Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

How it all began : history of two investigations of an obscure book -- Different ways of doing theology : why do the Episcopal magisterium and the theological magisterium often disagree? -- Divine spirit : is he/she/it present always and everywhere in human history? -- Jesus Christ, the unique and universal savior? possibility of an interreligious Christology -- Holy pagans in other holy religions : the salvific significance of non-Christian religions? -- Church and mission : walking together with other religions toward the kingdom of God -- Epilogue: the joy of religious pluralism.

In 2005 Peter Phan received a notification from the Vatican identifying "errors and ambiguities" in his book, Being Religious Interreligiously. This set in motion a long train of correspondence, requiring Phan to answer various questions about the salvific role of Christ and the Church. Here at last is his response--a spirited affirmation of the methods of Asian theology, which, though rooted in the gospel and the deposit of faith, differ in many respects from the assumptions and categories of traditional European theology. In addition to introducing Asian theology, Phan addresses the specific topic of religious pluralism, a source not simply of challenge to Christian self-understanding and mission, but a potential source of "joy." An appendix includes his fascinating correspondence with church authorities. (Publisher).