1. PLURALISM (Analogy: The blind men and the elephant): Different religions perceive different aspects of the Truth. We need to listen to and learn from each other, because NO ONE gets it right.
  2. UNIVERSALISM (Analogy: How to climb a mountain through different trails): All religions reach the same destination irrespective of the paths they have chosen. We should not interfere with others’ religious beliefs, because EVERYONE gets it right in the end.
  3. EXCLUSIVISM (Analogy: The only way through a maze): Truth, by definition, is exclusive. There is only one way that leads to the absolute Truth and Only ONE religion gets it right.
  4. Most religions are EXCLUSIVISTIC at their theological center.
  5. World religions possess a respectful, if not reverential understanding of Jesus Christ. The Jews consider him a rabbi who claimed to be their Messiah; the Muslims, a prophet; the Sikhs, a guru or a sant; the Buddhists, a bodhisattva; the Hindus, an avatar.
  6. Paul's Mars Hill sermon (Acts 17:22-31) suggests that there are "Christ-figures" in other religions (the unknown god), which may function as missiological bridges to invite people from the 'Jesus they know' to the 'Jesus we know.'
  7. The theory of "general revelation" suggests that God has not left Himself without witness (Acts 14:17) and continues to reveal Himself through nature, conscience and world religions. But the "particular revelation" comes only through the providential grace of God in Jesus Christ.
  8. The Bible affirms the fact that there is only one way to God and that way is Jesus, but it is plausible that there is more than one way to Jesus (not to God). There are Christ-figures in other religions that have the potential to lead people to the Jesus of the Bible even through unconventional ways.
  9. It is therefore possible for Christians to appreciate the genuine spiritual experiences of people of other religions, while also affirming to the uniqueness of the Gospel and the decisiveness of the Christian faith.

VIDEO: INTRODUCTION
  1. There are only six religions that can be classified as major 'living' world religions: Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism are categorized as Eastern religions and Judaism, Christianity and Islam as Abrahamic religions.
  2. Theological frameworks of Eastern religions range all the way from animism to non-theism, but Abrahamic religions follow a strict monotheistic code.
  3. Eastern religions operate on a mythical timeline, but in Abrahamic religions God intervenes human history.
  4. Abrahamic religions conceptualize the cosmos in such a way that God and humans are distinct entities, separated from each other by the "sins" of humanity. The ultimate goal of religion is to bridge the gap between God and (hu)man.
  5. In Eastern religions the divine and the human are not considered separate beings. Any apparent distinction between them is caused by a phenomenon called maya (illusion). The realization of this truth leads us to "enlightenment." According to the reincarnation theory in Eastern religions, we live in "samsara" — an endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth driven by the law of karma.
  6. Karma is a psychic energy created by the actions of an individual. Good actions create positive karma and bad actions create negative karma. The net sum of the accumulated karma decides how one is going to be reborn in the next life.
  7. An individual soul transmigrates from one body to another through six realms of reincarnation: Heaven, Human world, Animal world, Realm of the Titans, Realm of the Ghosts and Hell (Refer to the elevator analogy in the video).
  8. Heaven and Hell are impermanent states of existence. True liberation comes from escaping the samsara cycle into an alternate reality, called moksha in Hinduism, nirvana in Buddhism, and sachkandh in Sikhism.
  9. In Hinduism, one attains moksha by renouncing worldly life and living an ascetic life as a yogi. In Buddhism, nirvana is achieved by following the middle way. In Sikhism one enters sachkandh by leading a life of devotion to God.

  1. How would you respond to the comment, "All religions are exclusivistic at their theological center?"
  2. How is the nature of divinity and humanity distinguished in Eastern and Abrahamic religions?
  3. What are some of the redemptive roles the “outsiders” play in the Biblical narrative?
  4. How does Paul's Mars Hill sermon differ from his other missionary discourses?
  5. What is general revelation? How is it different from the particular revelation?

  1. Ask people of different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds what they think about Jesus Christ? How do their perceptions of Jesus differ from that of yours?
  2. What are some examples of “general revelation” you observe in your everyday life?

  1. Ask people of different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds what they think about Jesus Christ? How do their perceptions of Jesus differ from that of yours?
  2. What are some examples of “general revelation” you observe in your everyday life?

  1. Following the Star
    Chapter 1, The Unknown God
  2. Jesus: The Only Way
    Chapter 8, The Unknown God