Across human history, religion has been both a bridge and a boundary between peoples. Faith shapes how communities see not only the Divine but also those who walk different paths toward it. The way religions view other religions reveals profound truths about the nature of belief, the longing for unity, and the challenge of human difference.

At Spiritual Culture, we invite you into a deeper exploration: not just of tolerance or tension, but of the spiritual insights that arise when faith traditions gaze beyond themselves. Why do some religious traditions emphasize exclusivity, while others open wide the doors of fellowship? How does sacred scripture influence interfaith understanding — or misunderstanding? And, ultimately, what can we learn about our shared humanity through this lens?

In this article, we will journey through major patterns of religious perception, sacred teachings on other faiths, and the enduring call to see divinity even in the unfamiliar.

Perspectives on Other Religions: Key Patterns

Exclusivism: One True Path

Some religious traditions hold that their path is the only true and salvific way to God.

Exclusivism asserts that ultimate truth has been revealed uniquely, making other paths incomplete or even erroneous.

Scriptural Foundations

In Christianity, Jesus’s words — “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, ESV) — form a strong basis for exclusivist belief.
Similarly, Islamic teachings affirm: “Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam” (Quran 3:19).

The Impulse Behind Exclusivism

Exclusivism arises not from arrogance, but often from deep conviction: that truth is precious and entrusted for the sake of salvation. It reflects a profound seriousness about divine revelation and human destiny.

Example

Medieval Christian missionaries, for instance, saw evangelizing as a sacred duty to save souls, not merely to grow institutions.

Inclusivism: One Light, Many Lamps

Inclusivist perspectives affirm that while one’s own religion holds fullness of truth, divine grace can be at work in other traditions as well.

Scriptural Foundations

The Catholic Church, through Vatican II’s Lumen Gentium, teaches that people outside the visible Church may still attain salvation if they seek God sincerely:
“Those who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ… may achieve eternal salvation.”

The Spirit of Inclusivism

Inclusivism recognizes mystery: that divine love may overflow boundaries humans create. It sees glimpses of truth, fragments of the Word, and seeds of grace scattered throughout the world.

Example

Hinduism, in many traditions, speaks of Ishvara manifesting in many forms to meet the diverse longings of humanity.

Pluralism: Many True Paths

Pluralism posits that multiple religions can each reveal genuine, though partial, insights into the Divine. No single path holds a monopoly on truth.

Philosophical Roots

In modern times, thinkers like John Hick proposed a “Copernican Revolution” in theology — shifting focus from any single faith tradition to God (the “Real”) at the center, approached differently by diverse faiths.

Sacred Affirmations

Certain Hindu texts, such as the Rig Veda, famously proclaim:

“Truth is one, sages call it by different names.” (Rig Veda 1.164.46)

The Vision Behind Pluralism

Pluralism celebrates the kaleidoscope of human seeking, valuing dialogue over dominance. It invites humility — recognizing that no human vessel can fully contain infinite mystery.

Example

Buddhism often teaches respect for all paths that lead toward compassion, wisdom, and liberation, even if their metaphysical frameworks differ.

Relativism: All Paths Are Human Constructions

Distinct from spiritual pluralism, religious relativism views religions primarily as human creations, reflecting cultural, historical, and psychological needs.

Modern Interpretations

Some sociologists and postmodern thinkers argue that religions offer meaning but not necessarily universal or transcendent truth.

The Caution of Relativism

While relativism may promote tolerance, it risks diminishing the transformative claims religions make. It can erode the sacred by framing all beliefs as merely subjective.

Example

In an increasingly secular world, many view religious differences as simply diverse “lifestyles” rather than competing truth claims.

Sacred Texts on Relating to the Other

Christianity: Love and Truth

Jesus’s parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) shows radical compassion across religious divides. The Samaritan, despised by Jews, becomes the model of neighborly love.

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31)

Christian tradition calls for both fidelity to Christ and genuine love for those outside the fold.

Islam: Justice and Dialogue

The Quran urges Muslims:

“To you be your religion, and to me my religion.” (Quran 109:6)

Yet it also calls for inviting others “to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching” (Quran 16:125), highlighting both firmness and respect.

Hinduism: Unity in Diversity

As mentioned, Hindu scriptures often affirm the multiplicity of divine manifestations. Respect for varied paths flows from a deep metaphysical vision of unity.

Buddhism: Compassion Without Borders

Buddhist teachings emphasize compassion for all beings, transcending religious or cultural boundaries.

“Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.” (Dhammapada 5)

Judaism: Covenant and the Righteous Among Nations

Judaism affirms its unique covenant with God, yet recognizes that righteous individuals among the nations also have a place in the world to come (Mishnah, Sanhedrin 10:1).

Modern Challenges and Opportunities

Interfaith Dialogue

The 20th and 21st centuries have seen unprecedented efforts at dialogue among faiths:

• Catholic-Jewish reconciliation after Vatican II
• Christian-Muslim “Common Word” initiatives
• Buddhist-Christian dialogues on compassion and mindfulness

Such efforts reflect the growing recognition that understanding — not mere tolerance — is essential for peace.

Religious Nationalism and Tensions

Yet tensions remain. In many regions, religious identity merges with nationalism, fueling conflict. Fears of syncretism or loss of purity can harden boundaries.

The spiritual challenge is profound: to remain faithful without becoming fearful, and to recognize the image of God even in the face of the stranger.

The Inner Dimension

True understanding of other religions requires more than intellectual openness — it calls for an inner posture of humility, compassion, and wonder.

As the Sufi poet Rumi wrote:

“Beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.”

Reflect and Reimagine

How do religions view other religions?

The answer is as varied and dynamic as humanity itself — ranging from exclusivist clarity to pluralist embrace, from missionary fervor to mystical reverence.

For us today, the question is not merely academic. It touches the heart of how we live in a globalized, interconnected, yet often divided world.

It challenges us to ask:

• Can I deeply love my own faith while respecting another’s sacred path?
• Can I listen not merely to answer, but to understand?
• Can I see glimpses of Divine mystery even in what I do not fully grasp?

At Spiritual Culture, we believe that every sincere faith journey holds seeds of light. To honor our own tradition does not require belittling another’s. True spiritual maturity sees that the Infinite can never be confined to human borders.

May we become, each in our own way, pilgrims of understanding — building bridges of reverence, curiosity, and hope across the rivers of difference.