Christian Responses to Multi-Faith Societies

Exclusivism

Exclusivism is the belief that there is only one truth, and that truth is found solely in Christianity. Exclusive Christians believe that salvation can only be achieved through Jesus Christ and might see other faiths as mistaken or misguided.
John 14:6 is often quoted to support this position, where Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.
Many exclusivist Christians engage in missionary work or evangelism, as they hold a genuine concern for the salvation of non-Christians.

Inclusivism is the view that while Jesus Christ is the only Savior, it does not mean that explicit faith in Christ is necessary in order to achieve salvation.
Inclusive Christians believe that God’s saving grace can be at work in individuals outside the Christian faith, but it’s still through Jesus’ sacrifice that they are saved.
The document Nostra Aetate from the Second Vatican Council is a key example of Christian inclusivism, stating “They who seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will . . . can obtain salvation.”

Pluralism is the belief that all major religions are legitimate ways of understanding and responding to the divine.
Chrstians who hold pluralist beliefs recognise that there can be many paths to God or ultimate reality and maintain a deep respect for the diverse experiences of the divine found across different traditions.
John Hick is a key proponent of this view, promoting the concept of the “Copo-Perennial Philosophy” that postulates a single, shared, ultimate religious Reality or Truth, that different faith paths are equally valid responses to.

Interfaith Dialogue is the process where individuals from different religious backgrounds aim to promote understanding and respect, rather than converting one another.
These dialogues can help break down barriers of misunderstanding that often divide communities, fostering peace, cooperation, and understanding.
The World Council of Churches has been particularly proactive in engaging in interfaith dialogue, promoting the concept of a “Theology of Religions” that strives to understand each religion in its own terms.

Enculturation is often understood as the process by which the message of Christ is presented using the cultural and intellectual heritage fitting to each national or cultural group. This perceives external religions as cultural expressions of searching for the divine.
This perspective, promulgated by thinkers like Karl Rahner, posits that people can be “anonymous Christians,” deeming members of other religions as being influenced by God’s grace, despite not consciously affirming Christian beliefs.