I say that we should distinguish between four questions which have arisen in this “same god” controversy.
- Is naive pluralism true – the thesis that there are no important differences between Christianity and Islam?
- Are Christians and Muslims referring to the same being?
- Do Christians and Muslims worship the same being?
- Do all people in religions which officially reject Jesus go to Hell?
In addition, there’s an important ambiguity in “worship” in question 3; there are in effect two different questions there, depending on what is meant by “worship.”
In this episode I answer these questions and compare notes with six other Christians – five present-day and one historical – Hawkins, Mohler, Qureshi, Stackhouse, Watts, and John of Damascus.
Do you agree with my answers?
PS – Sorry about my voice in this episode! Can’t seem to shake this cough.
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Links for this episode:
- “Theories of Religious Diversity” (On theories of religious pluralism and their exclusivist and inclusivist rivals.)
- Dr. Larycia Hawkins
- Dr. Al Mohler, “Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?“
- Dr. Francis J. Beckwith, “Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?“
- Nabeel Qureshi, “Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?“
- Dr. John Stackhouse
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- Joel L. Watts, “Christians, Muslims, heresies, and “the same God”“
- This week’s thinking music is “I dunno” by grapes.
