Christ the Fulcrum of Salvation: A Theological and Missiological Exploration of Redemption in a Religiously Plural World

This article undertakes a theological and missiological exploration of the uniqueness of the Christ-event in relation to the diverse soteriological frameworks of the world’s major religions. From nirvana in Buddhism to moksha in Hinduism, and resurrection hope in Judaism, each tradition articulates the human quest for transcendence and liberation. Against this pluralistic backdrop, the article posits the Christ-event – encompassing the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection – as the universal axis of salvation, revealing both God’s initiative and humanity’s destiny. Drawing on Scriptural sources, historical developments, and contemporary theological discourse, the study holds the singularity of Christ not as an exclusionary claim but as the fulfilment of humanity’s deepest spiritual aspirations. The article engages both classical formulations and recent voices in missiology and Christology – including Jacques Dupuis, Peter Phan, Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, and Kristin Colberg – to build a dialogical theology that affirms Christ’s universality without negating the dignity and religious experiences of others. It argues that the Church’s mission today must hold together fidelity to the unique salvific role of Christ with openness to the Spirit’s work beyond ecclesial boundaries. Through respectful theological comparison, the article proposes a paradigm wherein Christ is not contrasted but contextualized—present as the hidden Logos in every authentic pursuit of salvation.