Exclusivism and evangelism in the second Vatican council : a critical reading of the second Vatican council`s documents in the light of the Ad Gentes and the Nostra Aetate

Abstract

One of the most intriguing issues in the study of religion in modem times is the spread of the idea of Religious Pluralism, which forces all religions to release their exclusive truth claim. A religion which holds an absolute truth claim is labeled as an `evil religion`, whereas in fact every religion has an exclusive truth claim. It is impossible for every religion to set the claim aside. Facing this global challenge of modernity, all religions, then are forced to reformulate their idea of truth and salvation, especially in regards to the view towards other religions. This study examines how Catholicism responded to this challenge of modernity by holding a council in 1962-1965, which later came to be known as `the Second Vatican Council, or `Vatican II`. This is the biggest council in the Catholic history. Some even claim that this is the most important religious event in the twentieth century. Vatican II has steered debate among and outside Catholic theologians, during and after the Council. Some commentators say that the Catholic Church has released her old dogma of exclusivism, claiming that there is no salvation outside the Church (extra ecclesiam nulla salus). But some argue that the dogma remains and is still defended. Based on the documents of Vatican II and post-Conciliar documents on evangelization, this study clarifies how the Catholic Church has renewed her view and attitude towards other religions and at the same time defended the exclusive view on truth and salvation. So, the dialogue and cooperation among religions as promoted by the Catholic Church in the post Vatican II era should be looked within historical and theological position of the Catholic Church.