Religious Pluralism and Society (2)

Question 1

What is the problem if whether Christians should partake in mission?

Answer 1

Q of whether there is a difference in persuading someone with a political opinion and a religious persuasion to get them to believe what you do

Question 2

What are some reasons for partaking in mission?

Answer 2

• People reason that common values hold us together and produces a more cohesive and co-operative society
• Having the same belief system validates values, gives them credibility and common power

Question 3

What is Proselytising?

Answer 3

Preaching with the intention of bringing about a religion conversion

Question 4

How can one argue that Christian is a proselytising religion?

Answer 4

• There is a theological motivation to prepare everyone for the coming of the Kingdom of God
• NT calls the Church to ‘make disciples of all nations’
• However in the West it is considered dangerous and unreasonable to impose your views on others

Question 5

Quote the Church of England on mission?

Answer 5

“mission remains the central task of the Christian Church” - Church of England

Question 6

In what encyclical is the aim of RCC mission outlined?

Answer 6

Redemptoris Missio

Question 7

What are the teachings outlined in Redemptoris Missio?

Answer 7

• He argues it is part of the ‘Church’s evangelising mission’ and an opportunity to give an explicit account of a Christian belief
• Dialogue is possible with non-Christians even with their gaps and insufficiencies and respect must be maintained as all lawful religions are protected by the holy spirit
• Through dialogue the Church wants to reveal rays of truth
• Dialogue must open and honest to overcome prejudice and intolerance
• Develop a ‘dialogue of life’ by sharing spiritual experiences and giving examples of how to live
• Special to role of the laity (non-ordained members of the church) in developing mission through Christian dialogue as they are witness of how Christianity is lived through everyday experience
• Christian communities are often misunderstood and their motives questions, they are encouraged to be persistent

Question 8

Where are the aims of mission in the Church of England set out?

Answer 8

‘Sharing the Gospel of Salvation’

Question 9

What points does ‘Sharing the Gospel of Salvation’?

Answer 9

• Mission is a part of the history of GB, but in a multi-faith society it must be done with great care and sensitivity and ‘develop good inter-faith relations’
• Best form of mission is when Christian communities live authentically as Christian communities
• Inter-faith will only work properly when motivated by a shared sense of ‘common good’ for society and not self interest
• Church of England has many opportunities for mission, e.g school, teaching, university, meetings and networks

Question 10

What fourfold classification of dialogue does the ‘Sharing the Gospel of Salvation’ endorse?

Answer 10

• The dialogue of daily life - encounters on the doorstep or at the checkout
• The dialogue of the common good - engagement together in tasks beneficial to the community
• The dialogue of mutual understanding - often in more formalised structures or conversations such as scriptural reasoning
• The dialogue of spiritual life - encountering each other at prayer and worship

Question 11

How has ‘Sharing the Gospel of Salvation’ made Christians more confident in expressing their faith?

Answer 11

• This is done with sensitivity in the spirit of openness and generosity but ultimately it is hoped non-Christians will accept Christianity
• Inter-faith dialogue provides the opportunity for the Church and peoples of other faiths to work for the good of society

Question 12

Should Christians have mission towards those of no faith?

Answer 12

• inter-faith dialogue with the non-religious can be good
• The aim is to develop a more cohesive society and is thus aimed at ‘all faiths and none’
• ‘none’ could mean new religious movements, e.g spiritual humanism’, but the task remains for the Church to adapt their missionary language

Question 13

What is one of the social aims of inter-faith dialogue?

Answer 13

• One of the primary aims of inter-faith dialogue is to promote the common good
• Refers to all elements of fair, just, cohesive and functioning society

Question 14

What is The Scriptural Reasoning Movement?

Answer 14

An open ended practice of reading, reasoning and interpreting texts in dialogue among members of the three Abrahamic traditions - Judaism, Islam and Christianity

Question 15

Who founded The Scriptural Reasoning Movement and why is it described as the first ‘inter-faith theology’?

Answer 15

• Founded by David Ford and Peter Ochs
• Called this because the three Abrahamic religion scriptures are foundational for belief, worship and morality

Question 16

What type of analysis/reasoning occurs in the Scriptural Reasoning movement?

Answer 16

• The internal reasoning of the text itself, e.g structure, use of language, themes, context in scripture and history
• The external reasoning of the reader as interpreter reflecting on their contemporary solution within religious tradition
• Critical explanation can take place at many levels from very technical study to more general spiritual response
• The same way there is multiple ways of presenting a Shakespeare play, there is multiple ways of reading scripture

Question 17

What three main aims of Scriptural Reasoning does David Ford?

Answer 17

• Wisdom: members are committed to a common quest for knowledge and wisdom which involve discussion and dispute
• Collegiality: Reading texts is a shared enterprise, interpretations from different faiths are presented and discussed equally by the group
• Hospitality: Texts are read and interpreted without making value judgements, there is a spirit of openness which allows for difference of views and opinions to be expressed and exchanged

Question 18

Quote David Ford on the aim of Scriptural Reasoning?

Answer 18

“not a syncretistic theology” - David Ford
- The aim is to not create a global theology but rather for the exchange or ecology of blessings

Question 19

What ‘gateway’ does the University of Virginia suggest for scriptural reasoning?

Answer 19

• No set methods but a number of suggested ‘gateways’
• “open-ended practice of reading and reasoning in dialogue among scholars” - University of Virginia

Question 20

What ‘gateway’ does the Cambridge inter-faith programme suggest for scriptural reasoning?

Answer 20

• Group may have a facilitator whose job it is to propose questions to be asked and ensure all group members are fully involved
• No one in the group is considered an expert or representative, the views held are their own
• Not aiming to reach a group consensus but rather to have increased wisdom and understanding of the common good

Question 21

How can Scriptural reasoning be criticised for a lack of orthodoxy?

Answer 21

As every member of a group represents themselves and is not an official voice for the religion there is a fear that the views gained remove from orthodox and normative teaching

Question 22

How do you differentiate between unreasonable and reasonable interpretations in Scriptural Reasoning?

Answer 22

As there are no right interpretations who decides if an interpretation is unreasonable or unsupported?

Question 23

Who decides the authority of scripture in Scriptural Reasoning?

Answer 23

Within religious traditions there are variety of differing views about what constitutes scriptural authority. Can scriptural reasoning be used by theological exclusivists then?

Question 24

Does Scriptural Reasoning Movement exclude non-Abrahamic faiths?

Answer 24

• Scriptural reasoning began because of common ground between Abrahamic faith.
• Can it be extended to non-Abrahamic religions who have very different origins?

Question 25

Does Scriptural Relativism Relativise Religious belief?

Answer 25

• Can be argued to have relativised religious beliefs.
• As participants are not allowed to be judgemental or critical then it treats them as equally valid - same criticism as for theological pluralism