The Challenge from the Non-Christian Religions

The Challenge from the Non-Christian Religions

It is often said that our age is one of increasing materialism, which has resulted in the widening the gap between the rich and the poor. And this has also resulted in a revolt against all forms of religion. Sometimes these are associated with political movements and politicians use these occasions for their own ends. A combination of politics and religion produces a compound of immense dynamic energy. This has been the case again and again in the history of the church. A typical example is the Reformation period. In Africa we find many of the non-Christian religions, in alliance with political movements, asserting their claims with fresh vigor.
They bring a challenge that is both positive and negative. On the one hand they deny the claim of Christianity to be the final or even the highest – type of religion; on the other hand they invite Christians to join with them in resisting the advance of materialism unfair trade, civil wars and ethnic tensions, HIV Aids2
Other Religions refusal to admit the superiority of Christianity
The main tradition of Christendom has always claimed that the Christian religion is not only superior to all others, but is final and absolute truth for all time. This claim has, indeed never been admitted by the adherents of other faiths. In 1862, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, founder of Aligarh Muslim University, published a Mahomedan commentary on the Bible at Ghazipur. He commented that ‘We Mohammedans hold that Jesus Christ is honorable in this world, and in the world to come…The Apostles of Christ were inspired men…The Injeel (Gospels) are all true and sacred records, proceeding primarily from God.’3 In 1922 Syed Ahmer Ali maintained that in every department of life the teaching and example of Muhammad is superior to that of Jesus Christ. Sir Md. Iqbal has affirmed that while European (Christian) ideas are today hindering the progress of humanity, Islam alone points the true way of advance.4