DESCRIPTION:

Religious pluralism is the most significant challenge facing Christian theology and faith in the third millennium. Technically known as "theology of religions," this course introduces the student to various approaches to the issue of pluralism. After tracing the biblical and historical developments, the main focus will be placed on a critical interaction with current pluralistic theologies. Then mainline Protestant and Evangelical responses to pluralism will be studied with a view to constructing a responsible theology of religion.

No Christian theologian, let alone minister or missionary, can afford to ignore a careful consideration of the challenges of other religions to Christianity, whether one works in his/her own context or overseas. This course helps the student to sort out various alternatives and begin to think theologically about one's own convictions regarding the truth claims of Christianity and its mission.

The class will meet once a week for three hours of lecture, discussion, and student presentations.

Hick, J. A Christian Theology of Religions: The Rainbow of Faiths. Westminster Press, 1995.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. An Introduction to Theology of Religions. InterVarsity Press, 2003 (photocopy).

__________. Theology of Religions selected essays (photocopy).

Netland, H. Encountering Religious Pluralism: The Challenge to Christian Faith and Mission. InterVarsity Press, 2001.

Pinnock, C. A Wideness in God's Mercy. Zondervan, 1992.

Select one (the student may also suggest his/her own proposal to be accepted by the professor):

Cordua, W. Tapestry of Faiths: The Common Threads Between Christianity & World Religions. InterVarsity Press, 2002.

Heim, M. S. The Depth of the Riches: A Trinitarian Theology of Religious Ends. Eerdmans, 2001.

McDermott, G. R. Can Evangelicals Learn From World Religions? InterVarsity Press, 2001.

D'Costa, G. Trinity and Meeting of Religions. Orbis, 2000.

Ramachandra, V. The Recovery of Mission: Beyond the Pluralist Paradigm. Paternoster, 1996

Stackhouse, J., ed. No Other Gods before Me? Evangelicals and the Challenge of World Religions. Baker, 2001.

Tennett, T. C. Christianity at the Religious Roundtable. Baker, 2002.

Yong, A. Beyond the Impasse: Toward a Pneumatological Theology of Religions. Baker, 2003.

Clendenin, D. B. Many Gods, Many Lords: Christianity Encounters World Religions. Baker, 1995.

Copeland, E. L. A New Meeting of the Religions: Interreligious Relationships and Theological Questioning. Baylor University Press, 2001.

Dupuis, J. Toward a Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism. Orbis, 1997.

Fredericks, J. L. Faith Among Faiths: Christian Theology & Non-Christian Religions. Paulist, 1999.

Knitter, P. Introducing Theologies of Religions. Orbis, 2002.

Ramachandra, V. The Scandal of Jesus. InterVarsity Press, 2001.

Shenk, W. Who Do You Say That I AM? Christians Encounter Other Religions. Herald Press, 1997.

(1) About 1,200 pages of required reading. (2) Reading responses: about 15 pages. (3) A research paper, 10 pages. (4) Student presentations in the class.