ABSTRACT:  Contra Tony Richie, J. H. King’s theology of religions proper was not “optimistic.”  “At its core,” it was pessimistic because he viewed the non-Christian faiths as products of demonic inspiration.  King’s theology of the humanly unreached, on the other hand, was inclusively hopeful, but he did not affirm the non-Christian religions as playing any role in the unevangelized accessing the atoning grace of Christ.