Is there a language of transcendence which does not fall in a classification of monism, theism, personal God or impersonal being? The present collection of contributions from different fields of research centers on the question: if and how far it is possible to talk of transcendence or a divine. This topic follows current religious philosophical discussions touching on the alternatives of monism, theism, pantheism and historically-triune monotheism in a Christian context, concerning the mediation of immanence and transcendence. However, all these terms - developed in the western tradition - can be shown to be inadequate for expressing the different cultural traditions of Asia and their concepts of transcendence. A further aspect of this topic concerns the widely established distinction between personal and impersonal concepts of transcendence. Thus, all contributors take seriously the diversity of historical religious traditions, while nevertheless searching for a religious language that connects these traditions and provides a common ground of understanding.

Bernhard Nitsche, Universität Münster und Marcus Schmücker, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien.