God created all human beings in His image, which means that all human beings are a reflection of His will. This is perhaps the most important thesis that reflects Western Christianity’s absolute position on alternative religions. The critical document that canonized the Pope’s view is the Vatican Declaration, also called Nostra Aetate.
The fundamental material offered for the study is full of meanings and sub-themes, but its most crucial thesis can be defined as the Catholic Church’s desire to establish favorable relations with all world religions. If one discusses this thesis more specifically, one should focus on the document’s discussion of the historically complex relationship between Christianity and the Jews (NA, 4). Despite this controversy, however, the Pope urges both sides to reconcile. An ambiguous relationship is also discussed for Muslim philosophy and Christianity. Again, the Pope acknowledges an attempt to reconcile the two religions through an open expression of friendliness on the part of Catholicism (NA, 3). With regard to Buddhism as the fourth world religion, however, no particular phrases are put forward, but it is summarized that Christianity recognizes the sanctity of this religion (NA, 1). Moreover, Nostra Aetate discusses the commonality of the ultimate goals of the two movements, namely, the search for answers to questions “…deeply stir the hearts of men” (NA, 1).
In general, this important idea stems from the second central thesis of the entire work. The Pope points to the common origin of all men and the belief in something divine that can govern all life (NA, 1). Even apart from the detailed discussion, this allows us to identify a clear position on non-Christian cultures, namely, recognizing them as partners. Finally, a third important thesis is a conclusion that Christians should “…maintain good fellowship among the nations…” (NA, 5). This helps define the Vatican’s view of any episodes of discrimination and lack of respect for people (created in the image of God) on the basis of race, ideology, or faith.
Reference
NA. (1965). Vatican.