Continuity or change? A quest for a relevant Christology in the Malaysian multi-religious society

Contextual theology has been reckoned as a necessity in the Asian Churches today. The context of religious plurality in Asia inevitably leads to the discussion of Jesus Christ in relation to other religions of Asia. Should Christians maintain the classical understanding of Christ as God's only incarnation and only way of salvation? Many contemporary Asian theologians have adopted a theology of religious pluralism and suggested a different interpretation of Christ in relation to other religions in Asia. Some Western theologians have developed their own approach to religious plurality as well.; This study, as an historical investigation, seeks to evaluate whether a classical understanding of Christology is still relevant in a multi-religious society such as Malaysia or whether, as the recent growing critique of pluralistic theologians assert it is not.; It is commonly believed that Christology for the present needs to be done in dialogue with Christian traditions of the past because it is the same Jesus Christ whom the Christian communities struggle to present. Because of the similarities of their situation with the Asian context, this study begins with an examination of the positions on revelation, incarnation, and salvation in Christ, as developed by four apologists, in their dealing with religious plurality. It then goes on to examine concrete historical encounters of Christianity with different religions in Asia, particularly in China. Next the positions of contemporary Asian theologians such as C. S. Song and Stanley Samartha are analyzed, and finally, recommendations are made for what is relevant and irrelevant for the Malaysian context.; This dissertation suggests that a theology of religious pluralism as proposed by both contemporary Asian theologians and Western theologians is not a better choice for the Malaysian Christians than traditional Christology. On the contrary, Malaysian Christians find themselves in a similar situation to that of the apologists; therefore, they have much to learn from them in relating to other religious traditions.