Does Theological Pluralism Undermine Central Christian Beliefs?

Question 1

One of the strongest objections to ? is that it seems to undermine central Christian beliefs.

Answer 1

Pluralism.

Question 2

? lists aspects of traditional Christianity that he felt were “either quite untenable or open to serious doubt”, the:

• Idea that there are divinely revealed truths.
• Idea that God created the universe out of nothing.
• Doctrine of the Fall.
• Idea of Christ coming to save people from their fallen state.
• Doctrine of the Virgin Birth.
• Belief that Jesus performed miracles that suspended the laws of nature.
• Belief that people must have explicit faith in ? to be saved.
• Belief that the point of death “?” someone’s eternal destiny.

Answer 2

Hick.
Christ.
Fixed.

Question 3

Hick thought that all of these ideas need to be understood as ?-?, mythological ways of expressing the human relationship with God, and can’t be taken literally.

Answer 3

Non-cognitive.

Question 4

It’s difficult for a ? to assert that salvation can be found in all religions while still holding on to many traditional Christian doctrines.

Answer 4

Pluralist.

Question 5

Hick argued that doctrines such as those he lists aren’t central to a relationship with God, but are examples of religious beliefs and practices that belong in the realm of the ? rather than the ?

Answer 5

Phenomenal.

Noumenal.

Question 6

For Hick, the central Christian belief of the love of God isn’t lost or undermined by a ? position. Instead, in his view, the central Christian belief in a God of unconditional love’s undermined by the phenomena of traditional Christian doctrine.

Answer 6

Pluralist.

Question 7

Some writers criticised Hick as he explains that human religion is ? and flawed and that we’re able to see things as they really are, but proceeds to tell us how things really are when he argues that all religions essentially lead to the same end goal. It’s as though he’s claiming insight of a “?-? ?”, hidden from everyone else. His critics argue that the Bible contains God’s revelation and can be trusted more than Hick’s assessment of reality.

Answer 7

Phenomenal.

Bird’s-eye view.

Question 8

Panikkar’s version of pluralism might be considered less undermining of traditional Christian beliefs, as he emphasises God’s revelation in Christ and he doesn’t suggest discarding any traditional Christian doctrines. However, ? encouragement to people to be open to the truths of other religions might seem to undermine the ? that there’s no salvation outside the Christian Church.

Answer 8

Panikkar’s.

Doctrine.