By Father Jonathan Morris
FOX News Religion Contributor

I hope my revered colleague Cal Thomas will not be “shocked and appalled” to know I too count myself among the majority of Americans who believe “many religions can lead to eternal life”.

In an article on these pages earlier this week, Cal bemoaned the results of a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, in which Americans of assorted religious affiliation were asked to choose one of the following two sentences as coming closer to representing their views:

1) My religion is the one, true faith leading to eternal life,
2) OR: many religions can lead to eternal life.

Seventy percent of all responders chose answer #2, including fifty-seven percent of Evangelicals, Eighty-five percent of Mainline Protestants, and Seventy-five percent of Catholics.

Cal argued that theological ignorance, Bible illiteracy, and political correctness are to blame for so many Christians believing “there are many ways to salvation besides their own faith.” He was most disturbed by the high percentage of Evangelicals:

“Most disturbing of all is the majority of self-identified evangelical Christians who believe this,” he wrote. “Apparently they must think Jesus was a liar, or mistaken, when he said: “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me.”

I highly commend Cal for bringing to light the plague of irrational, politically-correct thinking which pervades most religious dialogue in America. Instead of seeking the truth by studying our own churches’ beliefs and critically comparing and contrasting them to the creeds of other churches, we prefer to pretend there are no differences at all. We are told tolerance and civility require us to say warm and fuzzy accolades think like, “If it’s true for you”; and “as long as you are happy”; and “all religions lead to the same place,” even though, deep down, we know none of these statements stands the test of logic. Certainly, not all religions can be equally true, for they contradict each other on some points. I wouldn’t even say all religions, just because they are religions, are necessarily good. Some may, in fact, be obstacles.

But I disagree with Cal’s assumption that belief in Jesus Christ’s claims of divinity excludes the possibility of followers of non-Christians religions from finding within their own traditions a participation in the same truth. Elements of goodness and truth found outside the structure of Christianity may still lead its followers in the right direction.

In other words, as a Catholic Christian, I believe the grace flowing from the redemptive act of the passion and death of Jesus Christ is capable of reaching out to all people of all places in ways we can never fully grasp. Christian belief in Jesus as the one mediator between God and man should not be understood as an eternal death sentence for the man born in a remote jungle who will never hear the name of Jesus. In God’s limitless creativity, he will always find ways to present himself as a gift to each of his beloved. It is fair to say, then, we are responsible to God in as much as God reveals himself to us.

This recognition of God’s power to use various and imperfect instruments of salvation shouldn’t undermine the value of sharing in a respectful manner one’s faith with others. If you know you have found something good, true, and beautiful, why would you not want your friend to have the same?

One last thought: if you are not sure if answer #1 or answer #2 of the Pew Forum survey most closely represents your own views, don’t worry. The formulation of the question was so theologically weak, it doesn’t deserve much consideration. We can believe our Church has got it right, without condemning everyone else to hell.

And all of this gives Cal Thomas and me another good excuse to share a meal and a lively discussion, next time I’m in the States.

God bless,

Father Jonathan

Father Jonathan Morris is author of the new book, “The Promise: God’s Purpose and Plan for when Life Hurts”. For information go to www.fatherjonathan.com