I recently read Can Evangelicals Learn from World Religions?:Jesus, Revelation & Religious Traditions by Gerald R. McDermott for Apologetics. This book was written for the purpose of examining evangelical’s theology on truth and revelation. The author is not questioning our means of salvation or suggesting universalism but rather he is suggesting that truth about God and human nature can be found among various beliefs. God has revealed himself in many ways to all people and this manifestation of God can be found throughout world religions. The author defines what he means by revelation and then gives Biblical and theological reasons to support his beliefs. He then takes a closer look at a couple world religions and analyzes what we as evangelical believers can glean from them. He does not give an exhaustive description of what can be learned but rather gets the reader thinking with the hopes of the reader continuing his search for God’s truth woven in among the world’s religions.
“This book…argues that if Saint Augustine learned from Neo-Platonism to better understand the gospel, if Thomas Aquinas learned from Aristotle to better understand the Scriptures, and if John Calvin learned from Renaissance humanism, perhaps evangelicals may be able to learn from the Buddha--and other great religious thinkers and traditions--things that can help them more clearly understand God's revelation in Christ” (12). Has God revealed things to other religions that are not contained in Christianity? Does this mean there is another provisional revelation outside of Christ? Is the redemptive work of Christ and the Scriptures not all there is? Are other world religions compatible with Christianity?
These have been some of the questions that have risen in my mind throughout reading this book. However, McDermott does not challenge the fact that salvation comes through Christ alone. He merely entertains the idea that perhaps God has enabled all humans with the knowledge of Him, which is then expressed different ways through different religions. He is not insinuating that there are multiple paths to heaven but rather is saying that insight can be gained from them. Religions are, after all, human creations to interpret the world and our existence. Because God has created each human with innate knowledge of a greater being and the unquenchable desire for Him, how then would truths of God not be found within these man made constructs? Yes, they are flawed and do not bring reconciliation to God but these humans attempts to strive for meaning and redemption have truths within that cannot be man made.
What can we learn from Buddhists? “…their experience of the distance between ordinary perception and reality can help check our natural presumption when talking about God… they also confirm the Bible’s picture of this cosmos and ourselves as radically dependent on God” (136, 141). What can we learn from Daoism? “…they can …help us understand the biblical paradox that God produces strength through human weakness” (165). What can we learn through Confucius? “We need to return [to Christ rather thanli] because we typically ignore the call of conscience to act with consideration of duty to others” (179). What can we through the teachings of Muhammad and the religion of Islam? Submission to God, creation as a theater of God’s glory, regular and theocentric prayer, charity to the poor, and making our faith public, just to name a few (194-202).
These truths are certainly not invented or producible by humans but are reproducible because they invariably come from God. As Western Christians, we have a tendency to live like we have all the answers and have nothing to gain from other religions. I firmly believe that I have received both general and specificrevelation and have been redeemed by Christ who is the only One who can reconcile me to God. I also agree with McDermott and believe I have much to learn about God and myself through other religions’ incomplete attempts to reach Him.
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