The View From Mars Hill : Christianity in the Landscape of World Religions

The author traces the rich history of Christianity's many encounters with other religions, from the Roman Empire and Paul's speech to the Athenians on Mars Hill to the discovery of non-European peoples, through various currents of philosophy and science.

What are Christians to make of religious diversity? Are other religions simply wrong? Is this great multiplicity something to appreciate and foster? Is there any way to judge whether one religion is better than another, or are all equally good options? What has brought about such a wealth of diversity and tension in the first place? Charles Jones traces the rich history of Christianity’s many encounters with other religions, from the Roman Empire and Paul’s speech to the Athenians on Mars Hill (Acts 17:16–34) to the “discovery” of non-European peoples, through various currents of philosophy and science, and in both the peaceful and violent meetings of Christianity and other religions today. Jones suggests that there are patterns to the way people meet across religious boundaries. He helps us see the tension between our desire for religious coherence and our need to build bridges to avert conflict and foster good relations—the tension between integrity and openness. By the end of the book, readers will have a sense of the history of Christianity’s engagement with religious diversity, as well as tools to move interfaith life forward. Excellent for parish education and informal discussion groups, this eye-opening guide takes a vital step in our understanding of our roles in a world of religious diversity.