Search

Summary

A brief final chapter then tries to set the arguments of the book as whole in the context of some of the major writers in the field of inter-faith dialogue. The key role of cultural conditioning is once again deployed to suggest that a more nuanced position is required than what was eventually adopted by major figures such as Cantwell Smith, John Hick, Keith Ward and Paul Knitter. The chapter then ends by exploring some more practical ways of furthering dialogue, together with their implications; among them occasional attendance at one another’s places of worship and a better appreciation of some underlying shared foundations in religious architecture and other forms of symbolism.

One common argument against taking the notion of divine revelation seriously is the extraordinrary diversity which exists betwen the world's major religions. How can God be thought to have spoken to humanity when the conclusions drawn are so very different? David Brown authoritatively and persuasively tackles this issue head-on. He refutes the idea that all faiths necessarily culminate in Christianity, or that they can be reduced to some facile lowest common denominator, arguing instead that ideas may emerge more naturally in one context than another. Sometimes, because of its own singular situation, another religion has proved to be more perceptive on a particular issue than Christianity. At other times, no religion will hold the ultimate answer because what can be asserted is heavily dependent on what is viable both scientifically and philosophically. Although complete reconciliation is impossible, a richer notion of revelation – so the author suggests – can be the result.

Search Results

Refine search

Refine search

Actions for selected content:

2 results

9 - Beyond Inclusivism and Pluralism

Summary

Learning from Other Religions

Search Results

Refine search

Refine search

Actions for selected content:

Save Search

2 results

9 - Beyond Inclusivism and Pluralism

Summary

Learning from Other Religions