Following up his Can Evangelicals Learn from Other Religions? , McDermott looks to the Bible for help with the question posed in his title.
[Page 64]. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
McDermott (religion, Roanoke Coll.; Can Evangelicals Learn from Other Religions? ) here begins from the position that God wants all the world to know his fullest truth, found in Jesus Christ. He next delineates four views of non-Israelite religion in Hebrew Scripture: neighborly pluralism, competitive pluralism, vehement missionary exclusivism, and cosmic warfare—views he claims are complementary because the rival gods were angelic powers who rebelled against the Creator. McDermott then turns to early Christians Paul, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Clement of Alexandria, who in various ways found a kind of spiritual truth in other religions that, to McDermott's mind, should ultimately prepare for Christian Gospel. McDermott concludes by stressing that followers of other religions are not enemies and may even provide Christians with helpful perspectives and even enlarge the Christian view of God; a few examples from Islam, Theravada Buddhism, philosophical Taoism, and Confucianism support this claim. Nevertheless, for McDermott, Christian truth remains the only road to salvation. Even if one cannot accept McDermott's reasoning or conclusions, his thought-provoking insights recommend this book for public, seminary, and undergraduate library collections.—Carolyn M. Craft, formerly with Longwood Univ., Farmville, VA
[Page 84]. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
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