No Other Gospel!: Christianity Among the World’s Religions. By Carl E. Braaten. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992. 146 pp. Paper, $10.95.
No Other Gospel is a theological response to religious pluralism. Braaten is intimately acquainted with pluralist, liberal, neo-orthodox, and orthodox views of Christ. Through a series of papers that were later put together for this book, Braaten deals with various issues relevant to the place of Christianity among the world’s religions. Braaten makes it clear that he believes that salvation is obtained in Christ alone through faith alone.
The pluralist camp, led by John Hick and Paul Knitter, feels that religion should be God-centered as opposed to Christ-centered. According to this model all religions revolve around God on an equal footing. This is accomplished by omitting all that is unique to the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ ends up being just a man, different from us only in degree, not in essence.
Braaten suggests that Christians respond to these religions with a view toward dialogue and looking within these religions themselves for ways in which we can better share Christ with them.
Although this book is theological in its purpose, it would have been helpful if the author had included a chapter on apologetics. The case for an objective knowledge of history, the historicity of the Gospels, and the resurrection of Christ includes strong evidence against non-orthodox views of Christianity. This book is a very helpful study of world religions and Christianity; it should be read by anyone considering this issue.
R. Michael Duffy
Editorial Board
Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Dallas, TX