The Role of the Cosmic Christ in God’s Universal Salvific Plan

This paper examines the Christology of Michael Amaladoss, particularly his understanding of the Cosmic Christ within God’s universal salvific plan. Situating Amaladoss within the context of Indian contextual theology and religious pluralism, the study explores his use of Advaitic philosophy, symbolic hermeneutics, and dialogical theology in articulating the relationship between Christianity and other religions. Amaladoss argues that God’s salvific activity extends beyond the historical Christ-event and is mediated through diverse religious traditions, which function as authentic paths of divine- human encounter. Central to his theology is the distinction, without separation, between the historical Jesus and the Cosmic Christ, whose universal presence transcends yet includes the incarnation. The paper critically assesses the theological implications of this position in relation to Chalcedonian Christology, Vatican II, and Dominus Iesus. While recognizing Amaladoss’ contribution to interreligious dialogue and contextual theology, the study questions whether his framework sufficiently preserves the unity of the one economy of salvation in Jesus Christ.