Between Mystery and Magisterium: A Critical Reading of Gavin D'Costa's Pneumatological Theology of Interreligious Dialogue

This project critically analyses Gavin D’Costa’s pneumatological theology of interreligious dialogue, giving special attention to the subtle shifts he makes during its development and application. It is often argued that a pneumatological approach to interreligious dialogue opens doors to the religious ‘other’, and this appeal to the universal presence of the Holy Spirit in the non-Christian religions allows Gavin D’Costa to acknowledge elements of truth in these religions and even to accord them some role in the process of salvation.
Interestingly, in recent works D’Costa has shown an insistence on the right of the Magisterium to delimit the truth which may or may not be actually contained in these religions. This could be seen as response to the rampant criticism that he lacks biblical and doctrinal sources. But then it raises the serious question of whether D’Costa combines this appeal to pneumatology and his insistence on Magisterium successfully without jeopardising his whole project - either ending up in a fundamental contradiction or failing in the pneumatological appraisal of the other.