Strange Virtues: Ethics in a Multicultural World

THE ETHICAL CHALLENGE OF OTHER RELIGIONS

hristians who live in a culture with several religions face deeper problems than differences in doctrine. In many countries of the world, including the United States, you do not have to cross national borders to find yourself surrounded by other religions. Christians have long been a minority in Western universities. But only in the last few decades have other religions become active competitors throughout society.

Christianity in the West faces what Peter Berger has called a "legitimation crisis." Religious plurality is a threat to Christian faith when other religions are perceived as attractive and/or Christian faith is "delegitimated" as a foundation for life. In the United States, "secularism" used to be seen as the major opponent of Christian faith and indeed of all religion. But the feared (or hoped for) process of secularization has proved illusory. People in America are not becoming less religious. On the contrary, they are more religious, albeit not in relation to the mainstream institutional churches.

In most of the world (excluding Western Europe) the deep religiousness of most people has never been in doubt. In Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America religion is seldom considered optional. Even in China and the formerly communist world religions of all different stripes are resurgent.

Comparative religion studies in universities, seminaries and Bible schools all focus on doctrine and practice. Anthropology, phenomenology, sociology, theology and apologetics are useful tools for such study. But ethics is the place where most Christians vividly experience the challenge of other religions.

Ethical Challenges to Christian Truth

The ethical challenge to Christian faith comes from three directions. First is the challenge of aesthetic and spiritual experience. The discovery of great beauty and deep spiritual experience in other traditions challenges the sometimes ugly and shallow practices of Christianity. Second, the virtues and goodness of some believers in other faiths puts to shame the crass egotism and materialism of many Christians. Third, there are great social, economic and political evils practiced in the name of Christianity. In some places, non-Christian cultures produce societies that display a moral excellence unusual in "Christian" countries. Western civilization has failed to provide a universal example for the rest of humanity.

The purpose of this chapter is to clarify and address these challenges to Christian faith. Several major theological attitudes to other religions will be examined. I will suggest a dialectical approach that holds in tension the good and evil in all religions. This perspective calls for dialogue, humility and honest conviction.