Religious Exclusivism, Social Inclusion: Missiological Reflections

Abstract

Based on the material of this volume, the present chapter examines the ‘so what?’ question central for reflections. By doing so, it proposes two major areas for further attention and research: 1) theology and people of other faiths/ideologies (apostasy) and 2) theological engagement with social exclusion, especially through the notion of loneliness (intergenerationality, immigration, and internetization). The chapter argues that in order to look afresh at the ‘theologically exclusive–socially inclusive’ pairing, a contextual approach to practices of exclusion and inclusion is needed. It also reminds the reader that the tension inherent to the religious exclusivism–social inclusion divide invites any Christian theological reflection to dwell on the notion of sin to which practices of exclusion and inclusion relate.