Dialogue Within And Between Religious Groups

Question 1

Exclusivism

Answer 1

• View that only one religion is true and the others necessarily false
• those who follow other faiths, those who reject the Christian faith or even those of other Christian denominations are destined for hell

Question 2

Inclusivism

Answer 2

Some Christians would say:

• God loves all creation and wouldn’t just allow salvation to Christians
• The parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46) says ‘the righteous [will go] into eternal life and says nothing about faith or belief

Inclusivists also believe that non-Christians can go to heaven

Question 3

Pluralism

Answer 3

Rejects the idea that God has revealed himself through Jesus Christ and that salvation can be obtained only through him

Believe that the Christian faith is just one of many valid responses to God

Question 4

Ecumenicalism and intra-faith communication

Answer 4

Ecumenicalism is the attempt to bring about unity of the Christian churches, about the different Christian churches cooperating in worship and working together to serve humanity

In 1948, 147 churches assembled in Amsterdam to form the world Council of churches WCC, today the world Council of churches consists of almost 350 churches, representing over half 1 billion Christians worldwide. Works in three areas:

• Setting up a community of different churches across the world
• working together for peace and helping people in need
• training people to continue intra-faith communication

Question 5

Not all Christians are in favour of Ecumenicalism

Answer 5

• Christian exclusivists find it hard to accept other denominations on equal terms
• some Christian churches are happy to remain distinct from other Christian groups
• some churches are concerned that Ecumenicalism Will make them less distinct from other Christian groups

Question 6

Inter- faith dialogue

Answer 6

It is an attempt to understand the differences between religions and respect them, while remaining true to one’s own Faith

Aims:

• to enable members of different faiths communities to form friendships and strengthen social ties
• providing opportunities to learn about each other’s beliefs, values and practices
• promoting multifaith events in local communities

Question 7

The importance of Inter- faith dialogue in 21st century Britain

Answer 7

Differences between religious groups have resulted in conflict

They have set up the Pontifical Council for interreligious dialogue (PCID) to:

• promote mutual understanding, respect and collaboration
• to encourage the study of religions

Question 8

Religion and national identity

Answer 8

Religions are still associated with some countries

The state of Israel is defined as a Jewish state

A theocracy is a country that is ruled by religious leaders for example Iran

Question 9

Proselytisation

Answer 9

• A requirement of their religion to tell others about their faith and convert them so that they become Christians

It is controversial because:

• christians who proselytise may call themselves evangelists
• The person who is being proselytised may feel that evangelism is an invasion of their privacy and does not respect the views they already hold
• there is tension, then, between freedom of expression, on the one hand, and freedom of belief on the other