NTT Journal for Theology and the Study of Religion - Volume 41, Issue 4, 1987

Studies on Jer. 50/1 are dominated by the search for a Jeremianic core. The results of these inquiries are, however, disappointing. Instead of making a new attempt the author of this article tries to introduce another point of investigation: for what reason decided the writers of the book of Jeremiah to compose and include the chapters 50 and 51 into their work? By studying the structure of the prophecy and the links with Jer. 25 and 27-29 it became apparent that Jr. 50/1 are not a later addition. On the contrary, this prophecy against Babylon has been included by the writers in order to compensate for the pro-Babylonian attitude attributed to Jeremiah in the chapters 27-29, 39-40. The writers wanted to counteract the impression that Jeremiah was a friend of Babylonia and, consequently, a traitor.

This article gives a description of the basic Buddhist meditation on mindfulness (sati) and of the so-called ‘immeasurable’ meditations of love, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity, mainly in the Theravāda tradition, including the contemporary versions.

The degree of Doctor in the Faculty of Theology (honoris causa) of Utrecht University was conferred upon Stanley J. Samartha in 1986. This article is the Dutch translation of a lecture on ‘The cross and the rainbow, Christ in a multi-religious culture’, given at that time to both staff and students of the Utrecht Faculty of Theology.

In this contribution Samartha deals with the place of Christ in a multi-religious society. His main thesis is: it is not the dogmas and doctrines about Christ that have touched the heart and mind of neighbours of other faiths in India, but the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, his death and resurrection, the illumination he has brought into the mystery of God and the transforming power he has introduced into human life, moving from self-centredness to God-centredness. He is jivan-muktā, one who is truly liberated in life, and therefore, able to liberate others.

(abstractor: prof dr. J. A. B. Jongeneel)