Thesis (Th. M.)--Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves xviii-xxv).

Thesis (M.C.S.)--Regent College, 2001. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-105).

Dual religious belonging is a phenomenon of individuals who identify themselves as followers of more than one religious tradition. People of faiths may find themselves in different degrees of dual or multi-religious conditions due to growing up in inter-religious marriages of their parents, exposure to multi-religious traditions or inter-religious encounters. The thesis of this study is to argue for the legitimacy of “Dual Religious Belonging” for Christians coming from Asian religious backgrounds through an assessment of the threefold theology of religions. It concludes that “Universal Access Exclusivism” can be the best model for sustaining dual religious belonging from an Evangelical perspective. The study seeks to answer the following primary research questions: 1) Theologically, can Evangelical Christians belong to more than one religious tradition? What are the arguments forwarded for dual religious belonging and how do Christians develop a theological assessment of such phenomena, particularly for Christians who hold on to the finality of Jesus Christ for salvation? 2) Within the threefold model of theology of religions, which theology can best sustain dual religious belonging for Evangelical Christians? The study offers a comparative examination of the pluralist theology of Paul Knitter, the inclusivist theology of Raimon Panikkar and the exclusivist theology of Harold Netland. The secondary research question is what are some contributions of dual religious belonging theology toward an Evangelical contextual missiology? Specifically, some contributions toward “insider movements” debates and Christian discipleship for those coming from different faith traditions will be considered. The study seeks to, first, offer a critique against pluralist and inclusivist theologies for multiple and double religious belonging, and second, forward a proposal for dual religious belonging theology for followers of Jesus Christ coming from mixed religious backgrounds from an Evangelical perspective.

Afrikaans: Tradisioneel wanneer na 'n saak as sinkretisties verwys word, is so 'n verwysing gevul met pejoratiewe konnotasies. Die grootste probleem met die bestudering van sinkre¬tisme was nog altyd en is steeds 'n definisieprobleem. Daar bestaan verskillende benaderingswyses tot die bestudering van sinkretisme. Sinkretisme kan vanuit 'n teologiese, fenomenologiese of godsdienshistoriese perspek¬tief benader word. Hierdie studie onderneem vanuit 'n teologiese vertrekpunt die bestu¬dering van sinkretisme om tot 'n beter verstaan daarvan binne die godsdienswetenskap en sendingwetenskap te kom. Dit is dus nodig om eers uit te klaar met watter definisie van sinkretisme gewerk word. Binne hierdie studie word sinkretisme verstaan as die resultaat van 'n proses van pluralisering, wat onder andere die proses van sekularise¬ring kan behels, en aanleiding gee tot die herinterpretasie en eklektiese hersakralise¬ring van elemente. Daar word op grond van Bybelse gegewens gewys hoe daar voorbeelde bestaan van hoe godsdienste weens interaksie met mekaar groei en verander. Sommige ge¬leerdes verwys na die prosesse as sinkretisme, alhoewel sommige na die prosesse as die normale ontwikkeling van godsdienste verwys. Dit bevestig weer die vermoede dat nie aile godsdiensvermenging as sonder meer sinkretisme tipeer kan word nie. Vir die verstaan van sinkretisme, wil hierdie studie aandui, is 'n grondige verstaan van wat openbaring en godsdiens is, nodig. Die verstaan van openbaring bepaal hoe godsdienste evalueer word. Sodra klarigheid verkry is oor wat godsdiens is, kan die interaksie tussen godsdienste evalueer word. Interaksie tussen godsdienste geskied egter nie in 'n lugleegte nie, maar vind plaas in samehang met 'n verskeidenheid van faktore. Daar is meer wat op die vorming en verandering van godsdienste inspeel as bloot net die kontak tussen godsdienste. Die godsdiens word volgens bepaalde prosesse in 'n kultuur ingedra. Hierdie proses van inkulturasie moet ook teologies evalueer word. In 'n veranderende tydsgees is dit ook noodsaaklik om opnuut te besin oor tradisio¬nele denke. In die Iig van die postmoderne is dit nodig om die saak van sinkretisme weer nuut te beskou. Sodoende kan nuwe antwoorde op nuwe vrae formuleer word en tot 'n beter verstaan van sinkretisme gekom word. English: Traditionally when something is referred to as syncretistic, such an etiquette is filled with pejorative connotations. The most complex part of studying syncretism was and still remains the problem of definition. A specific definition determines the uses of the term as well as the attitude with which the term will be used. There are different points of departure for studying syncretism. Syncretism can either be looked at from a theological, phenomenological or religio-historical perspecti¬ve. This study is undertaken from a theological point of reference to come to a better understanding of syncretism within religion and Missiology. Therefore it is necessary to first of all declare with which definition is worked here. In this study, syncretism is un¬derstood as the result of a process of pluralizing, which could also consist of the proc¬ess of secularising and could result in the re-interpretation and eclectic re-sacralising of elements. With reference to Biblical situations some examples are pointed out where religions grow and change due to interaction with one another. Some scholars refer to these processes as syncretism, while others indicate these processes as normal ways in which religions develop. This emphasises the fact that not all mixing of religions can be labelled as syncretism. For the understanding of syncretism, this study endeavours to indicate, that a thor¬ough knowledge of what revelation and religion is, is required. The way in which revela¬tion is understood, determines how religion is evaluated. The moment there is clarity on what religion is, the interaction between religions can be evaluated. Interaction among religions however never takes place in a void. It always takes pla¬ce in coherence with a variety of factors. There are more to the formation and change of religions as merely the contact between religions. Religion is introduced into a cultu¬re through certain processes. Therefore the process of inculturation also needs to be theologically evaluated. In a changing paradigm, it also becomes necessary to reconsider traditional thought patterns. In the light of the post-modern, it is necessary to reconsider syncretism. By doing so there can be new answers to new questions in order to arrive at a better un¬derstanding of syncretism. / Thesis (DD (Science of Religion and Missiology))--University of Pretoria, 2001. / Science of Religion and Missiology / unrestricted

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Opting for an applied theory approach, this thesis addresses various means of "compenetration" between religious normative orders and normative orders of the Quebec and French States. / Based on a constructivist vision of law and on the impact of post-modernism, the thesis draws out a typology of pluralisms used in legislation with the aim to understand religious normativity (institutionalized pluralism and integrated pluralism), and distinguishes between four types of religious normativity invoked before the civil law judge, that is: the religious normativity of the State; the formal non-State religious normativity; the informal, community-based non-State religious normativity; and the personal and ethical non-State religious normativity. / After having noted the refusal of the principle of institutionalized pluralism in France and in Quebec, namely, the rejection of direct application, as such, of the religious normativity by the judge, and highlighting its exceptions resulting in particular from the mechanisms of private international law, this thesis studies the tools available to the civil law judge to take into consideration religious normativity. Here it concerns the facets of integrated pluralism which finds expression, in particular, through standards contained in the rules of civil law and in the fundamental right (civil liberty in France and subjective right in Quebec) of freedom of religion. / The thesis points to the persuasive role of the civil law judge in the functioning of integrated pluralism and the elaboration of a common normativity by consensus. The thesis insists on the procedural techniques that can be implemented to accept or refuse the integration of "foreigness" of norms and the "otherness" of values in its legal order and notes that the articulation of religious and State normativity can give rise to schemes of eviction and balance. The thesis concludes by the response to the question as to whether it is the religious norm in isolation or that which is linked to the normative order which is thus received in France and Quebec. In this respect, the question is whether integrated pluralism is a subjective pluralism, which seeks to take into consideration only ethical religious normativity, or an objective one, which recognizes the normative impact of religious normative orders on their members.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Sept. 22, 2008). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 477-517).

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Questions regarding the fate of the unevangelized have been contemplated for centuries and now, in this post-Christian world, issues of the church's claim that Jesus is the unique Son of God have been added to the debate. Does God truly desire the salvation of all human beings? Is Jesus Christ the full and unequalled revelation of God? This work explores, through means of comparison and contrast, the theological positions of exclusivism, pluralism, and inclusivism. Particular attention is given to each school's history, biblical arguments, theological arguments, and convictions concerning the purpose of missions, as well as an evaluation of each school's position. The author concludes that while exclusivism maintains a high Christology and pluralism a wide-ranging salvation, only inclusivism adequately harmonizes these positions in a cogent manner. / Systematic Theology & Theological Ethics / M. Th. (Systematic Theology)

Text in English / No abstract provided / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Missiology)