Pluralistic Inclusivism (A Viable School of Theology for Inter-faith Relations)

This book attempts to study and understand K.P. Aleaz’s life’s and his theological contribution in supplementing the existing three schools of theology of religion (viz. exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism) with the formation of the fourth school of theology known as pluralistic inclusivism as an alternative school of theology of religions for inter- faith relation.

My father, Rev. Dr. Kalarikkal Poulose Aleaz, devoted his life is developing a pathway for inter-religious dialogue. He taught me that one can find beauty, love and solidarity across religions and cultures. This love for others was manifested in his expansive writings on comparative faith experiences in India and beyond. Through narration, and the use of metaphors, he expressed the commonality in plural faith experiences. In bringing out the inherent sameness of different religious and cultural experiences, he masterfully portrayed the underlying unity of multiple values, hopes and beliefs.

In this work, Mr. Carey L. Inbuon does a commendable job in introducing readers to my father's works and their relation to other theological schools of thought. Mr. Inbuon's work will definitely be of great interest to all who would like to have an overview of Dr. K. P. Aleaz's life and works, before they go on to read his numerous books.

Knowing the importance of maintaining inter-religious relations, attempts to build inter-faith relations naturally led into the development of various theologies of religions, such as exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralism, which has its own strength and limitations. K. P. Aleaz, one of the renowned Indian Christian theologian has proposed his very own view in the field of theology of religions, namely pluralistic inclusivism, with the conviction that it could be an alternative source in succeeding the three type typology of the existing three schools of theology of religion in building an inter-faith relations in a pluralistic country like India. This study is an attempt to evaluate K. P. Aleaz's pluralistic inclusivism as a reasonable and practicable school of theology of religions in building one common platform for the development of inter-faith relations.

Since the early days of the church till date, we could see various approaches adopted and applied by Christian towards the people of other faith. Theologians generally identify three schools of religions, i.e., exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralism as Christian approaches towards the people of other faiths. Eventually, the issue of inter-faith relations becomes the focus of attention in the theology of religions. Exclusivism stresses on the point of view that salvation comes from God through Christ alone and deny the universal salvific will of God. Inclusivism on the other hand accept and rejects the other faiths, which simply means 'God can be known through the world's religious traditions but the full and complete knowledge and understanding of God is found only in Christianity. Pluralism has a perspective of regarding other religions equally salvific path to the one God, at the same time offer a positive appraisal of other religious practices, their scriptures and beliefs, and considers the faith in every religion is equally the same.

**Contents and Sample Pages**