Jason VonWachenfeldt Publishes Religion Text

Congratulations to Jason VonWachenfeldt (chair of the School’s religion and philosophy department) on the publication of his book, “Religious Epistemology through Schillebeeckx and Tibetan Buddhism: Reimagining Authority Amidst Modern Uncertainty.”

The book’s audience, said VonWachenfeldt, are students of religion, “particularly comparativists that want to see how different cultures and perspectives can challenge and inform one another.” This study investigates how a comparison between the Catholic theologian Edward Schillebeeckx's controversial reading of Thomist philosophy and the Tibetan Buddhist Gendun Chopel's challenge to the standard Geluk teaching of Tsongkhapa's Madhyamaka philosophy might assist in rethinking conceptions of religious knowledge.

The text is “really is an examination of what it might mean to have religious ‘knowledge’/belief in the midst of the competing Truth claims because of globalization, and how might someone reimagine or frame their beliefs in response to challenges of science, history, culture, politics, etc.,” he explained. “The main thrust of the argument is that there is a lot ‘Western’ philosophies/theologies can learn from Asian ones that have been wrestling with similar questions for much longer.”

The book, which grew out of VonWachenfeldt’s doctoral dissertation, was inspired primarily by his friend, Jesuit theologian Roger Hait, who introduced him to Schillebeeckx's late 20th century "radical" theology. “More than that, Roger himself was formally "silenced" by the Vatican for his reimagining of Catholicism and what it might look like in a modern context. In some ways, I hoped to follow in his footsteps to utilize the rich potential of Catholic philosophy and theology in order to try to reimagine what Catholic belief could look like (dare I say, even for atheists and agnostics),” said VonWachenfeldt.

VonWachenfeldt said he learned “more things than I can count” while researching his book. First, he noted, he saw the many ways Buddhist philosophy has influenced his own thought and belief on the Western philosophies and Christian theologies he’s studied since his undergraduate work. “Somewhat related,” he noted, “I also saw just how one cannot look to simply the same voices and standard bearers of western philosophy to answer our contemporary questions and issues. We need to listen to a wider diversity of voices and perspectives (most of which have been asking these questions for much longer) if we truly want to grow in our understanding.” Different cultures and traditions can, and should learn from each other, VonWachenfeldt continued, saying, “There needs to be reciprocity and respect that goes both ways.” Lastly, he explained, “During the writing and editing of this project, I definitely became much more secure in my own, less defined spirituality than I had ever been (embracing the humility of simply "not knowing"). Seeing more of an ‘agnostic’ spirituality as not ‘unreligious’ but possibly at the very heart of many religious traditions, including Christianity/Catholicism and Buddhism.”

VonWachenfeldt said he felt “thankful and blessed” for the support he’s had from his colleagues and the School through the publication process. “I am so grateful to have been a part of a community that has consistently pushed me to grow as a teacher, researcher, and thinker,” he stated. “I am very proud to have published this book as a member of this community, and particularly as a member of the religion and philosophy department.”

For additional information, please contact Lisa M. Gillard Hanson, director of Public Relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.