For a world in religious turmoil, as ours is, the notion of 'God' must be the center of dialogue. Recognizing this, New ERA has inaugurated a series of conferences, to be held annually, on the topic of God. The first of these, "God: The Contemporary Discussion," was held on December 26-31, 1981, at Maui, Hawaii, and involved one hundred and sixty-four philosophers, religionists, and theologians.

The editors have sought to make this volume representive of the variety of approaches to the contemporary discussion of God. Out of the seventy-three papers submitted, we have chosen papers by theologians who stand in Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and other traditions and by philosophers from traditions both East and West.

FREDERICK SONTAG is Robert C. Denison Professor of Philosophy, Pomona College, Claremont, California. He is the author of over twenty major books on philosophy, religion, and existentialism.

M. DARROL BRYANT is Professor of Religion and Culture at Renison College, University of Waterloo, in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Bryant is author/editor of many articles, papers, and books in religion, including Huston Smith: Essays on World Religion, The Many Faces of Religion and Society, The Religions of Man, and Interreligious Dialogue: Voices from a New Frontier.