Dialogue on Religion: A Postliberal Perspective

Dialogue on Religion: A Postliberal Perspective

Wai-tung CHO

Christians across the world are learning more and more about other world religions and cultures. A broader theological basis for intercultural knowledge is inevitable for Christians to meet the basic demands of being a functional citizen in today's interdependent world. In fact, Christians are now increasingly interacting with people from other cultures. To be ignorant of these traditions is to lack the “language” necessary to talk to one's neighbors right across the street.

Having had a first-hand experience of teaching History of Religions and Comparative Theologies in the United States and China, the author observes that Christians respond to other religions in many different ways. One typical response to the appearance of the other is an attempt to reduce what is alien to what is familiar. Another response is to highlight the elements of differences in other religions as alien and odd, while at the same time downplaying elements of similarity. There are others who are attracted to other religions by their desires to seek alternatives to their own faiths. In reflecting on this experience of dealing with cultural-religious differences, the author is in general agreement with the so-called postliberal understanding of religion (such as George Lindbeck's “cultural-linguistic” perspective) and believes that such an approach is useful for promoting real conversation among religions.