Book Critique Assignment
Olivia M. Morgan
APOL-525: Pluralism and World Religions
March 2023
Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................1
Summary........................................................................................................................................1
Critical Evaluation.........................................................................................................................6
Strengths......................................................................................................................................7
Weaknesses................................................................................................................................10
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................10
Bibliography.................................................................................................................................12
ii
1
Introduction
Over the past few decades, religious pluralism has become a hot topic in academic
circles. Many people now understand religious diversity better due to globalization and
modernism. The difficulty, however, has been in figuring out how to accommodate such variety.
People have questioned whether any religion can be trusted. However, some argue that these
religions are fundamentally the same and, therefore, invalid. Christian commitments in a
globalizing age are clarified in Harold A. Netland's book, Christianity & Religious Diversity:
Clarifying Christian Commitments in a Globalizing Age, resulting from years of work on the
cluster of problems related to these answers.1 This paper provides a synopsis of his arguments
and an evaluation of the book's significance within the scholarly community.
Summary
In his preface, Harold A. Netland clarifies why he wrote his book. His book is an effort to
define some key terms, demonstrate how religions have adapted to modernity, and delve into
epistemological questions that have arisen due to Christians' growing appreciation for religious
diversity.2 Two sections of the book are devoted to presenting his argument: Christianity's
commitments in today's pluralistic society, as well as the role of religion in today's globalizing
world.
There are four chapters in the first section. The first section of the book lays a foundation
for comprehending faiths. According to Harold A. Netland, there are two main approaches to
studying religion: the theological and the phenomenological. The Christian theology of religions,
he says, "must take its cues from the themes found in the Bible."3 Topics like "creation," "grace,"
1 Harold A. Netland, Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a
Globalizing Age. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019), 5.
2 Ibid., 6.
2
"sin," and "death" all fit into this category.4 In this chapter, he also argues that people are
naturally religious, whether or not they realize it.5 As a result, every person has their perspective
on what God is like.
Phenomenology is concerned with the careful observation of real-world religious
communities.6 In his view, as expressed by Netland, "neither cultures nor religions are
completely self-contained, discrete, hermetically sealed systems that remain intact throughout
time." In other words, while they must remain true to their beliefs, Christians would be better off
if they acknowledged some truths in other religions.7 According to Harold A. Netland, this
method is preferable to a theological one because it fosters peaceful coexistence with people of
different faiths.
Modifications made by faiths as a result of contact with modernity and globalization are
the subject of Chapter 2's analysis. These faiths have constantly reinvented themselves to
maintain traditional values while exploiting new opportunities.8 Due to these difficulties, three
major shifts have occurred, as noted by Harold A. Netland. The first place he sees a difference is
in government, where he says that God's teachings no longer have any sway.9 The second shift is
a generalized decline in the prevalence of long-established religious tenets and customs.10 In
3 Harold A. Netland, Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a
Globalizing Age. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019), 7.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid., 7.
6 Ibid., 8.
7 Ibid.
8 Ibid., 35.
9 Ibid., 63.
10 Harold A. Netland, Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a
Globalizing Age. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019), 63.
3
addition, he claims, eighth, that a sizable percentage of people are abandoning their religious
principles.11
The third chapter is Netland's case study, and he uses the 2500-year history of Buddhism
as an example. He intends to demonstrate how secularism and internationalization have impacted
faith communities. Netland provides a compelling history of the events that led to the spread of
Buddhism, beginning with the life of Siddhartha Gautama and ending with the emergence of the
three primary Buddhist schools, Theravada, Vajrayana, and Mahayana. Netland argues that one
of Buddhism's greatest strengths is that it can adapt to its setting almost seamlessly. In this
chapter, we learned that the early Buddhist church spread its teachings by sending missionaries
to different parts of the world.12 It used to be a religion of intolerance, but in recent decades it has
rebranded itself as a religion of acceptance. Buddhism does not try to force its beliefs on others
or consider them in error. This has led to a growing interest among intellectuals.
The identity of Jesus, according to various faiths, is discussed in the fourth chapter. For
many, Jesus is seen as "just another great religious and moral leader," as Netland notes.13 Jesus is
regarded as a prophet in Islam. Jesus is revered as God's anointed one in the Baha'i faith. He is
the Buddha, the supremely enlightened being in Buddhism. Many Hindus look up to him as a
spiritual guide because of this. However, the positive portrayal of Jesus contradicts what
traditional Christian teaching has maintained.14 He is not the Jesus cherished by Christians, who
believe he is fully human and divine and thus the only Lord and Savior for all people.15
11 Ibid.
12 Ibid.
13 Ibid., 73.
14 Harold A. Netland, Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a
Globalizing Age. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019), 103.
15 Ibid.
4
The book's second section discusses Christian beliefs and values in a multicultural
society. The section's introductory chapter, "Chapter 5: Can All Religions Be True?" investigates
this question.16 This presupposition holds that all religions have doctrines that adherents must
take at face value as the ultimate truth.17 Assuming that to be the case, all religions are presumed
to be true. However, as Netland points out, this claim must be revised because many religions
hold competing truths. To name just two examples, Christians and Muslims attribute the
universe's origins to God, the eternal Creator. That is something the Buddhists strongly refute.18
Second, Christians maintain that Jesus Christ is God and man, the incarnate Word of God. This
is considered blasphemous by Muslims.19 Some scholars, like John Hick and Peter Byrne, have
offered epistemological explanations for these discrepancies; Netland aims to make these
explanations more accessible. One way to combat the poisonous bigotry resulting from these
distinctions is through religious pluralism, a position people like John Hick hold.
The idea that Christianity is the only true religion is discussed in Chapter 6. Netland
argues that there will only ever be one true religion, even though followers of each religion have
every right to believe their religion is true. He further asserts that a religious claim is valid if the
situation it describes is the way the claim describes it.20 If Christianity's claims about the gospel
and Jesus' centrality are correct, then any defining belief or religion that does not correspond to
these claims is either incomplete or false.
16 Ibid., 136.
17 Ibid., 136.
18 Ibid., 139.
19 Ibid., Ibid.
20 Harold A. Netland, Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a
Globalizing Age. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019), 181.
5
In the seventh chapter, the author discusses how Christians can respond to religious
pluralism and the various justifications for faith. Given the plethora of religious and atheistic
alternatives available today, Netland questions why anyone would accept the central claims of
Christian theism as accurate.21 John Locke, David Hume, and Immanuel Kant argued that one's
level of conviction in a given belief should be in direct proportion to the quality of evidence
supporting that belief.22 Consequently, Netland spends many words discussing the approval of
numerous respected academics like Robert Boyle, Alvin Plantinga, and Paul Griffiths.23
The final chapter is devoted to practical considerations. This work by Harold A. Netland is
intended to equip Christians for ministry in the early twenty-first century's religiously diverse
and pluralistic world.24D
He does so by presenting five overarching ideas: He stresses that witnessing is not a
recommendation but a mandate. He encourages Christians to share the gospel in a way that
reflects God's love. He asserts that a Christian's witness must be given humbly and honestly. His
fourth point is that Christians should engage in respectful interfaith dialogue as part of their
witness. He argues that Christians should avoid using force and abusive authority in their
testimonies.25 Netland concludes by advocating for fundamental guidelines for following Christ
as disciples in multireligious settings and encouraging Christians to incorporate Christian
apologetics into their modern Christian witness.26
21 Ibid., 198.
22 Ibid., 202.
23 Ibid.
24 Ibid.
25 Harold A. Netland, Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a
Globalizing Age. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019), 238-240.
26 Ibid.
6
Critical Evaluation
The author, Harold A. Netland, has made great efforts to explain some of the
fundamental ideas in religion. His research has demonstrated the effects of globalization and
modernity on religious practices. In addition, he has analyzed the epistemological problems that
inevitably come up when Christians start to acknowledge the existence of other faiths. To say he
has succeeded in his mission would be modest. His work is strengthened by the fact that, despite
his opposition to religious pluralism, he does not silence those who hold that view. He instead
goes the extra mile to incorporate their perspectives fully.27 Reading this book, one feels he has
comprehensively understood world religions.
One of the book's greatest strengths is the abundance of scholarly sources the author
draws on to back up his claims. Each chapter of Netland typically includes more than seventy
citations. Further, Netland's claims come from respected figures in relevant religious or
philosophical traditions. However, he does not hold back from pointing out the inherent flaws in
their arguments. David Hume, Alvin Plantinga, Paul Tillich, and John Hick are just a few of the
famous authors whose thoughts he presents.28
Finally, while there is no major flaw in the book, Harold A. Netland missed an
opportunity to include a more nuanced and nuanced perspective by not incorporating African
traditional religions. Despite the paucity of literature on the topic, books like Joseph Galgalo's
African Christianity: The Stranger Within (2012) provide valuable insight into African religious
pluralism.29
27 Ibid.
28 Ibid.
29 Harold A. Netland, Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a
Globalizing Age. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019), 240.
7
In chapter six, Netland's explanation of why Christianity is the one true religion is very
well done. Focusing on the gospel and the importance of Jesus, he makes them the focal point.30
He could have made stronger arguments by elaborating on the ecumenical consensus reached by
the councils of Nicaea 1 and 2 and Chalcedon.31 All these councils contributed to the Christology
doctrine and deserved more than a passing mention.
Strengths
Dr. Netland's book succeeds in part because it shares his conviction that Christianity is an
evolving faith capable of adjusting to a more complex and technologically advanced world.
While the central tenets of Christianity remain unchanged, the religion does modify some of its
peripheral rituals to fit with new cultural contexts. Christianity is common among religions in
transforming due to contact with other cultures. In contrast to the constant mixing of cultures and
adoption of practices from different cultures, Christianity appears to have a unique relationship
with other religions. Unlike cultures, religions do not tend to coincide with one another.
We have different perspectives on cultural norms and religious beliefs. In certain
circumstances, it makes sense to conceive of a person simultaneously participating in multiple
distinct cultural contexts because we do not typically view cultures as mutually incompatible.
The problem with identifying with more than one religion is that some of the most fundamental
tenets of the world's major religions are opposed.32
One aspect of Christianity that has evolved is how Christian churches hold and conduct
worship services and other community events. Some denominations still do things the way they
30 Ibid.
31 Ibid.
32 Harold A. Netland, Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a
Globalizing Age. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019), 38.
8
always have, and some even go back to Bible-based traditions. However, Christianity as a whole
has "evolved" in many ways. It is also important to note that while Dr. Netland mentions shifts in
Christian thought, he does not imply that fundamental Christian beliefs have shifted but that
there are new lenses through which to view them. The effects of modernity and globalization on
Christianity are plain to see now.
As an example of how modernity and globalization have impacted religion, consider how
practicing your faith in the traditional sense has become more difficult in the modern era. The
certainty with which religious doctrines and rituals were accepted in the premodern period is no
longer assumed. While this does not prove that people today are not religious, it does point to the
fact that they practice their faith in distinctive ways.33
The five themes extracted by Dr. Netland from "Christian Witness in a Multireligious
World: Recommendations for Conduct" and "The Cape Town Commitment" are another strength
of the book. Dr. Netland says these five themes are "significant for Christian witness today."34
Here are the five ideas discussed: First, the Christian church has a duty, not a choice, to share the
good news of Jesus Christ with people of other faiths.35 In a way that reflects God's love,
Christians are to share the gospel's good news with the world.36 A Christian witness must show
respect for other people and be humble and morally honest.37 Christian witnesses should involve
33 Ibid., 44.
34 Ibid., 237.
35 Harold A. Netland, Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a
Globalizing Age. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019), 238.
36 Ibid.
37 Ibid., 240.
9
respectful forms of interfaith dialogue.38 Christians should not testify in favor of violence or the
misuse of power.39
These themes provide invaluable direction and guidance for Christians seeking to engage
the diverse culture around them. In the book's eighth chapter, the author presents a pivotal idea
concerning the role of a witness. Many Christians face a fundamental question: Why should
anyone believe the central claims of Christian theism when there are so many other religious and
nonreligious worldviews? This is a perfectly fair inquiry, and it should be answered
responsibly.40
These rules outline how to talk to people of different faiths in a way that respects both
parties. In conversations with non-Christians, Christians often struggle to find common ground
and the right words to express their beliefs. Christians should feel more confident in their
outreach efforts now that they can access this book's wealth of information and advice.
Weaknesses
Dr. Netland's book was studied, and its flaws still needed to be uncovered. His attention
to detail and willingness to cover every angle of diversity and pluralism were admirable. The
book was simple to read because of the seamless transitions between chapters. Dr. Netland has a
very eloquent and informative presentation style. In addition to the information already provided,
Dr. Netland's incorporation of references to works discussing interfaith dialogue was a welcome
addition. That new material makes this book an excellent resource for modern Christians seeking
to share their faith with others.
38 Ibid.
39 Ibid., 241.
40 Ibid.
10
Conclusion
Christianity and Religious Diversity are unquestionably essential contributions to
philosophical and theological debate. Netland's principles for Christians are fundamental in
today's increasingly pluralistic and religiously diverse global society. Therefore, Netland has
finished his book and accomplished his goals: He has defined critical terms in the study of
religion, demonstrated how modernity and globalization have influenced religious practices and
how these practices have evolved in response, and investigated epistemological questions that
have arisen as a result of Christians' growing appreciation for religious diversity.41 This book's
worth lies in the witnessing it facilitates to the lost. With the knowledge gained from this book,
Christians can go into the marketplace, the classroom, and the public square to share the gospel
with those who have found false hope in other religions. It is not Netland’s intent to insult or
mock other faiths with this statement. Instead, he firmly believes Christians can uphold biblical
witness while acknowledging that other religions contain elements of goodness, truth, and
beauty.42
41 Harold A. Netland, Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a
Globalizing Age. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019), 237.
42 Harold A. Netland, Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a
Globalizing Age. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019), 179.
11
Bibliography
Netland, Harold A. Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a
Globalizing Age. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019
