Making Sense of Religious Pluralism

Book excerpt: Is Christian faith the only or best route to relationship with God? New relationships, shared common action and dialogue between people whose experiences differ are changing the way Christian theologians are thinking about religious pluralism. No longer objects of ridicule or condemnation, world religions are genuine vehicles of spiritual vision, capable of transforming human hearts and minds. It has taken Christian theology many years to come to this point and there is no going back. Alan Race is an outstanding expert in the interreligious field and has, throughout his career and ministry, built up a high reputation for understanding and dialogue between faith communities. Here, he deals with the use of Scripture, inclusivism and exclusivism, pluralism and particularism, mission and dialogue. The next phase of Christian thought, he argues, will be shaped by new appreciation and insight stemming from the fact that Christianity is one religion among many.