The Myth of Christian Uniqueness: Toward a Pluralistic Theology of Religions

The folks in this anthology attended a conference on the topic of Christianity and the world religions. If you're a Christian believer, you need to at least think about the issues raised by this book. If you're not, it will perhaps seem ho-hum. I used this text in a class with students of various backgrounds, and though the more traditional believers were bothered by the "Christianity bashing" (as they saw it--I didn't), they wound up finding it hard to get past the basic questions: can you really believe now in only true faith? And if not, what to do about it? The response by "conservative" theologians (Christian Uniqueness Reconsidered) was also read by my students, and they pretty much all agreed that their response didn't really respond, but just affirmed that "nobody can show that Christianity is NOT true." As I said, for bystanders, this will seem like a passé debate.

It's a tough question. Three years of rigorous Christian seminary is still not enough to convince me that they go to Hell. It's nice to know that Knitter and Hick feel the same way. If you are looking for a cogent, scholarly approach to the kind of pluralism that most of us accept logically but have trouble defending theologically, this is the book to buy. In addition, its bibliography is outstanding.

This book brings together the contributions of several modern theologians to a deeper understanding of the human quest for relationship with the divine. Modern technology has brought us in closer contact with other cultures, and it has also brought us the capability to destroy all cultures. In this global society it is no longer possible to think in exclusivist terms. Several of the essays contained in this book help to show how Christianity is one of the threads that has been woven into fabric of human spirituality. All of the threads contribute to our relationship and understanding of the Great Mystery. Each thread contributes a perspective, each contributes to the overall beauty and strength that is inherent in the human/divine relationship.