Another outstanding post, Prudence, thanks very much for this. I also appreciate the answers you have provided to those posing questions on this.

Like Graham, I'm interested in your Hindu take on Jesus as guru. As a more or less orthodox Christian, I do hold to the historical life, death and resurrection of Jesus. I believe those who so easily dismiss the lake of historicity for the most part (Graham excluded) have not looked seriously at the arguments on a purely historical basis. I am not going to try to repeat those but for those interested, C.S. Lewis, William Lane Craig, NT Wright and others have provided some strong arguments. For my part, if you believe in a creator God, which I do, why would it be so difficult for one who is capable of bringing this universe into existence from nothing to restore life to one who has died, or provide a new form of bodily life as Jesus demonstrated?

Despite this belief, and despite being raised in an exclusivist environment as you so effectively describe, I am far closer to your pluralistic approach. Thanks again for a most interesting piece.