pluralism and theology

Question 1

exclusivism

Answer 1

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.

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

Question 2

criticism of exclusivism

Answer 2

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.

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

Question 3

UAE

Answer 3

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”

Question 4

inclusivists

Answer 4

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 God

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.

finds a middle ground between exclusivism’s intolerance and the necessity of upholding Christianity and the significance of Jesus Christ.

Question 5

von balthasar

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

Hick

Answer 6

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.

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