Religious pluralism and theology

Question 1

What is exclusivism?

Answer 1

The view that Salvation is not possible if you are not a Christian

Question 2

What is inclusivism?

Answer 2

Although it is christ that is the means of salvation, it does not imply that it is only possible to be saved inside the Christian church.

Question 3

What is pluralism?

Answer 3

The view that there are many ways to salvation and Christianity is just one of those paths. Other religions offer equally valid ways.

Question 4

What does the Vatican Two say about issues with the exclusive view?

Answer 4

‘[Through] no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart’

Question 5

What does the quote from Vatican Two suggest?

Answer 5

It is not the fault of those people who do not know who Christ is.
It questions how people who have a sincere heart to God could possibly still be sent to hell/condemned.

Question 6

Inculpably ignorant

Answer 6

Through no fault of their own they did not know who Jesus was

Question 7

Why did Karl Rahner believe Christianity was unique?

Answer 7

-Christianity is unique as it was founded on God’s ultimate act of revelation (Jesus Christ)

Question 8

Why does Karl Rahner reject the idea that all religions are equal?

Answer 8

Christianity holds the truth but it is through the grace of god that allows people to be saved if they do not know directly about Christ.
People can devote their lives to the service of others without realizing they are following the example of Jesus.

Question 9

What is the ‘anonymous Christian’ concept?

Answer 9

They do not call themselves Christians but turn to Christ without knowing due to the decisions they make and attitudes they adopt.

Question 10

What is the Transfiguration story?

Answer 10

Moses and Elijah (dead) spoke to Jesus before he had died on the cross

Question 11

What does the Transfiguration tell us about exclusivism?

Answer 11

This shows that heaven was available to all before Jesus died therefore criticizing an exclusivist view.

Question 12

What does Kraemer say about exclusivism?

Answer 12

Any other religion is a misguided attempt to the truth - this was rejected by Rahner

Question 13

What does Saint Cyprian of Carthage (third century bishop) say about exclusivism?

Answer 13

‘Outside the church there is no salvation’

This explains the early missionary work of the church

Question 14

Titus 3:5

Answer 14

‘He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy’

Question 15

What do exclusivists think of Jesus?

Answer 15

Jesus is the mediator between humans and God - without him God would be inaccessible and salvation would be impossible.

Question 16

Why did John Hick see a problem with Christianity being the only form of salvation?

Answer 16

He became influenced by the faith and service of people from other religions and therefore questioned how a God of love would condemn such people and deny them salvation.

Question 17

Theocentric view

Answer 17

Focused on God

Question 18

Christocentric view

Answer 18

Focused on Christ

Question 19

What does Hick’s ‘Myth of Jesus’ mean?

Answer 19

He argues that Jesus is simply a mythical character and that this is used to interpret Jesus as being the Son of God ‘by nature’.

Question 20

Noumenal World

Answer 20

World of things as they really are

Question 21

Phenomenal World

Answer 21

World as it appears to us

Question 22

Why did Kant believe God belongs in the noumenal world?

Answer 22

We are not capable of knowing God as he really is because our minds are finite, therefore we are only capable of relating him to ourselves

Question 23

How does Hick believe Christianity should be understood?

Answer 23

He did not believe that Christianity should be understood as the truth

He argued that its ‘truth claims’ should not be understood as literal facts but as myths

Hick believes that these myths allows each to become meaningful in their own context without contradiction

Question 24

How does Job reflect an inclusivist view?

Answer 24

‘I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand on earth’

Job did not know Christ at this point but spoke of confidence in God therefore suggesting his awareness of God’ grace

Question 25

Main exclusivist thinkers?

Answer 25

Hendrick Kraemer

Karl Barth

Dr. Andy Bannister

Question 26

Main inclusivist thinkers?

Answer 26

Karl Rahner

Question 27

What does Karl Barth say about exclusivism?

Answer 27

People cannot know God through their own efforts but God chooses to reveal himself through Jesus, the bible and the church.

God can only be found through this, despite human effort.

Question 28

What is narrow exclusivism?

Answer 28

The idea that salvation is only available to people who belong to their own denomination of Christianity.