Religious Pluralism and Society Flashcards
What sort of religious society is the UK?
A multi-faith society
What is a multi-faith society?
A society containing significant numbers of people from different faiths
What is social cohesion?
A society where people from different cultures and religions can exist harmoniously together
According to the UK 2011 census, what percentage of the UK are Christians?
59.5%
According to the UK 2011 census, what percentage of the UK have no religion?
25.7%
In 2008 what change did Prince Charles announce he would make to the monarch’s title?
Prince Charles announced that he would change the title to ‘Defender of Faith’, from the current ‘Defender of The Faith’
What 3 advantages does a multi-faith society bring to Christianity?
1) Provides opportunity for learning and thinking
2) Gives a new perspective on Christianity
3) Causes Christians to think about why they are Christians rather than another religion, rationalising their faith
What 3 disadvantages does a multi-faith society bring to Christianity?
1) A multi-faith society could undermine the uniqueness of Christianity, as it becomes ‘just another religion’
2) Could encourage children to follow false beliefs and practices
3) Spreads the idea that there are multiple ‘right’ religions
Define interfaith dialogue
Cooperative and positive interaction between people of different religions
What event did Pope Francis hold in October 2015?
The Global Interfaith Dialogue Meeting
What 2 aims did the 2015 Global Interfaith Dialogue Meeting seek to achieve?
1) Tackling religious prejudice
2) Tackling religious discrimination
Name 2 interfaith dialogue organisations
1) The Faith and Belief Forum
2) The Interfaith Network for the UK
Which 3 ways do interfaith dialogue organisations use to achieve their aims?
1) Workshops at schools
2) Cooperative Social Action Projects
3) Sports events for young refugees
What is the main aim of interfaith dialogue?
To improve relations between cultures and religions
What is restrictive access exclusivism?
Christians who believe that salvation is only possible through accepting Christ, and all other religions are wrong
Why would a restive access exclusivist seek to use inter-faith dialogue?
A restrictive access exclusivist would use inter-faith dialogue as an opportunity to convert a non-christian
What is fides ex auditu?
The idea that hearing and reading the Bible will convert you to Christianity
What is universal access exclusivism?
The idea that only through Christianity can a person achieve salvation, but other religions might have SOME truth in them too, but not enough for salvation
What did Vatican II say about truth in other religons?
non-Christian religions ‘often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens everyone’
What is Nostra Aetate?
A declaration made by Vatican II which is “the first in Catholic history to focus on the relationship that Catholics have with Jews.”
Why do exclusivists engage in inter-faith dialogue?
1) Learn ABOUT other religions, rather than learn FROM them
2) Ease tensions between faiths
3) Develop pastoral care for all people
Define Proseltysing
Preaching about your faith with the intention of converting someone else to believe the same as you
Define Evangelising
Preaching about your faith with the intention of converting someone else to believe the same as you
What is the difference between as restrictive access exclusivist and a universal access exclusivist?
Restrictive access exclusivists believe that salvation can only be achieved through Christianity and that there is nothing to be learnt from other religions.
Universal access exclusivists believe that salvation can only achieved through Christianity, but that there may be some truth in other religions.
What is inclusivism?
The belief that Christianity is the normative way to achieve salvation, but that salvation might also be achieved by people of other faiths.
How did Karl Rahner say we should act to other religons?
‘Tolerant, humble and yet firm towards all non-Christian religions’