pluralism and theology Flashcards
exclusivism
Epistemological: to what extent may the truth claims of non-Christian religions also be considered true within Christian theology?
Soteriological: Can people of non-Christian religions or who hold no religious belief receive God’s salvation?
Other religions cannot lead people to the relationship with God required for salvation.
The RAE view argues that salvation is only possible via trust in Jesus Christ and that anyone without such faith will be damned to hell
John 14:6:Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - Jesus is ‘the truth’ – implying other religions are false.
Fides ex auditu: the belief that true faith is only possible through hearing the Gospel as witnessed in the Bible and preached by the Church.
Kraemer - just because other faiths teach comparable principles to those of Christianity, such as treating others as you would like to be treated, doesn’t guarantee their spot in heaven.
responsibility - engage in missionary work in order to ensure that as more people can find salvation.
Pope John Paul II’s “Redemptoris Missio”
“The Church is the ordinary means of salvation”
“Inter-religious dialogue is a part of the Church’s evangelising mission”
Crucially for Karl Barth, “through God alone may God be known.” He argues this as God’s self revelation through Christ was unique and so is the only reliable way to have genuine knowledge of God
Barth argues for the doctrine of the Trinity as being uniquely Christian (and emphasises that any knowledge of God must come from God’s special revelation in Jesus)
- fundamental distinyuishing factors of christianity
criticism of exclusivism
suggests any Christian, regardless of who they are, has entrance to heaven, which is excessively simplistic and might give a place in heaven to those who don’t deserve it
unfair - have never heard of christianity/ lived before jesus)
for Augustine Christianity being the only means to salvation does not go against God’s nature as God offering salvation to anyone at all is a sign of love as Augustine believes we are all tainted with original sin and so do not deserve it.
Calvinists respond that, as humans are inherently sinful (original sin), God is under no obligation to save anyone. However, as he is a just and loving God there are some whom he does elect because of their virtuous and devoted lives – the notion of double predestination.
Jesus died for the sake of all of humanity regardless of faith so all of humanity should be able to reap the awards of his sacrifice
UAE
This view differs from RAE when interpreting St Paul’s claim that ‘in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself.’
Jesus’ salvation restored humanity and God wishes to save everyone. People will have the chance to convert at death
1 Timothy - “desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” - refute the idea of limited election
Barth - Jesus’ death redeems humanity, so as a whole has the potential to be saved (but potential must still be actualised by accepting Jesus’ sacrifice and by having faith
Romans - “if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord… then you will be saved”
This allows God to remain all-loving while still upholding Christianity and the significance of Jesus
inclusivists
catholic church is inclusivist because recognises ‘rays of truth’??
Christianity is the only real religion but members of other faiths may be anonymous Christians
Karl Rahner - exclusivism did not seem compatible with an omnibenevolent and all-wise Godm(structural inclusivism)
anonymous Christiansas they respond to the Christian God’s revelation in the world and receive his Grace in their religion, though they have no awareness of this.
Rahner takes Heidegger’s concept of ‘being’ and gives it a distinctly theological twist.
existential oppeness to grace - It is in reflecting on ‘being’ or existence, argues Rahner, that we encounter the unfathomable experience of God’s infinite grace, which is the source of ‘being’.
finds a middle ground between exclusivism’s intolerance and the necessity of upholding Christianity and the significance of Jesus Christ.
Explains the fact that many great religions encourage people to act selflessly, lovingly and charitably to one another - these structures create an openness to being and grace
- Compatible with the experience of grace and gods omnibenevolence
- Consistent with the Bible -ACTS Paul in Athens with the altar of the ‘unknown god’ (Christians know gods explicitly and Paul doesn’t condemn the Greek religion)
von balthasar
absolute centrality and significance of resurrection in human salvation + church should not weaken its message to appeal to a wider audience
Rahner had limited being a Christian to doing good deeds - Rahner’s thinking is only to please people of other faiths or atheists.
The parable of the sheep and the goatsarguably supports unlimited election and thus inclusivism
sheep were able to receive salvation and enter Heaven as “for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink - altruistic love and good works can also make salvation possible without the need for the Christian faith.
(It is worth arguing that this parable can ALSO be read as arguing that FAITH as well as good works are required)
Hick
Hick pointed to the ancient Islamic parable of blind men each touching a different part of an elephant
Hume argued that all religions cannot be true however since they make contradictory truth claims
Hick claims they can both be right in that they are both pointing to the same divine reality which exists and is true however.
“No one can legitimately claim to have a better opportunity than anyone else for gaining the truth about the nature of the Real.”
central element he identified of people opening their minds to a higher, personal and good, divine reality that demands righteousness and love.
Hick is arguably overgeneralising about the core of religions all being the same - Greek and roman, pagan religions are about making sacrifices in appeasement to capriciou Gods. Buddhism is arguably not
