Religious Pluralism, Doctrinal Contradiction, and the Biblical Witness to Christ: A Sola Scriptura Comparative-Theological Analysis

Abstract

Religious pluralism is often presented as a generous account of global religious diversity, yet its stronger theological forms frequently understate the depth of doctrinal contradiction among living traditions. This article offers a conservative Sola Scriptura comparative-theological analysis of religious disagreement by examining Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hindu traditions, Buddhism, Sikhism, traditional religions, and secular humanism as a religiously functioning worldview. Methodologically, the study is a doctrinal and theological-apologetic essay rather than an empirical survey. It draws on primary texts and representative scholarly sources to describe each tradition in its own terms before evaluating its central claims through the grammatical-historical and canonical interpretation of Scripture. The article argues that the disagreements among mainstream religions are not peripheral disputes over ritual, culture, or spiritual vocabulary, but concern ultimate reality, creation, anthropology, sin, revelation, salvation, Christology, death, judgment, and final destiny. In response to pluralist, inclusivist, relativist, and universalist accounts of religious truth, the article contends that Scripture presents an irreducibly particular witness: one living Creator, one fallen humanity, one incarnate Son, one sufficient atonement, one bodily resurrection, one mediator, one gospel of grace, and one final judgment. Particular exegetical attention is given to John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 9:27–28, and 1 Corinthians 15 as texts that bear decisive theological weight for Christian exclusivity. The article further distinguishes doctrinal critique from contempt for persons, insisting that biblical faithfulness requires truthful representation, neighbor-love, non-coercive witness, and humility. It concludes that Jesus Christ’s divine identity, cross, resurrection, mediatorship, and coming judgment constitute the decisive dividing line between biblical Christianity and rival accounts of salvation and ultimate reality.