Development I: Pluralism and theology Flashcards
1
Q
3 main positions in chr
A
- exclusivism
- inclusivism
- pluralism
2
Q
exclusivism definition and its 2 types
A
- Chr is the only route to salvation
—> restricted access exclusivism
—> universal access exclusivism
3
Q
definition of restricted AE
A
- view that one is selected by God for salvation by Christ in this life, and those who don’t believe in Christ are damned
4
Q
key details of RAE- scholar - John Calvin
A
- (as described by John Barton): “God not only saves without humans desert but also damns without fault”
—> salvation through God’s grace alone so anyone who doesn’t accept God’s grace is damned —> believes in doctrine of double predestination
5
Q
RAE- scholar: William Lane Craig
A
- “anyone who would receive Christ has the opportunity to do so”
—> theory of ‘middle knowledge’: God knows everything + ensures the gospel is available to those who will respond. If people have no access to gospel it is bc God knew they wouldn’t have responded anyways
6
Q
RAE scholar: Carl Henry
A
- (as described by D’Costa): “we should stand in awe and thanks at God’s merciful, free, undeserved gift of his son”
—> answers the issue of the inculpably ignorant: pre-christian jews and unbaptised children will be saved
7
Q
key features of RAE:
A
- they believe one must hear and respond to the gospel of christ in this life
- christ died only for the elect and everyone else is going to hell: “no one comes to the father except through me”
-believe God is a God of justice and mercy, by only saving those who respond to christ and that justice demands that everyone deserves damnation
8
Q
+ve of RAE
A
- Carl Henry: overcomes the issue of the inculpably ignorant: pre-christ jews and unbaptised young children will be saved because “they have belonged to the channel of revealed religion”
- RAE fits with the Chr doctrine of necessary conditions first salvation: fides ex audito (hearing the gospel is necessary for faith) and Sola Christus (God’s grace can be found through christ alone)
9
Q
-ve of RAE
A
- Catholics reject it: god “desires all men to be saved” —>dismissing idea that we could be predestined for evil
—> CA: RAE may argue the ‘all’ in ^ quote means all the elect — BUT catholics reject this idea bc they argue the idea of being predestined for evil and christ only coming for the elect is dismissed
(catholics categorised as UAE) - inculpably ignorant
- denial of free will
- denying God’s omnibenevolence
10
Q
definition of UAE
A
- salvation is only available through Christ, but the opportunity to accept christ may be at or after death
11
Q
key details of UAE
A
- looks at what happens to those born before christ and have had no access to the gospel in their lives —> it would be difficult to accept that these people are subject to eternal punishment - nor would this be the will of a just God
- some recognise the ‘middle knowledge’ idea where God already knows who will accept the gospel…
- believe there are methods aside from faith and baptism that prepare one for salvation - like through natural law, conscience or elements of faiths through other religions
- official catholic position
12
Q
UAE scholar Karl Barth
A
- “the revelation of God as the Abolition of religion” - implying other religions can go to heaven
- only way God can be revealed to sinful humans is through God’s own offer of grace- only those who he chooses
- as only Chr revelation is true then the truth claims of other religions should be abolished —> The trinity is uniquely christians + makes it clear that Chr alone has exclusivist access to this knowledge
13
Q
UAE scholar D’Costa
A
- arg this is the most valid approach for Chr to the issue of a multi-religious society
- args UAE is the one that fits best w/ Chr teaching because of its idea that salvation is available post-mortem
- argues that Catholicism supports UAE because salvation is possible for a non-chr if they fulfil requirements like responding to their own religion, good works and truth:
—> Vatican council: “through no fault of their own, have not yet attained to the express recognition of God, yet who strive… to lead an upright life”
14
Q
UAE: roman catholic church
A
- “God our saviour, who desires all men to be saved”
—> salvation only available to all-non chr after death if they’ve fulfilled the requirements- i.e. responded to their own religion
15
Q
-ve of RAE
A
- RAE position presents an unloving God
- lacks consistency- vatican II argues that non-christian religions have “rays of truth” and are sufficient for salvation but Dominos Lesus argues: extra ecclesial nulla saus (without being a member pf the church, they rays of truth are deficient for salvation )
- RAE is the cause of Chr imperialism (chr have caused persecution on other Chr for not believing their version of the truth)
16
Q
inclusivism definition and its 2 types
A
- view that, although Christianity is the normative means of salvation, ‘anonymous’ Christians may also receive salvation.
- structural inclusivism
- restrictive inclusivism