（按上圖或按此免費下載）

撮要

艾利克森博士指出，在後現代文化中進行價值判斷，是惹人反感的；然而，基督教卻要求人悔改歸信基督，並指稱這是通往上帝的唯一道路。艾利克森列舉了三個反對排他觀點的例子：(1)美南浸信會透過一位姊妹宣告在猶太聖日為猶太人歸信基督祈禱，受到猶太教領袖反對，並招來自由派基督徒批評；(2)教宗計劃訪問印度，但印度教領袖聲稱若教宗宣告耶穌是得救的唯一途徑，就是在印度教徒中散播仇恨；(3)查理斯王子表示若他成為君主，會將「維護英格蘭教會信仰」的稱號，改為「維護眾多宗教信仰」。

後現代社會文化視不寬容為罪，要求基督徒放棄惟有信靠耶穌才得救的立場。艾利克森認為基督教回應這情況有四種取向：第一種是排他主義，認為悔改歸信耶基督是通往上帝的唯一道路；第二種是普救主義，即相信所有人最終得著上帝極救；第三種是包容主義，認為救恩由耶穌基督而出，不過在其他宗教或非信徒中，也有無數隱名的基督徒；第四種是多元主義，認為所有宗教都是真理。

艾利克森提醒我們，基督徒相信人必須接受耶穌基督為救主，經歷重生。他引用來德里(Kenneth Scott Latourette)對教會歷史的分析，指出歷史上那些認為耶穌基督並非上帝的兒子，或耶穌基督並非得著救恩唯一道路的教會，最終也無力在歷史舞台上生存。若果教會不能為世界提供真實的出路而改變世界，最終會被世界同化。他重申三一論、耶穌基督復活是基督教信仰的基石。

ABSTRACT

In the article, Dr. Erickson points out that value judgment in a postmodern culture is doomed to arouse protest; yet Christianity requires men to repent and be converted, and proclaims that be the only way to God. The author lists three examples as to demonstrate modern views that against exclusivism: (1) Southern Baptists on one Jewish Holy Day claimed that they were praying for the Jews to be converted, and this aroused protests from both Jewish religious leaders and liberal Protestants. (2) When the Pope planned to visit India, Hindu leaders proclaimed that the Pope was actually prompting hate crimes against Hindus should he insist that Jesus is the sole way to salvation. (3) Prince Charles states that while he be king, he will change the title “Defender of the Faith” to “Defender of the Faiths.”

Intolerance is regarded as a crime in postmodern societies; people require Christians to give up their stance that to believe in Christ is the only way to salvation. Dr. Erickson observes that there are four Christian responses: First, there is exclusivism, which insists that to repent, be converted and believe in Jesus Christ is the only way to God. Second is universalism, which believes that all will ultimately be saved by God. Third, the inclusivism approach, which claims that salvation is from Jesus Christ, yet there are numerous anonymous Christians among other religions and non-believers. And fourth is pluralism, which claims that all religions are of truth.

Erickson restates that men have to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and be born again, that is what Christians believe. Quoting Kenneth Scott Latourette’s analysis on church history, he points out that there had been churches that denied Jesus as son of God, or He be the only way to salvation, and all these churches were eventually extinguished, that if the church is not able to provide the world a true way and thus bring forth changes, she will be assimilated into secular culture. Erickson restates that the doctrine of the Trinity and the resurrection of Jesus Christ are the foundation of Christian beliefs.

原載於《建道學刊》23期（2005年1月），頁39-51。