Today we live in a multi-cultural and multi-religious universe. We ‘re invariably in touch with people of other religions. As Christians we are called to witness Christ to these people. How are we traveling to make that? It is rather a ambitious undertaking in the present scenario of multi-religious societies. Christian Scholars and theologists have wrestled through the centuries with this issue of how to associate to the people of other religions, and be effectual informant of Christ. They have developed three outstanding positions in this respect. These three positions are Exclusivism, Inclusivism, and Pluralism. Let us see them briefly.
I. Exclusivism
The word “ exclusivism comes from the Latin word “ ex-claudere ” which means to “ close out ”[ 1 ].
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Exclusivism claims the absolute, “ committedness to Jesus Christ as being the full and concluding disclosure of God, and that redemption is available merely through him. ”[ 2 ]The Exclusivists claim merely they have the truth and others do non. “ Christian disclosure ” is the concluding truth.[ 3 ]They do n’t accept that there could be disclosure available in other faiths. “ The early Christian community treated non-Christian spiritual groups as “ heathens ” for the simple ground that they did non believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah or Saviour ”[ 4 ]
They “ insist that Christ is alone, concluding, decisive, and normative as the self-revelation of God, for the redemption of the universe. In Christ, by grace entirely and through religion entirely, people are saved. ”[ 5 ]God revealed himself through Old Testament and through Jesus Christ. The New Testament proclaims that “ redemption is from Jews ” ( Jn.4:22 ) and this is received through religion in Jesus Christ.[ 6 ]We know that the NT is the fulfilment of the OT. The survey of OT reveals God ‘s promise of redemption to the full humanity, and the NT reveals that this promise of redemption is fulfilled through Jesus Christ the Son of God.
“ The Catholic Council of Florence ( 1442 ) referred to non-Christian faiths as ‘pagan ‘ , with the maxim “ excess ecclesiam nulla salus ” which means that ‘there is no redemption outside the church ”[ 7 ].
Neo-Orthodox theologists like Karl Barth, Emil Brunner, Hendrick Kraemer had exclusivistic attitude towards non-Christian faiths. Hendrick Kraemer has written a book in order “ to carry the non-Christian universe to give up to Christ as the exclusive Lord of life ” .[ 8 ]
II. Inclusivism
Karl Rahner is the major advocate of Inclusivism. He argued that there is merely one true faith. However, the followings of other faiths who “ unfeignedly pattern their faith ” can besides be saved. He says, they are secret followings of the one “ true religion ” and “ they live in the province of Christ ‘s grace ”[ 9 ]He calls these secret followings of truth religion as “ anon. Christians ” .[ 10 ]“ He believed God ‘s grace, was mediated to disciples of other faiths and insisted that other faiths could be positive agencies of deriving a right relationship with God and having redemption. ”[ 11 ]
The Bible declares that God desires all work forces to be saved. But at the same clip it makes a clear differentiation that merely those who believe in Christ will be saved.[ 12 ]“ Inclusivism is a interceding place between exclusivism and pluralism. ”[ 13 ]They do non to the full shut the door to the foreigners of Christian religion. Neither do they accept all other faiths along with the Christian religion. They take the in-between way. “ They accept the Godhead presence in other faiths but see them insufficient for redemption apart from Christ. ”[ 14 ]
Inclusivists do non claim that the redemption is available merely in the church. They do hold for the possibility of redemption outside the church. However, they claim “ the agent of such redemption is Christ, and the disclosure of Christ is unequivocal and normative for measuring that redemption. ”[ 15 ]
III. Pluralism
The Pluralists consider the exclusivism and inclusivism as shockable positions.[ 16 ]They do n’t accept the “ uniqueness and specialness of Jesus as the unequivocal, concluding, and normative disclosure of God for redemption. ”[ 17 ]They claim that all faiths are every bit manifestations of God and able to supply redemption.[ 18 ]“ No faith can claim domination ”[ 19 ]over other faiths.
Hinduism says there are many waies but one world. Sri Krishna a Hindu God said, “ Whatever path work forces travel is my way ; no affair where they walk, it leads to me. ”[ 20 ]
John Hick is a major advocate of Pluralism. He said we need to switch from Christ-centered faith to God-centered faith. He followed the “ Copernican revolution ” and said all faiths must be theocentric instead than christocentric. He replaced Christ with God.[ 21 ]
The cardinal impression of Pluralism is that “ everyone will be saved by whatever agencies available. ”[ 22 ]
Decision
We have briefly stated so far the three Christian positions towards understanding and associating to the people of other religions. We can sum up each position as follows: ( 1 ) Exclusivism says there is no disclosure outside of Christ and Christ is the lone manner to redemption. ( 2 ) Inclusivism says there could be godly disclosure in other faiths excessively, but it is deficient to take person to redemption experience. So they need to look to Christ for redemption. ( 3 ) Pluralism says all faith contains godly disclosure. Therefore no faith can claim high quality over other faiths. Ultimately everyone will be saved.
We think Inclusivism might be a better position in the present context of pluralistic society. The ground for preferring this position is that in this position all spiritual positions are respected, and people are made feel listened to instead than out justly rejecting their positions. Gradually we can take people to Christ for redemption, as we help them understand the inadequacy of their spiritual truths to salvage their lives.
