The Core Theories of Religious Pluralism

 

Rev. Westy Ariaraja, theologian of Religious Pluralism of WCC, and Rev, Doug Choi at the 10th WCC General Assembly, Busan, Korea

 

 

The Core Theories of Religious Pluralism

 

Introduction

 

Religious pluralism is the essence of contemporary liberal theology. It intertwined with modern thoughts such as postmodernism, deconstructionism, syncretism, cultural diversity, and the emphasis on the subjectivity of religious truth.

 

 

Religious pluralism has far-reaching implications and has made a significant impact on progressive ecumenical movements, particularly within the World Council of Churches (WCC). It has recently been gaining influence within the Korean Christian Church.

 

While the claims of religious pluralists vary, they generally share the following beliefs.

 

Firstly, historical religions represent diverse paths to salvation, formed in various life contexts.

 

Individuals from different religions follow distinct paths to attain salvation. Those who experience salvation transform from a self-centered existence to one centered on the ultimate reality or the essence of life.

 

Such individuals transcend selfishness and self-centered thinking and shift their focus to universal life and higher truths. They overcome fear, seeing life and death, good and evil, as interconnected. They practice love voluntarily and strive to realize God's kingdom, Nirvana, or a better world.

 

Secondly, it is not accurate to claim that only Jesus Christ offers the exclusive path to salvation.

 

It is baseless to argue that Christianity, as a single religion, possesses the only answer for diverse cultures and religious traditions. God's grace extends generously without discrimination to all religions and cultures, and hence, no specific religion can claim to be the focal point of human unity.

 

Thirdly, behind each religion lies the concept of the Ultimate Divine Reality.

 

All religions are rooted in the same divine reality and share equal value in religious experience. Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Taoism, Hinduism, and other faiths depict diverse aspects of the divine reality within different cultural contexts.

 

True wisdom may emerge as each religion engages in dialogue with one another, as God is present within all religions. The faithful of each religion follow their respective traditions to connect with God and attain salvation.

 

Fourthly, therefore, every religion is a path to salvation.

 

Missionary work should no longer aim to convert non-Christians to Christianity. It is erroneous to attempt to assimilate faithful adherents of other religions into the Christian faith.

 

We must boldly reject the Western imperialist notion that Christianity alone is the religion of salvation and acknowledge that all religions share in the concept of "universal salvation." Interreligious dialogue should foster mutual respect and contribute to global peace and social justice.

 

Fifthly, each religion should recognize and maintain its uniqueness while acknowledging other religions.

 

Christianity should remain Christian, Buddhist, and Islam Islamic, preserving their distinct qualities and unique characteristics. Each should devote themselves to their chosen religion while seeking interreligious dialogue and cooperation to maintain global peace.

 

It was sixthly, evaluating other religions through the lens of one's religion misguided.

 

A particular religion cannot monopolize the timeless and eternal truth that transcends time and space. How can we deny the validity of religions with millions, thousands, or billions of devout followers? History, culture, and society shaped the discourse of truth, and it is not very accurate to assert the superiority of one religion over others.

 

Seventhly, attaining a complete understanding of the Ultimate Divine Reality is impossible for human beings.

 

While such a reality may exist, it is difficult for limited human reason to comprehend it fully. Therefore, the value of religion lies in the diversity of religious experiences. In human history, there is no absolute truth.

 

Revelation is always current. The revelation contained in the Bible is insufficient to reveal the complete truth. The Christian revelation is on the same plane as the revelations of other religions.

 

Religious pluralists classify approaches to the relationship between Christianity and other religions into three categories: Exclusivism, Inclusivism, and Pluralism. These distinctions are based on whether they acknowledge the possibility of salvation in other religions.

 

Exclusivism believes in Jesus as the Christ and sees no savior outside Him. Religious pluralists refer to inclusivism as a perspective that acknowledges the possibility of salvation outside of Christianity while considering the legitimacy of Christianity as a factual faith.

 

Inclusivism maintains that all religions possess aspects or processes of truth that ultimately belong to Christianity. Different high religions represent diverse responses to the one Ultimate Divine Reality.

 

Christian believers can learn from other religions, enhance their mutual understanding, and mature together. "Pluralism" takes a step further, treating all religions as equals, recognizing, cooperating, and engaging in dialogue.

 

The genuine truth is exclusive. Truth and falsehood are revealed when exclusivity is apparent. "Exclusivism" is a proud term, yet in our society, it carries a negative connotation.

 

In an age where religious tolerance has become an idol, inclusivism and pluralism are seen as humble, optimistic, and broad-minded. Exclusivism is associated with being rigidly attached to absolute truth or obsessively focused on one truth. Our society welcomes the concept of "inclusivity" and does not favor "exclusivity."

 

It is appropriate to use the phrase "Exclusive Salvation through Jesus Christ" when referring to historical, traditional, and orthodox Christianity.

 

This faith believes that Jesus Christ is truly God, truly human, and the only path to salvation achievable solely through His atoning work. The foundation of this belief is as follows:

 

Jesus Christ says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

 

Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, proclaims, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).

 

The apostle Paul affirms, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus," (1 Timothy 2:5).

 

Rev. Doug Choi, President of Peniel Theological Seminary, Busan Korea.

 

This article was published in <Missiology and Church> (Vol. 11, Spring 2023), Korean language, and presented at the 2023 Missions Forum on June 29, 2023, in Seoul, Korea, under the theme "Evaluating Religious Pluralism and the Direction of Mission."