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An Exploration in Muslim-Christian Comparative Theology of Sainthood

Presentation by Hans Harmakaputra
Wednesday, December 4, 2019, 4:30 to 5:30 PM
Quad 264, Saint John’s University 

Today’s multi-religious world demands different approaches in theological discourses. Comparative theology has emerged as a field that focuses on the ways in which learning from non-Christian religions can enrich Christian theology. This lecture goes beyond a comparison of similarities and differences by presenting how the study of an Islamic concept of sainthood (walāya) may inform Christians in answering one question that emerges from today’s multi-faith context: “Is it possible for Christians to acknowledge individuals of other traditions as saints?” 

Hans Harmakaputra is a Ph.D. candidate in the Theology Department at Boston College. He received his M.A. in Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations from Hartford Seminary, and his B.A. in Theology from Jakarta Theological Seminary. He has authored numerous articles and a chapter in the book Violence, Religion, Peacemaking, edited by Douglas Irvin-Erickson and Peter C. Phan. His dissertation work is supported in part by the Collegeville Institute, where he is a Resident Scholar and a Bishop Thomas Hoyt Jr. Fellow. 

Sponsored by the Collegeville Institute and the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning