The Christian Message in a Non-Christian World

Hendrik Kraemer's The Christian Message in a Non-Christian World argues that Christianity, as a cultural product, has no inherent points of contact with other religions. Kraemer distinguished between Christianity itself and its empirical, cultural manifestations, asserting that only the former is influenced by the Gospel. This perspective, while impactful in missionary circles, has been criticized for potentially hindering interreligious dialogue.1

The book emerged during a period of significant global interaction between Christianity and other religions, particularly after World War II. As former mission churches became independent in newly autonomous Asian and African states, the need for cooperation between Christian minorities and their non-Christian citizens became more pressing. This era also saw the rise of Asian religions in the West and a growing academic study of religion, prompting Christianity to engage in discussions with non-Christian traditions.2