The religious landscape in Canada is changing. Encountering, working with, and living alongside those of other religious traditions is now a reality for most Canadians. For Christians, the growing religious diversity across Canada raises questions about how we can approach interfaith relationships, dialogue, and collaboration. In particular, Christians must consider our beliefs around salvation, witness to the gospel, and love of neighbour. The Commission on Faith and Witness (CFW) of the Canadian Counsil of Churches considered the topic of religious diversity between [dates], producing the resource Statement of the Commission on Faith and Witness on Religious Diversity (2010). This resource identifies three main approaches that Christians take to religious diversity: exclusivism, expansive-inclusive, and religious pluralism. The Statement of the Commission on Faith and Witness on Religious Diversity expands on each of these three approaches in consideration of the questions outlined above. Additionally, this resource offers some insight into moving forward faithfully as we live into this largely unresolved area of theology. 

This resource may be used: 

• For small-group study to better understand their own and others’ approaches to religious diversity; 

• By churches interested in engaging with other faith communities in joint endeavors; 

• For consideration by Christians engaging with non-Christians in sharing the gospel; 

• For consideration by worship leaders who may be planning inter-religious services (for instance, for Remembrance Day, vigils in response to a crisis or tragedy in the community, or an interreligious marriage). 

For additional resources, see the document Who Is My Neighbour? (2010), published by the Christian Interfaith Reference Group. See also, Religious Plurality and Self-Understanding (2006) produced by the World Council of Churches. Episodes 3, 6, and 15 of the podcast Faith & Witness also discuss this topic.  

For insights into specific churches’ positions, please see the Denominational Statements.  

We would also like to acknowledge the complexity in dialogues surrounding religious diversity. We do not come to these discussions as neutral observers but as participants with our own beliefs, positionalities, and biases. Many contributors to this topic spoke of hesitancy to engage with this topic, having come to Canada from parts of the world where Christianity is persecuted. On the other hand, we must also acknowledge where Christianity has erred in engaging with other religious and cultural traditions. In our Canadian context, we are mindful of the harmful intergenerational impacts of colonization and the residential school system.