3F: Pluralism

Question 1

What is exclusivism?

Answer 1

the view that one’s own religion is the only way to salvation/liberation

Question 2

What is inclusivism?

Answer 2

the view that one’s religion is the ‘final’ way to salvation/liberation, but there may be other religions which have partial/incomplete truth

Question 3

What is religious pluralism?

Answer 3

the view that all religions, in different ways, reflect divine truth/ultimate reality

Question 4

Which denominations take an exclusivist view?

Answer 4

Baptist

Question 5

Which denominations take an inclusivity view?

Answer 5

Orthodox and Lutheran

Question 6

Which denominations appear positive towards people of other faiths?

Answer 6

Catholic and Anglican

Question 7

Summary of content from ‘Lumen Gentium’ (1964)

Answer 7

• Christ established the Church on Earth as a visible community of faith and charity
• The Church is seen as having a divine human aspect, like the incarnate Word
• The Church is one, holy, universal, and apostolic
• The organised structure of the Church is considered part of the spiritual community

Question 8

Is Lumen Gentium exclusivist, inclusivist, or pluralist?

Answer 8

Exclusivist: asserts that the Catholic church is the the primary and visible expression of the Church established by Christ

Question 9

Deuteronomy 6:5 (Exclusivist)

Answer 9

“and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart”
- emphasises the importance of devotion to God and a strong commitment to belief

Question 10

Joshua 23:16 (Exclusivist)

Answer 10

“if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God […] and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly”
- Joshua is warning the people of Israel about the consequences of turning away from the covenant with the Lord. if people forsake their commitment to worshipping one God and turn to other deities, they will lose their blessings associated with the Promised Land

Question 11

John 14:6 (Exclusivist)

Answer 11

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me”
- the only access to God is through belief in Christ

Question 12

Acts 4:12 (exclusivism?

Answer 12

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”
- there is no alternative means of salvation apart from faith in Christ

Question 13

Pros of the exclusive teaching the ‘Christ is the only Way to God’

Answer 13

• provides a clear pathway to salvation
• aligns with OT and NT teachings

Question 14

Cons of the exclusive teaching the ‘Christ is the only Way to God’

Answer 14

• religious pluralism
• could lead to tensions between different religious communities

Question 15

Roman Catholic Church’s responses to interfaith dialogue in ‘Redemptis Missio’

Answer 15

• embraces interfaith dialogue without conflict
• acknowledges truth in other religions: “a reflection of that truth with enlightens all people”
• affirms the Church’s role in salvation
• encourages staying true to beliefs and being open minded: “be open to understand those of the other party without close-mindedness”

Question 16

The Church of England’s responses to interfaith dialogue in ‘Sharing the Gospel of Salvation’

Answer 16

• emphasis on respect for others and open sharing of beliefs
• pursuit of common good is based on recognition that different groups sure the same word
• proclamation involves expressing the goodness of one’s beliefs
• open sharing is crucial: withholding essential aspects denies a path of God’s nature

Question 17

Key ideas on inclusivism

Answer 17

• middle path between exclusivism and pluralism
• salvation is possible for those who turn to Christian faith in the afterlife
• God’s omnibenevolence leaves salvation possible for non-Christians who follow him sincerely, albeit in the wrong religious context
• The truth found in other religions could still be from Christ, even if not recognised as such

Question 18

Karl Rahner’s view

Answer 18

• leading voice in Vatican II
• believed Christianity was founded on God’s unique revelation through Jesus and sets the standard by which other religions should be measured: it is absolute (but this would seem to exclude anyone from salvation who lived BC - this would not be compatible with an omnibenevolent God)
• God in Christ must be able to offer salvation to those who have not been able to freely accept Christ in faith, through no fault of their own
• Must be some partial truth in other religions
• Once someone has heard of salvation through Christ, they no longer have an excuse and should convert to Christianity
• Not a pluralist: he believed Christianity held the truth
• Christ can save people, even if people are unaware that this is Christ: eg people who devote themselves to service of others are following Christ’s example even if they don’t realise