Christianity, migration and religious pluralism Flashcards
1
Q
Migration and multicultural communities
Multiculturalism
A
The presence of, or support for the presence of several distinct cultures or ethnic groups in society
2
Q
Migration and multicultural communities
Migration
A
The movement of large numbers of people from one place to another
3
Q
Migration and multicultural communities
Religious diversity
A
The fact that there are significant differences in religious beliefs and practices within a society
4
Q
Migration and multicultural communities
Religious Pluralism
A
A situation where poeple of different faiths live in the same society as one another without conflict and show respect for one another
5
Q
Migration and multicultural communities
Diversity of faiths in Britain today
A
2021 census showed that:
* 13.1% decrease in those identifying themselves as Christian
* A rise in those of no religion by 12%
* 6.5% rise in those identifying as Muslim
* Some areas of Britain e.g. the North West are still monocultural with immigrants tending to settle in communities together, whilst cities tend to have the most diversity
6
Q
Migration and multicultural communities
Freedom of religion as a human right in European law
A
- The Human Rights Law states that ‘everyone has the right to the freedom of thought, conscience and religion’
- Adding in Article 9: ‘Freedom to manifest ones religion or beliefs’
- In British Law in the 1988 Human Rights Act ratifies these ideals and allows religious pluralism by making it illegal to attempt to restrict the practice of religion
7
Q
Migration and multicultural communities
Religious pluralism as a feature of modern secular states and its influence on Christian thought
A
- Secular state: A country where the government, legal system and society are independent from the teaching of religion
- Social cohesion: A situation where different cultures work together, forging a national identity
- Assimilated: when one culture of religious system is totally absorbed by another, losing its distinctive quality
- Britain is a multi-cultural, secular state. Multiculturalism threatens social cohesion as there is no common identity
- A lack of assimilation of immigrant cultures can lead to isolation and discrimination
- Some practices that are part of other cultures and religions are illegal in the UK, causing tensions e.g. FGM and forced marriages
- Multiculturalism tends to claim that no culture is better than another however this is at odds with religious adherents which has as its core beliefs that the particular religion offers the best way to live
- Religious pluralism can work in terms of different practices but is problematic in terms of different beliefs. Certain teachings are incompatible in different religions e.g. Christians see Jesus as the incarnation of God and the Saviour of the world, while Muslims regard him as a prophet, entirely human and second to Mohammed in importance
8
Q
Migration and multicultural communities
Britain as multicultural
A
- Britain has been a multicultural society for centuries as a result of successive invasions as well as Jewish communities settling here as early as the 13th century
- Overseas trade opened up Britain to immigrants fromthe Muslim world and the Far East
- However, multiculturalism and religious diversity only became a recognised feature in the late 20th century
- 21st century European migration increased with the expansion of the EU along with mass migrations from countries on the basis of war e.g. Syria, corruption, poverty and climate change e.g. Africa
9
Q
Migration and multicultural communities
Responses to immigration have been negative …
A
- Responses to immigration have been negative in the past as well as present times among some groups of society
- People arriving with different traditions, cultures and faiths have been seen as a threat to British culture
- In 1968 the politican Enoch Powell delivered an infamous ‘Rivers of blood’ speech in which he spoke about Britain being ‘swamped’. He warned that if the legislation proposed for the then race relations bill were to be passed it would bring about discrimination against the native population and argued that immigration must be controlled
- In more recent times, political parties e.g. the English Defence League have been openly hostile to immigration
- However, most Britons have been horrified at such openly racist attitudes and most have embraced multiculturalism regarding it as having enriched society and have sought respect, tolerance and equal opportunities for all irrespective of race or religion
10
Q
Pluralism and John Hick
Religious pluralism
A
- Views Christianity as one way to God amongst others
- All are equally valid paths to God with non ‘truer’ than another
- If you are born into a particular faith tradition, conversion to another faith is unecessary
11
Q
Pluralism and John Hick
Contribution of John Hick
A
- For centuries the church believed in Christ as the centre of the religious universe and that all world religions were circling Christianity
- Instead we should realise that Christianity like other religions, is circling an ultimate reality. We need to move from a christocentric universe to a theocentric one
- Hick accused theologians of creating their own epicycles- adjustments of their previous insistence of Christianity as the only truth- when they recognised spirituality outside the Christian faith
- Rahners anonymous christians was tantamount to an epicyle- a desperate, complicated reworking of theology in a vain attempt to preserve the distinctive truth of Christianity
- Inclusivist approach is in reality an exclusivist approach in saying that one still needed to be saved through the Church (catholics) or Christ
- If it were true that Christianity were greater truth we would expect Christians to demonstrate greater morality and saintliness than adherents to other religions
- Once it is recognised that there is truth elsewhere, leading to fulfilled lives it makes more sense to abandon the first model and adopt a new, clearer and more coherent one- all religions equally lead to an ultimate reality
12
Q
Pluralism and John Hick
Pluralistic Universalism
A
- Hick used the analogy of refracted light from the sun, suggesting that universal divine presence is refracted by our different cultures into the spectrum of different faiths
- Hick used the Buddhist parable of the blind men feeling the elephant and describing it in different ways according to which part of the anatomy they had access to
- Different accounts of God are merely refractions of partial insights into the ultimate reality which can never be fully known
- He concluded then that right doctrine was insiginificant but that, influenced by Iraneus theodicy all could be saved and be with God eternally
- Hick embraced the term ‘soul making’, arguing that for continued moral and spiritual development in the afterlife. This allowed for everyone to ultimately fulfil their potential
- Hick believed that religious experience was more important than scriptures or tradition which bred absolutism and intolerance
- Biggest stumbling block for Christians is the incarnation (demands exclusivism). Instead of seeing Jesus as ‘God man’ he saw him as a human on a spiritual journey and reaching a God level of consciousness. This enables Christians to see Jesus as an example that they can follow who opens the reality of God for them
13
Q
Pluralism and John Hick
Criticisms of pluralism
A
- Arguing that differences between religions are insignificant is problematic e.g. the Hindu belief in karma and reincarnation is incompatible with the Christian belief in resurrection
- Most Christians reject universalism and see judgement and the reality of heaven and hell as biblical as well as just
- The idea of soul making continuing after this life arguably makes morality here and now unimportant and the death of Jesus unecessary
- Most religions see their religion as true and therefore would reject Hick’s dismissal of their doctrines and insistence that theirs is merely a flawed attempt to connect with the divine on an equal footing with other religions
14
Q
How Christian denominations regard each other
Never been uniformity in the Church
A
- First major division came about in the Great Schism of 1054: separation of the churches in the East and West
- Western Church became known as the catholich church and used Latin and the Eastern church became known as the Orthodox church
- Reformation in the 16th century by Martin Luther split the Catholic Church into Catholics and protestants
- Disagreements between denominations have typically led to tensions and claims to being truer to the Christian faith than others or even that other Churches are outside the Christian Church entirely
15
Q
How Christian denominations regard each other
Catholic Church
A
- ‘One true Church’ on the basis of Apostolic tradition and succession
- Since Vatican II the Church has adopted an inclusivist approach to other Christian denominations
- THese are regarded as reflecting aspects of the Christian faith, but leadership in these churches carries no authority and Holy Communion is not the sacrament they celebrate
