The "New" Comparative Theology as New Frontier in Interreligious Engagement and Christian Witness

Abstract

This paper argues that the ‘new’ comparative theology is a mission practice at the frontiers of evangelical missiology that accords well with a 'truth pursued' approach to evangelism and mission. To make my case, I explore the need for comparative theology, considering the persistence of non-Christian religions; its history and distinguishing features, defined by a ‘bold humility’ toward religious Others; its function as a mission practice facilitating two-way contextualization; and its potential as a form of Christian witness, illustrated through an example of the ‘new’ comparative theology in the longstanding Christian-Muslim debate about the nature of divine revelation.