J.H. King and a Pentecostal Theology of Religions and Interreligious Ecumenism: Lessons Learned and Suggestions for Future Research

Abstract

The 2007-2010 Journal of Pentecostal Theology debate between Tony Richie and me about J.H. King’s theology of religions focused on both historical theology and constructive-theological method relative to the use of King’s writings as a resource for developing a twenty-first century Pentecostal theology of religions. For me, two major lessons emerged which suggest that future study of King’s and perhaps other early Pentecostal thinkers’ theology of religions will need to be especially attentive to at least two broad tasks: careful historical research and pursuit of a common and precise inclusivist terminology by collaborating scholars. This work is necessary because it relates directly to the issue of the extent of King’s pertinence for the construction of both a Pentecostal theology of religions and a Pentecostal theology and praxis of interreligious ecumenism. If King was merely an accessibilist-inclusivist, and I firmly believe that was the case, then his relevance is greatly diminished.