Religious Pluralism and Society Flashcards
Reasons for development in multi-faith communities in the UK
Migration - UK very high standard of living so drew a lot of migration
Tolerance - UK is very tolerant compared to other countries with freedom of expression
Relativism - Different beliefs are all equal
Globalisation - World is becoming more interconnected so more chance at interaction between faiths
Problesm with multi-faith societies
Can cause intolerance due to cultural differences or fear of unknown cultures which causes racism
What percentage has christianity reduced by in Britain between 2001 and 2011
12%
What pluralistic change did King Charles make
Defender of faith not defender of the faith
How did the holocaust cause increase in inter-faith dialogue
The Christian church in Germany had a part to play in causing the holocaust by ridiculing jews for not accepting Jesus
—–> After the war this caused jewish scholars t initiate interfaith dialogue with christians to find peace, Dabu emet
Dabu Emet
Jewish document highlighting that Christians and jews should be at peace because they worship the same God
What did David Ford have as the two reasons for increased interfaith dialogue
- Holocaust
- Tensions with islam
What letter expressed need for interfaith dialogue between muslims and chritstians
A common word between us and you
it expressed that both religions have passion and love for worship of god
Inter-faith dialogue
conversations and understanding between religions to try and avoid intolerance and conflict
What is the exclusivist tradition of christian attitude to other religions
Christianity is the only way for salvation so christians should try and convert other religions
Reasons why christians should pursue an exclusivist approach and try to convert other faiths
- Nothing wrong with being passionate about ones belief if it is done respectfully
- Modern day chrsitianity can provide meaning to peoples lives in a way secular modern day can accept, hillsong
- Christian duty to conduct missionary work
- inclusivists would believe that people may be anonymous Christinas but may still want to encounter the truth
reasons why christians should pursue a more tolerant approach and not seek to convert other religions
- Results in poor social cohesion among religions
- Can lead to extremism in believing your religion is better than others
- Predestination Christians would argue there is no need to convert but trust gods plan
- Pluralists argue all faiths should be respected as they all worship the same god
What churches try to convert
Jehovahs witnesses, Mormons
Why Did the Hillsong movement become so popular
Promoted an almost secular pratcice very casual with pastors in jeans, pop music worship, celebrity pastors. appealed very much to modern day youth
What is the hillsong scandal
Many members were accused of sexual abuse, celebrity pastor carl lent accused multiple sexual abuses
What is the Church of England document that outlines Christian mission in interfaith dialogue to convert
Sharing of the Gospel of Salvation
Evangelism
Process of spreading the christian message
Who published the redemptoris missio and when
Pope John Paul II 1990
What are the main points in redemptoris missio
- God calls all people to himself through the work of christ
- dialogue must work with mission, they are different
- interfaith dialogue is done to understand rays of truth
- celebrates ordinary peoples work in interfaith dialogue and evangelism
- Baptism is necessary to join the church and be saved
What approach does the catholic and protestant church take
Exclusivist
Main points from Sharing the Gospel of Salvation 2010
- evangelism isnt a new concept in England but only needs to be refreshed
- truth in other faiths but in the end even in after life all comes to christian god
- Work with other faiths for common good of society
- People shouldn’t be forced to join christ
- Sharing the gospel is sharing good news
- Shouldn’t treat non christians as targets for their mission
What ways have Christian interfaith dialogue been successful
- Christina pluralists respect other religions
- CofE gives examples of projects that have been successful in prisons and hospitals
- exclusivists point to new converts
- Puts emphasis on ordinary peoples role in interfaith dialogue
What ways have christian interfaith dialogue failed
- Most christians are still exclusivist
- Condesending to express other religions as rays of truth
- Wars as a result of religious disagreement
- number of christians is declining
Four types of inter-faith dialogue
Daily Life - meeting people randomly
Common Good - working together for communities benefit
Mutual Understanding - Trying to understand in formal ways
Spiritual life - encouraging in prayer and worship
Reasons why interfaith dialogue has contributed to social cohesion
- CofE promotes projects that promote common good of society, food banks, homeless centres
- Social cohesion is helped by shared understanding of divine in pluralism
- Shared experiences build relationships
- Charities use interfaith models, A Rocha
reasons why interfaith dialogue has not contributed to social cohesion
- Society is majority secular so faiths don’t have a big impact
- Large numbers of faiths need to participate for social cohesion
- Too much division within christianity
- Christianity interfaith dialogue leads to attempts to convert which is negative for social cohesion
How does Rahner criticise Interfaith dialogue
Inclusivity position should be taken where it can be accepted that people are anonymous Christians so can still be saved by god without christians having to pursue converting them
——> becomes exclusivist if they ignore message after hearing it
How does Hick criticise Interfaith Dialogue
Pluralist position expresses no need for conversions as they are on their own path to salvation
What is Geysers quote supporting Exclusivism
Pluralism is denied logically, inclusivism scripturally but exclusivism is required for salvation by hearing and accepting Jesus death
How did the scriptural reasoning movement begin
Textual movement by jews to understand their scripture better, Some christians asked to participate which resulted in permanent engaging interfaith forum, islam was invited later as they are all religions of the book
What university has scriptural reasoning movement as part of its interfaith programme
Cambridge university, discusses ideas like education, clothing, fasting
What is the goal of scriptural reasoning movement
Not to Reach agreements but to understand better through discussing and listening, respect in disagreements
What does scriptural reasoning movement focus on
Discuss the deeper ways beliefs are connected and understood through their scripture
Why is social cohesion not a religious problem
It comes down to other factors like politics or economics promoting inequality.
Social Cohesion
Strong sense of belonging and value in ones community
What is wrong with redemptoris misso
Very unclear how to act as it advocates for promoting christianity as the one true faith with Jesus as the only way to salvation, however enforces value of other faiths as to not seem oppressive or rude
Strengths of Scriptural reasoning
- Promotes equality and companionship, doesn’t relativise belief
- Aim is never to resolve issues but just to discuss and understand
- Recognises autonomy and value of each religion
Weaknesses of Scriptural reasoning
- exclusivism rejects the fact that it suggests something can be learned outside christian scripture
- rays of truth idea still enforces one religion as better than others
- Inclusisvist argue that these people have encountered christian message and ignored it so they can no longer be saved
- Assumes Christian approach to scripture may not be the strongest
- rejects fundamental Christian task of conversion
Reasons why Christians should take part in missionary work
- Central to Christian teaching and in the bible
- Inclusivity opinion that anonymous christians should be given opportunity to convert to a full Christian
- exclusivism aims to help save more people outside the faith by bringing them to christianity
- Mission work isnt just about teaching but about showing other faiths the good work that comes with christianity and con convert though this good work, charities
Reasons why Christians shouldn’t take part in missionary work
- Internal issues within chrsitianity need resolving first like child abuse
- Divisons within denominations of chrsitinaity first should be explored
- predestination argues against missionary work
- under inclusivitst logic surely more anonymous Christinas will be saved if Christians don’t preach the message as less will hear it and less be likely to reject it
- God given free will can be used to reject religion
Which parable advocates for bringing back those who are lost or lost faith
Parable of the lost son
