Christian Response to Religious Plurality: An Appraisal of the Twentieth Century Christian Pluralist Approaches

• Published in: Journal of Islamic thought and civilization Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 230 - 244
• Main Authors: Bano, Neelam, Hassan, Javaria, Urooj, Shama
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lahore University of Management and Technology, Department of Islamic Thought and Civilization 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Christianity; Christians; Dialogue; Economics; Phenomenology; Religion; Religious beliefs; Salvation; Theologians; Theology
• ISSN: 2075-0943; 2520-0313
• DOI: 10.32350/iitc.11.2.12

As the modern world is getting more diverse in its sociopolitical, economic and cultural aspects in a variety of ways, the concept of religious pluralism is gaining more traction than ever before. This study explores different responses to the religious diversity developed in Christianity by theologians. It also aims to critically analyze the discourses of the Christian pluralistic approaches as the discussion on religious pluralism began in, and is still dominated by, the Christian tradition. The current study employs a qualitative methodology and content analysis approach has been used to collect and analyze the data. The research has concluded there are three basic responses to religious plurality in Christianity: "Exclusivism," "Inclusivism" and "Religious Pluralism." The findings also reveal that Christian pluralists embrace that religious pluralism in its general meaning recognizes the diversity of religious beliefs and systems co-existing in the society. Though there are some inadequacies in their approach, yet the pluralists consider it as a positive phenomenon and acknowledge that there are many ways to salvation in order to accept the religious other as they plead for interreligious dialogue to mitigate the religious conflicts for the sake of peaceful co-existence.