Book Reviews

1. Four Views on Salvation in a Pluralistic World

This book presents four perspectives on salvation by their major proponents. Each contributor not only presents the case for his view, but is also given the opportunity to critique and respond to the critiques of the other contributors. The four perspectives are Normative Pluralism: All ethical religions lead to God, by John Hick. Inclusivism: Salvation is universally available, but is established by and leads to Christ, by Clark Pinnock. Salvation in Christ: Agnosticism regarding those who haven't heard the Gospel, by Alister McGrath. Salvation in Christ alone: by R Douglas Geivett and W Gary Phillips. The counterpoints series provides a forum for comparison and critique of different views - both Christian and non-Christian - on important theological issues.

Okholm and Phillips offer a helpful introduction to the issues of pluralism, inclusivism and particularism. They do this by discussing the rise of religious pluralism and the challenges it has brought to Christianity.

Okholm and Phillips point out that the traditional Christian view of particularise was challenged during the Enlightenment. Schleiermacher took an important step toward inclusive when he asserted that God is salvifically available in some degree in all religions even though the gospel of Jesus Christ is the fulfilment and highest manifestation of this universal awareness. Classical liberalism followed Schleiermacher's inclusive assertions until the late nineteenth century when historicism and its heightened awareness of cultural and religious relativities challenged the claim that Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of religion. Ernst Troeltsch argued that all people at all times are purely historical creatures, therefore, all religious claims are culturally conditioned perspectives of the divine (Okholm, Phillips, 28). Being unable to make normative religious judgments, Troeltsch espoused pluralism.

Okholm and Phillips assert that the late twentieth century “has heightened the dialogue regarding other religions”. In the current pluralistic environment normative religious claims are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. Likewise, arguments for the uniqueness and superiority of Christianity are not well received. They also point out that the differences between liberal inclusivists and pluralists are only a matter of degree. In fact, in recent decades some liberal leaders have crossed over to religious pluralism (Okholm, Phillips, 29). The strong pull towards pluralism has also affected conservative Christianity as more within the conservative camp question whether explicit belief in Christ is always necessary for salvation.

As is often the case with this series, the book suffers from poor editing. All ...