Main idea
Here is the data:
In the US, one survey showed a quarter of adults (26%) say one religion may be true and almost half (48%) say many religions may be true (25% say there is little to no truth and 1% didn’t answer).
Adults ages 50 and older are more likely to say that many religions may be true and young adults are somewhat more likely to say there is little to no truth in any religion.
Most religions gain as many as they lose but Christians gain 1 and lose 6.
A second survey showed that 3 in 10 of adults say it is necessary to believe in God to be moral and have good values but 7 in 10 say it is possible without believing in God.
In addition, 55% of adults say whether something is right or wrong depends on the situation and 44% say there are clear and absolute standards.
3% of all U.S. adults say all religions are the same.
Here are the views:
Exclusivism: One religion is true and unbelievers cannot be saved.
“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life” (John 3:36, CSB).
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
“This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent — Jesus Christ” (John 17:3).
“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
“… when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:8).
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
Inclusivism: One religion is true but unbelievers can be saved.
“This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
“For this reason we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:10).
“He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).
Pluralism: Many religions are true and unbelievers can be saved.
No data.
Universalism: Believers and unbelievers will be saved.
“So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone” (Romans 5:18).
“For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).
“That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19-20).
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people” (Titus 2:11).
“But we do see Jesus — made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace he might taste death for everyone — crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death” (Hebrews 2:9).
“The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
What is an “unbeliever”?
An unbeliever is a person who does not believe in a particular religion or who believes in no religion at all.
Want to research more?