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Theological Forum Issue

Vol. XXVIII, No. 3 & 4, December 2000

 

Religious Pluralism at the REC Assembly

 

 

Remarks and Recommendations on Religious Pluralism from the Advisory Committee for Mission and Diakonia (Indonesia 2000)



Preamble: In the present context of Indonesia and with the conflicts on Ambon vividly in our minds, we are aware that the topic of religious pluralism is far more than just a theological debate. We realize that the theological statements we make directly affect the lives of many people. Sensitive to the complexity of religious pluralism as a social phenomena comprising of religious as well as social and political aspects, we find it very difficult to make clear cut statements, nor can we offer a solution to the question of religious pluralism. We do however want to make the following remarks on the issue.


1. Definitions


We feel that for a proper discussion on religious pluralism there is a need for clear definition of terms and concepts. We have noted in the discussion that some people understood pluralism to mean the social concept of coexistence of various religions, others as a theological point of view in the discussion on theology of religions and again others as the diversity within the Christian tradition itself. Therefore we recommend a clarification of terms.


2. Theological positions within the theologia religionum


As a result of the study of the syllabus on religious pluralism and the lecture of Dr. Tersur Aben, we noticed that in a significant number of the small groups, people expressed that the two presented theological positions of exclusivism and pluralism could not accommodate the reality of their lives of living amidst people of different faiths. Although they fully wanted to maintain the uniqueness of Christ, they felt the need as well to refrain from expressing an opinion on the fate of people of other religions on judgement day. They also expressed the wish to explore possibilities within the Reformed Tradition, of God's involvement with people of other religions, using the concepts of general revelation and pneumatology. (Amos 9:7; Jonah; Acts 10:1ff)


3. Mission/ Witness and Interreligious Dialogue:


In a pluralistic society there should be room for both witness and interreligious dialogue. By witness we mean: the testimony in both words and deeds to the uniqueness of Christ who reveals to us God the Father. By interreligious dialogue which can be exercised on various levels we mean: the encounter of people of different religions, sharing and explaining their faith. Though we feel that interreligious dialogue demands an open attitude of listening to and learning from each other, we also believe it is possible that the Holy Spirit uses this form of sharing to open peoples minds and hearts. It is essential that interreligious dialogue aims at the exchange of thoughts. It should not have a hidden agenda. Interreligious dialogue in our opinion is not aimed at syncretism nor does it demand compromising our Christian faith.

Formal interreligious dialogue between representatives of different religious traditions should take into account the need for counterparts of equal status. True interreligious dialogue requires honesty, willingness to listen and mutual respect, not only as a fellow human being but also for his/her religious point of view, even when it may be different from ours.


4. Gospel and Culture


In the discussion on religious pluralism we have discussed two aspects. On the one hand it deals with the question of the Christian attitude to people of other faiths. On the other hand it deals with the influence of surrounding religions and cultures on Christianity, a discussion which we sometimes call the discussion on gospel and culture or the issues of contextualisation and/or inculturation. As we see the need for true contextualisation of the gospel, but also sense the dangers of syncretism, we recommend that this is an area to be explored more deeply by the Advisory Commission on Mission and Diakonia.


5. Ancestors


We have noticed that regarding the discussion on ancestors a variety of words was used, with each of these words representing a different view on the role of ancestors on people's lives. We recommend that there will be further study on the theme of ancestors and the attitude of Christians towards them.


Recommendations: That the following areas of study be referred to the Executive Committee and that the Executive Committee assign them to the appropriate commission(s), to be reported on at the 2004 REC Assembly:

 

b) the Biblical view of religions (cf. 2 above)