A Word About Pluralism

In a recent article on Kansascity.com, it was asked, “How should we regard religions other than our own?” This is actually a very good question. The article goes on to explain the views of Diana Eck of Harvard, who had spoken at Village Presbyterian Church over the weekend. One of the bullet-points summarizes the inclusivist view as being one whose faith is “large enough to include all others.” As an example of how this works out the article posits that the Christian God would save a sincere devotee of another religion on the basis that that person would be a Christian given the opportunity. But is this so? Can Christianity be made to reconcile with other world religions?
In evaluating various religions, one must first look at the truth claims that they make. It may seem exclusivistic or arrogant to say that one religion is right and another is wrong, but this must be done. Logic dictates that if religion “A” states that the earth revolves around the sun and religion “B” states that the sun revolves around the earth they cannot both be correct. One has to be right and the other wrong, and it is on the basis of the verifiable dogmatic truth claims that a religion makes that one can differentiate true religion from false religion.
Let us assume, for the sake of argument, that Christianity is true. With this in mind, there are many propositions made within the teachings of Christianity that contradict the teachings of other world religions. For example Christianity teaches the physical resurrection of the dead at the end of time, yet Hindus believe that we are absorbed into the one-ness that is Brahman. Again, Christianity teaches that Jesus is the unique Son of God, yet Jews adamantly deny this. Lastly, Christianity teaches that Jesus was crucified, died, was buried and rose from the grave. On the other hand, Islam denies that it was Jesus that was crucified, but was merely someone else that God made to look like Jesus. In light of all the directly contradictory teachings among these, the three largest of the world’s religions, can they all be true? Can Jesus be both divine and non-divine? Can he be crucified, yet not crucified? Can man be physically resurrected, yet not physically resurrected? These are all logical absurdities. Obviously one must be true and the others false. But one is still stuck with the question of which one is the true religion.
In the case of Christianity, the core truth claim that is made is that Jesus is divine and that he was crucified, was buried and rose from the grave. This one claim is the greatest, and most fantastic, that is made. If this one claim can be proven, there would be little reason to believe that the Bible would be false in the many lesser claims. This has also been the most attacked doctrine of Christianity, yet none has been able to adequately explain the empty tomb. No explanation other than the actual resurrection of Jesus can explain why his closes followers were willing to die saying that he was raised. No explanation is adequate to show how Christianity grew so quickly in the face of persecution without violence on the part of its followers. No explanation is sufficient to account for the lives that are changed by the teachings of Jesus to this very day.
In answer to the initial question: How should we regard religions other than our own? For Christians it’s a simple answer. If Christianity is true, then all other religions are wrong. And if this is the case then there are very dire consequences in the afterlife for those who follow any other religion. The Bible is very clear about that. The Christian, then, is under a great responsibility to make others aware of what they know to be true and to make them aware that the only way to escape judgment in the afterlife is to call upon Jesus Christ to forgive them and to save them. This is what I, as a Christian, believe and practice; and if I’m wrong don’t let me amble my way ignorantly into the abyss…show me the right way.