It is generally understood by people that each religion claims that all other faiths are “wrong,” and thus displeasing to God. Yet it seems that there are “loopholes” that still allow those who believe otherwise some form of salvation. Does your religion have such a loophole, and how to you explain it logically if your scripture indicates a very exclusivist dogma?
Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds:
Hinduism has no such loophole because according to our tradition, there are no “wrong” religions per se. Clearly, there are wrong expressions of religions, such as using terror tactics as a means to a nefarious end, or condoning racism. But according to the Vedas, all souls will evolve towards enlightenment at some point.
As to your question, I am only guessing, but I gather that as we become more spiritually sophisticated and cosmopolitan we find ourselves in a more religiously diverse society. We meet and befriend people of a variety of faiths. We see their expressions of piety and good will. At that point, for many, the idea of an eternity of wretched torture for the supposed sin of being born into the “wrong” culture or religion seems absurd. Thankfully, more and more clergy are leaving the door open just a smidge for the possibility that those outside of their fold might find favor with God.
Linda Knieriemen, Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, responds:
Yes, Christian doctrine, and PCUSA doctrine over the years has been exclusivist in it’s understanding of salvation, turning to exclusivist Biblical statements such as “If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ you will be saved.” The boundaries created by a “you’re out, we’re in” doctrine are responsible for wars, violence, systematic injustices. I am deeply troubled by exclusivist attitudes and believe they make God weep.
I don’t think it’s a loophole, but the PCUSA in the last decade has offered guidance to its members in this increasingly pluralistic world. Start, a recent document says, with Jesus words of the Great Commandment, particularly, to love neighbor as self. Presbyterians therefore urge a humble modesty that recognizes that God’s Spirit works in surprising ways, that we are to approach others in a spirit of openness and trust and respect, while at the same time following Jesus, speaking the truth that is in us in love, while at the same time in respecting the freedom of others.
A recent PCUSA Catechism states that ‘the limits of salvation are known only to God.” And that ‘true witness follows Jesus Christ in respecting the uniqueness and freedom of others.”
For me to believe that the God I know in Jesus is the giver and preserver of life, the one I trust with my life and my death, does not mean that I can not both share this with one of another faith AND listen to that persons convictions without judgment.
The Rev. Salvatore Sapienza, the Senior Pastor at Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ in Saugatuck/Douglas, responds:
Our church is aligned with the Center for Progressive Christianity, whose late founder, Bishop John Shelby Spong, said, “God is not a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, a Hindu, or a Buddhist. All of those are human systems which human beings have created to try to help us walk into the mystery of God. I honor my tradition, but I don't think my tradition defines God. It only points me to God.”
We, as Progressive Christians, believe that there are many paths to God. We recognize the faithfulness of other people who have other names for the way to God, and we acknowledge that their ways are true for them, as our ways are true for us.
It seems a form of arrogance, to me, to proclaim that your religious tradition is the “correct” one and that all others are following the wrong path. I have met several Christian pastors, for example, who believe that someone as saintly as Mahatma Gandhi is in hell, simply because he wasn’t a Christian.
The salvation of which Jesus speaks, however, isn’t so much about meeting God in the next life, but about experiencing the Divine in this life. Following Jesus’s way (the way of forgiveness, selfless service, and unconditional love) can lead to a change in consciousness in which we are freed (“saved”) to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven here and now, something, I’m sure, that Gandhi and Buddha also experienced.
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds:
Unitarian Universalism does not claim other religions are wrong, in fact the opposite is true. We believe in religious pluralism, meaning we encourage diversity of thoughts, and we think all religions could and should coexist. We believe there is truth in most religions. That each religion has important aspects, can offer real insight and there is value in learning what each religion believes. This is not a loophole around dogma, but it is actually what we try to practice.
Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds:
Reformed and Presbyterian Christians do not believe that all other religions are absolutely or categorically wrong. God reveals Himself to all mankind in His works of creation and providence: “The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament showeth His handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech or language, where their voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:1, 2). This general revelation is reflected in the religious life of mankind in all its various forms, to varying degrees. The apostle Peter declares: “Of a truth God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him” (Acts 10:34, 35). No one is saved by the extent of his knowledge, the correctness of his doctrinal views, his church membership, or his zeal for good works. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds:
Let us never forget that God is in charge! While the Catholic Church believes it is the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ and entrusted to the care of St. Peter and his successors, why ought the Catholic Church consider other Christian faith traditions wrong?
Rifts or disagreements began occurring early in the life of the Church. As the number of Christians grew, distinctions in belief and practice became more pronounced. These separations are wounds in the unity of Christ’s body.
The Catholic Church continues to pray for unity between all Christian religious traditions and engages in ecumenical dialogue. These discussions provide insights into what the different religious traditions hold in common. The goal of the practice and teaching of the Catholic Church is reunification.
This column answers questions of Ethics and Religion by submitting them to a multi-faith panel of spiritual leaders in the Grand Rapids area. We’d love to hear about the ordinary ethical questions that come up in the course of your day as well as any questions of religion that you’ve wondered about. Tell us how you resolved an ethical dilemma and see how members of the Ethics and Religion Talk panel would have handled the same situation. Please send your questions to [email protected].
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