New Overtures

What is the current state of Asian American theology? Fumitaka Matsuoka's lifetime work has circled around this question. In numerous books and throughout his leadership, he has offered an answer that he encapsulates here: "Theology is uniquely accountable to the past and to the future, not simply to the present. Theology encompasses both memory and hope. The creation of a larger memory is at the same time our pursuit of hope, or for Christians, our faith in and living out the signals of the promised humanity that was revealed in the Christ event. Theological construction is about learning that molds a lifetime, learning that transmits the heritage of millennia, learning that shapes the future in light of this promise. Asian North American theological communities are stewards of this living tradition where learning and knowledge are pursued because they define what has over centuries made the faithful pursue a larger memory of who we are as human." In honor of Fumitaka Matsuoka, this book is visionary in its direction and audacious in its moves. It aims not only to take account of the accomplishments and continuing struggles of Asian North Americans but also articulates strategic and creative responses to new challenges. Because the sociopolitical-religious space that Asian North Americans navigate is wide, involving multiple forms of negotiation and subject-agents and demanding interfaith and interdisciplinary approaches, this book addresses a wide range of topics: contextualization, empire and geopolitics, diaspora and racial minority formation, sexuality, class, gender, Asian North American theologies, postcolonialism, biblical studies, mission and ministry, pedagogy, interfaith relations, transnationalism, and more. In the spirit of companionship and dialogue, this book also has a section devoted to African American, Latino/a, and Native American voices. Contributors include Patrick S. Cheng, Miguel A. De La Torre, Eleazar S. Fernandez, Wonhee Anne Joh, David Kyuman Kim, Nami Kim, Kwok Pui-lan, Boyung Lee, James Kyung-Jin Lee, Fumitaka Matsuoka, Anthony B. Pinn, Lester Edwin J. Ruiz, J. Jayakiran Sebastian, Jonathan Y. Tan, Sharon Tan, James Treat, and Amos Yong.