinduism. I found it to be more a story of the authors experiences in these two religions and how she came to appreciate (and question certain things in) both rather than a text actually comparing the differences and similarities between the two religions. It was a very easy and accessible read, really no background in religion needed to understand it, and it was very positive.

[Roya]

I'm reading this for a class and initially planned to use the reserve copy in the library. After reading the first chapter I went out and bought my own copy!
Fascinating, compelling, easy to read without ever sinking to a level wherein you aren't actively thinking about what you're being presented... I recommend it highly.

[Richard Houchin · Rating 2 out of 5]

An honest if condescending attempt to encourage interfaith dialogue. Eck follows in the footsteps of Merton in exhibiting the mental agility needed to practice Orwellian doublethink, and simultaneously affirm and deny the same thing, namely that major religions are explicitly and deliberately mutually incompatible.

[Laura Engelken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most skillfully written scholarly books I have encountered in some time. Eck is so effective in describing a concept or experience and unpacking its significance in relevant ways. It's surprising to me how so few writers are able to do this.

I must admit, however, that it took me at least a decade to get into the book.

[MacK · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would that I had the energy to read this, but I don't. I liked what I did read, mostly because it talks about Montana and India. But I couldn't drum up the energy to come home from a day of work and read theology. (Yes, I'm a horrible heathen...you may throw your eggs now)

[Brad Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I approached this book with some trepidation- missionaries coming to my childhood church warned me of Hindu evils. Thankfully, I found the book to be not only informative, but also enlightening. I was especially thankful for the piece on religious pluralism.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the members of a small interfaith dialog group to which I belong suggested we all read this book. I am glad she called it to my attention, this is a wonderful discussion of the theology of, need for, and aims of interfaith dialogue. I want to read more like this.

[Roger Mohr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, and occasionally very insightful. Lost a star because the narrative frequently falls into a default Christian perspective that seems to lose the larger themes. But then that sort of bias is the problem with Christianity, in general.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting so far. About the author, Eck, going to India to learn about Hinduism and what she does is change the way she felt about Christianity. (Although she doesnt converte herself.)

[Marjorie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Welcome to pluralism

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few things by Diana Eck, who is the founder of The Pluralism Project at Harvard. She quite intelligently and meticulously makes her case for "can't we all just get along?".

[Stephanie Curran · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I ever read! Extremely insightful!

[Leroy Seat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book about interfaith relationships, but one written from a firmer Christian commitment than I expected.

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me this book was about being open to the spiritual journey of others, something important for a world full of "religious conflicts."