ABSTRACT
The reasons people gave for their puzzlements with the traditional soteriological language are many and various. Puzzlement arises from the fundamental soteriological claim that the cross reconciles God and estranged humanity. The data show that at least one woman rejects the traditional sacrificial view of atonement because it suggests both a sadistic God and divine child abuse, and others is clearly troubled by it. As some academic theologians argue that the language of traditional atonement theology is still usable and continues to contain rich treasures of meaning for Christian thinking about the cross. Academic theology seeks to understand how the cross can be an answer to the problem of sin and suffering. Many contemporary theologies stress that the whole of Jesus life is important for soteriology. Three broad approaches to the Christian understanding of the relation between Christianity and other religious traditions are usually identified, namely exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralism.
