Globalization has created a new phenomenon in the study of religions called pluralism. Religious pluralism is a philosophy that looks at world religions as legitimate, truthful and equal alternatives (Miles, 2010). Christians have to grapple with the questions as regard whether there is a possibility for salvation and truth in other world religions. The Christian church should do much more than just dismissing other world religions as untrue. The following statements oppose pluralism by describing the nature of similarities of non-Christian religious beliefs to Christian beliefs which strengthen the basis and the need to spread Christianity.
Majority of the world’s greatest religions believe in one eternal Creator, God. Islam, Judaism and Christianity all share the belief. Hinduism and Buddhism do not share in the monoistic nature of God. However, ethical teachings are congruent with those taught by the Koran and the Bible. The globalization of religion has occurred causing tremendous transformation of Christianity with regard to cultural and racial changes.
Traditionally Christians were only located in North America and Europe but today the world coverage of Christianity has reached populations 130 countries 70 % of which are in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Buddhism on the other hand has established presence in Europe and the United States. This is according to Harold Netland (Personal Communication, Sep. 2, 2008).
Christianity, Islam and Judaism, some of the major religions, teach the philosophy of salvation (Miles, 2010). Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are all founded on the truth that God will finally come to save the world from tribulation. The religions teach the presence of one eternal creator who is God or Allah in Islam. Two eastern religions, Buddhism and Hinduism do not teach salvation as other religions. Harold Netland is aware of this fact but explains that there is a bit of similarity in their belief systems. Buddhism is founded in the “rebirth in the pure land” while Hinduism teaches liberation from the “cycle of rebirth”. However, the two eastern religions teach that one cannot achieve that alone pointing to the possibility of an eternal being which is the basis of Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
The other supportive argument for pluralistic theology, according to Netland (Personal communication, Sep. 2, 2008), is the belief that God is impartial and fair in judgment. Christianity and Islam are clear on this though Judaism is difficult to categorize. Buddhism and Hinduism embrace the belief that people should do to others what is right and what they would like done to them. Although, this is not attached to the God’s judgment, it is the foundation on which the judgment by God, as shared by Christians and Muslims is founded.
The belief in the revelation of God to the world in a special way is shared by Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. According to Netland, the Koran teaches that God revealed Himself to the Prophet Muhammad through Angel Gabriel. Christians share the truth that God came to the earth to be with the people through Jesus Christ. However, Judaism does not believe that Jesus Christ was the expected Messiah.
Jesus is a prominent prophet in the Koran but not regarded as supreme as is the case with the Bible. Man was created in God’s image is a belief shared by Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Confucianism an eastern religion native to china. This similarity is reinforced by the fact that after the death of the Confucius, disciples were assembled to propagate his philosophy just as happened in Christianity through Christ’s disciples.
In conclusion, the world requires a structural framework and goodwill for sharing knowledge between and among religions (Miles, 2010). Most theological universities, publishers and sponsors are located in Europe and North America. These facilities should be opened-up to people from different regions so as to spread the gospel of Christ in the regions.
References
Miles, T. L. (2010). “A God of Many Understanding?” Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing
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