Pluralism and Theology Flashcards
What are the three approaches to salvation?
Exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism
What is exclusivism?
- Only Christianity holds the truth and can offer salvation
- ‘Solus christus’ is only through Christ so Christianity is distinctive and Jesus’s resurrection is necessary for salvation
- Calvin taught that only the elect can be saved by God’s grace and due to the corrupt human nature mo one deserves to be saved. Jesus as God incarnate sacrificed himself so that humans can be forgiven and restored through faith.
- Roman Catholics argue that there is no salvation outside of the church as faith in Christ and baptism is required but they do say that other religions should be respected because they “reflect a ray of truth”
What texts support exclusivism?
- John 14:6 - “I am the way, and the truth, and the life no one comes to the father except through me”
- 1 Timothy 2:3-6 - “Jesus is the sole mediator between God and humans”
What are the strength/weaknesses of exclsuivism?
+ Highlights Christ’s uniqueness and many Christians agree with this view
- However this also questions God’s benevolence if salvation is not available for those who haven’t heard the Gospel, good people of other religions or before Jesus
- D’Costa argued exclusivism ignores the idea of the trinity to say that God can only be known through Jesus is binitarian as it ignores the importance of the holy spirit
- In the modern world it does not seem to be a positive way to engage with non-Christians as it promotes intolerance and makes interfaith dialogue impossible
What is Inclusivism?
- Christianity is the one true faith but it is possible for non-Christians to be saved
- Inclusivism argues that all people have a spirituality that makes them search for the truth eg) Acts 17 and this suggests that religions have elements of the truth
- Even within another faith setting non-Christians can access the benefits of Jesus’ death as he died for everyone not just a select few
What is Karl Rahner’s inclusivism?
- Karl Rahner argued that Jesus’ death is necessary for salvation but God’s grace is also mediated through other religions if they act in a way consistent with Christian teaching. Rahner calls these anonymous Christians. The visible and invisible refer to those who knew God in an explicit way or in an implicit way. Rahner argues good people who lived before Jesus can be saved too
What texts support inclusivism?
- Matthew 25:31-46 - suggests judgement is based on moral action and as the sheeps/goats didn’t know they were doing right/wrong this suggests Rahner’s idea of anonymous Christians
- Acts 17 - St Paul that other religions had spirituality and holds ray of truths
What is D’Costa’s inclusivism?
D’Costa’s version of inclusivism focuses on the trinity as he wanted to avoid exclusivist christomonism by claiming that whilst Jesus is fully God but God can be revealed through both the son and the holy spirit. Christians should seek to learn from other religions as God continues to reveal himself.
What are the strength/weaknesses of Inclusivism?
+ Maintains importance of Christ but also highlights trinity which allows good people top be saved
- Is inclusivism a middle view or exclusivism in disguise since Christianity is still the normative way
- It is insulting to other faiths to call them anonymous Christians
- What makes Christianity the normative way?
What is pluralism?
- There are many ways to salvation and Christianity is only one way. All religions have aspects of divinity.
- For example, a blind man touching an elephant who has to touch all the different parts which reveal different things to come to the conclusion of an elephant.
- If God is truly infinite then no one can claim complete access to the truth.
What does John Hick’s pluralism argue?
Hick’s idea of evil having a purpose leads to universalism which includes pluralism. He usesWittgenstein’s idea of seeing as because each religion has its own equal way of seeing the divine Real
What does Paul Knitter’s pluralism argue?
He favours an ethical theological pluralism inspired by liberation theology as all religions share the aim of justice and concern for others we should engage in dialogues with other religions.
What texts support pluralism?
- The sheep and the goats - all good actions can lead to salvation regardless of faith
What are the strength/criticisms of pluralism?
+ means all good people are saved
+ emphasizes the importance of interfaith dialogue
+ All religions do seem to have elemts of the same truth
- D’Costa says it undermines the uniqueness of Christ
- Religions have to redefine their truth claims
- McGrath said Hick’s view of the Real implies we can say nothing about it as we cannot know if our perceptions about is are true
