Other Religions
If an individual believer is asked to explain his or her religion, the
answers can be set out as an explanatory model. Having constructed
what we think is the logic of that person's faith it is important to check
back to see if we have got it right to the person's satisfaction.
And often an individual's explanation may not correspond to the model which
is officially adopted in the
statement of faith of that denomination. The two books, Religion:
Origins and Ideas and God of
Many Names illustrate how models can be used to explain the faith
of individual believers in various religions and ideologies. A clear
idea of the model one wants to commend is also very important in communicating
one's own faith. The following pieces approach the problem of understanding
other religions from various angles.