1. Relating the religions

2. Basic approaches Question: Is our God listening?  Exclusivism God is revealed in a unique and definitive way in one religion, not in other religions  Inclusivism God is revealed in all religions to some extent, but in one religion to the greatest extent.  Pluralism God is revealed in all religions, but in different ways. No one religion completely encompasses sacred Reality (p. 169).

3. Exclusivism Very strong belief in the truth of one’s own religion and its distinctive claims  Oneness and “onlyness” of truth  Recognizes uniqueness of religious claims Salvation is through one means

4. Inclusivism All religions have truth One religion has defining claims of truth  Christianity: God revealed in life, death, and resurrection of Jesus  Islam: Corrects Judaism and Christianity All can be “included”  Others can be saved; God’s grace extended to all in ways they can receive it  Some inclusivists are also universalists (all will be saved) Fullness of truth given in the distinctive claims of one’s own religion  Emphasizes strength and importance of one’s beliefs

5. Pluralism All religions have truth; none has whole truth  “God transcends our idea of God” (Eck, 186) So, one can learn different truths from other religions  Plurality is not a problem, but the means of learning about God But, not all religions are the same  Not relativism (reduces all religions to one) Need to be committed in one’s own religion to better engage other religions

6. Other positions Universalism: all people will be saved Relativism: all religions are the same, but express their beliefs relative to their own history  “If everything is more or less true, I do not give my heart to anything in particular” (Eck, 195)  Either they express one basic truth, or no truth Supercessionism: one religion replaces another Syncretism: combining religions

7. Questions Is the typology accurate? Which appeals to you? Why? What are strengths and weaknesses of each? In the religions we have studied, how do you see distinctive visions of truth in each?