One of the first hurdles that many Christians experience when they begin learning about and dialoguing with other religions is the question of salvation.  Often, this is because the framework that they have learned to use to interpret non-Christian religions is defined by two specific and overarching claims:  first, belief in Jesus Christ (and baptism into that faith) is required for salvation; and second, all Christians are called to share their faith with the hope of converting others to Christianity (the traditional, even if perhaps not quite accurate, interpretation of what is typically called “the Great Commission” in Matthew 28:16-20).  Consequently, immediate discomfort can result when Christians are asked to think more positively and constructively about another religion:  What does that mean for their own commitment to the Christian faith?  What does that mean for the exclusive claim about Jesus’ salvific action?   When looked at through the lens of salvation, interreligious dialogue can feel very threatening and uncomfortable, especially in the context of theological education.

In case you didn’t know, “envy” is one of the seven deadly sins—a categorization that has been around in the Christian church for millennia, and also gets lots of play in popular culture.  [Did you see the movie “Seven”?  Some of those images still play in my head at night!]  Envy is more dangerous than it sometimes appears at first glance, because of its insidious nature:  you start by wanting someone else’s job, then you want her life, then you get mad that she has that job and that life [certainly, she is undeserving and ungrateful], and finally you start wishing ill on her and taking pleasure in her missteps.  Envy gets ugly fast…