Who is god in a world of religious difference?
Essay submitted for Theology II, April 2021 | Theologians mentioned: Kwok Pui-lan, Hans Kung, Jurgen Moltmann & Daniel Migliore - all required texts sourced for this essay.
Religious diversity’s implication from western society has enabled criticisms that coerce race, class, gender and cultural uniqueness to be white-washed by Christian standards (Kowk, 189). Reframing this language of religious diversity toward Kwok’s religious difference emphasizes the unique intersections of world religions (Kwok, 202-205). In reading Migliore’s types of Christian Theologies of the Religions, I found a paradoxical struggle of whiteness and power to maintain a hierarchy over the “other” (320-327). Kwok pushes theologians through paradox for coalition with the world’s different religions and cultural traditions for the sake of what God desires for us: human flourishing (208). Her post-colonial theology of religious difference calls to dismantle Christian imperialism in a mutuality that is not seeking commonality or acceptance of the status quo (Kwok, 192; Migliore, 324-326). If God is an unequivocal yes toward all humanity, I wonder how God would feel about the decades of westernized thought that has attempted to isolate and dissect God’s creation into hierarchal towers of authority (Migliore, 324; Kwok, 193). In light of this interpretation of religious diversity, God is a white God of power and oppression of whom I do not believe in. In light of Kwok’s religious difference, God is the God of creation who calls us to bring our gifts and spirit for the wellness of all – oppressed and oppressor. And my faith in this God rests in the divine mystery of God’s grace and love for all.
At mutuality’s core - dissected from power or alternative gain - lies a genuine interest to be in relationship with another. Hans Kung and Jurgen Moltmann paint a discourse of mutuality in sharing of religious practices and values held dear to those religions (Migliore, 326). However, as genuine as their commitments are to be vulnerable for dialogue, they still are focused on the justification of Christian supremacy through betterment of their own faith through the lens of other religions (Migliore, 326). Moltmann offers that “dialogue with other faiths can be a concrete expression of Christian life formed by the gospel.” If the gospel is of a God who is self-giving love and aims for justice and peace in creation, then Christ’s life provided in the gospel makes way for religious difference taking mutuality further than how does this benefit Christianity toward a true and moral concern for all (Migliore, 326). If Christ’s life and rebuke of religious systems’ oppressive tactics is the basis and norm of Christian life, then mutuality expands outside of “church” and into other religious spaces (326-327). Mutuality becomes not about hierarchal towers or who is right or wrong within their faith practice – but human flourishing.
If God seeks for humanity to be in companionship with one another, then religion is not be disembodied and those who practice their religion are not to be disembodied (Gen. 1: 26-31; 2:18-25). Kwok has shown us western theological thought has been in the business of disembodiment by centering Christian faith through acts of colonization and evangelism (189-197). Migliore genuinely tries to move western theological thought forward, but still refers to world religions outside of Christianity as “non-Christians” (344-345).
The Tower of Babel when viewed through an interpretative lens of rebuke of power, mirrors a world of religious difference in culture, race, gender, and sex (Gen. 11: 1-9). Perhaps having one language is an assimilation of power that God does not desire for us or over us. In light of religious diversity, God is against the masking of diversity to maintain power. Who is God in this world of religious difference? Creator of all who is grace-filled and humble in our human ability to choose how we show up, how we worship, how we pray, how we dress and who we love. God in light of this world of religious difference celebrates our uniqueness and invites us to bear witness in true mutual coalition for one another and aches when we falter.