Exclusivity Claims of Major World Religions

You may have encountered and engaged these claims, "Christianity is intolerant!" and "Christianity is exclusive!" The other religions are allegedly tolerant and hence, inclusive. Is it so? No! Every major religion claims exclusivity.

Within the theme of "Religious Diversity," three relevant theories should be recognized.1 The "Pluralist theory" believes that one religion is as truthful as another. The "Exclusivist theory" considers only one religion as uniquely valuable – the sole bearer of truth. The "Inclusivist theory" finds merit with both the pluralistic and exclusivistic religions by arguing that while the exclusivistic religion could hold most value, the others still have religious value, for there may be partial truth in the other religions.

A religion proclaims exclusivity if it absolutely contradicts an essential doctrine (Godhead, Sin, Salvation etc.) of another religion. Since mutually contradictory statements cannot be true at the same time and in the same sense (Law of noncontradiction), the either-or logic (not the both-and) should be applied while determining the truth. When two religions mutually contradict each other, the truth remains with eitherreligion A or religion B (both religion A and religion B cannot be true, in this instance). Therefore, only one religion could be true, but the fact remains that both religions claim exclusivity, for both these religions claim to bear the truth.Every major religion in the world, either implicitly or explicitly, claims exclusivity. Ravi Zacharias states, "The truth is that every major religion in the world claims exclusivity, and every major religion in the world has a point of exclusion..."2 Therefore, a preliminary study of the claims of exclusivity of the major world religions is in order.Exclusivity of HinduismHinduism, one of the world's oldest religious systems, claims to be inclusive.3 But it is not so.Hinduism excludes other religions based on its core doctrines. Consider the doctrine of God in Hinduism. Brahman, the absolute God of Hinduism, is a mysterious being.4Although Brahman is one God, he manifests in innumerable forms, "Hinduism is unique because it is essentially a monotheistic faith which acknowledges polytheism as reflective of the diversity in God's creation. God is one, but also many. He manifests Himself in innumerable forms and shapes."5 But the God of Christianity does not manifest Himself in innumerable forms. Hence, Hinduism should exclude Christianity or Islam on the basis of the Godhead. The same holds true for doctrines such as karma and reincarnation, which absolutely contradict Christianity and other religions.

While Hinduism claims inclusivity, it excludes the exclusivists, "Hinduism does not recognize claims of exclusivity or a clergy. Anyone who claims to by [sic] the exclusive possessor of spiritual truth or the only 'method' of reaching God finds no place in Hinduism; a method or a message can only be one among many...Krishna, speaking as God in the Bhagavad-Gita, says, "All paths lead to me", and also those who worship other gods with devotion worship me....Hinduism does not force itself on others through proselytisation..."6

Existentially, Hinduism contradicts its own claims for inclusivity. If Hinduism is truly inclusive, it would not proselytize. But Hinduism, in India – the country of its origin, is actively converting people. The recent Ghar Wapsi (Home Coming) program in India is a classic case in point. Ghar Wapsi is, "a series of religious conversion activities, facilitated by Indian Hindu organizations Vishva Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, to facilitate conversion of non-Hindus to Hinduism"7

Furthermore, Ravi Zacharias, who was born into a Hindu household, asserts the exclusivity of Hinduism, "Hinduism, for example, is often represented as being the most tolerant and accepting of other faiths. That is just not true. All Hindus believe in two fundamental, uncompromising doctrines—the Law of Karma, and the belief in reincarnation."8

Therefore it is very reasonable to conclude that Hinduism is not an inclusive faith, since it claims exclusivity.Exclusivity of BuddhismRejection of Hinduism led to the birth of Buddhism, says Ravi Zacharias, "Buddhism was born out of the rejection of two other very dogmatic claims of Hinduism. Buddha rejected the authority of the vedas and the caste system of Hinduism."9