Religious pluralism and theology Flashcards
define exclusivism
the belief that only Christians can be saved. Salvation is a gift from God and everyone needs God to be saved as all of humanity is fallen. Jesus is a mediator and therefore faith in Jesus is required to gain salvation.
Bible quote to support exclusivism
John 14:6 – Jesus said he is the way truth & life and that no one comes to the father except ‘through me’.
Another quote to support exclusivism
John 3:16 - ‘for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’.
Define Inclusivism
Only one religion is true, but members of other religions could be saved. God is omnibenevolent so would not condemn all non-Christians to eternal hell.
Biblical evidence to support Inclusivism
Acts 17:16 - 34 - Paul is visiting Athens where he is presenting the Christian message. He noticed an altar with the inscription ‘to an unknown God’. Paul says that it is this unknown God that he has come to tell them about - the Christian God is the unknown God they have worshiped without knowing.
define anonymous Christianity
an institution that is a channel for God’s grace but is not Christianity. Just like Jewish faith before Christianity.
Define anonymous Christian
someone who is open to God’s grace but is not a Christian
Karl Rahner A01
adopted the term anonymous Christian and anonymous Christianity. He further believed that once someone had encountered the Christian message, if they chose to reject it then they can no longer be called an anonymous Christian. In deciding what was good for an individual or institution, Rahner felt that the goodness could be measured by comparing it with the example of Christ or the Church.
Why did Rahner conclude anonymous Christian could also be saved?
what about Christians who have never heard of Jesus, through no fault of their own? It seems to conflict with omnibenevolence for them to be sent to hell.
How does universal access exclusivism solve problems?
Universal access exclusivism solves the problem of people who have never heard of Jesus without needing inclusivism. It proposes that those who never heard of Jesus could still be presented with the Christian message after death and given an opportunity to accept and have faith in Jesus.
Hick A01
Hick would say that both universal access exclusivism and Rahner’s ‘anonymous Chrisitan’ inclusivism fail to go far enough. They both still claim that some people go to hell (those who reject or fail to live up to being a good Christian). An all-loving God could never send anyone to Hell. Hick thinks only universalism is justified – the view that all people go to heaven.
How does Hume’s argument back Hick up?
Hume’s argument backs up Hick here. For punishment to count as justice, it must be proportionate to the crime. No human can ever deserve infinite punishment because we can only ever do finite crimes.
What illustrates Hick’s view that cultural differences were responsible for the different lenses through which we experience the divine reality (what Hick calls ‘the real’)?
The ancient Indian example of the blind men and the elephant - each man touches a diff part of the large animal and thinks that he understands what an elephant is but only has a grasp of a proportion of the truth. For Hick, all religions grasp a portion of the truth of the Real - all are valid but none has the whole truth. All religions produce equally good followers. if Christianity was to accept that it is one of many valid religions, society would be harmonious. Copernican revolution - god at center not Christ.
Define Pluralism
All religions are equally true and equal paths to salvation.
Why did moving to multicultural Birmingham change Hicks mind about Universal exclusivism
Hick claimed the same was true for religion as different religions are just different human interpretations of the one true divine reality. He then took a pluralist stance. (ancient indian example)
What did Hick believe about the Bible?
Pluralism requires the Bible but is not the sole spiritual authority. Hick believes the Bible is full of myth and to try get to the truth beneath this. in doing so, he suggested that the essential truth in the gospels is that Jesus is a wisdom teacher and a liberator more than the son of God.
Biblical evidence to suggest that all good people will be saved
The parable of the sheep and the goat seems to suggest that we are all judged based on our actions. Some Christians claim that neither faith in Jesus is necessary or sufficient because what is sufficient is a good life.
What suggest that all good people will be saved?
-God loves all people, made in his image and would never leave those who have tried to pursue truth behind from any background
-The earliest traditions (found in the earliest gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke) seem to put more emphasis on actions than faith, which could suggest that the emphasis in Jesus’ message has been lost
Is faith alone sufficient for salvation?
-Martin Luther argued that faith alone was sufficient for salvation. However, the Catholic’s believe that both faith and works (deeds or actions) are required to get into heaven
-It would not make sense for an omnibenevolent God to let those who have faith, regardless of their actions (good or bad) go to heaven. or alternatively, to let good people who have lacked faith be subject to enteral damnation. What would the point in trying to live good lives be ?
-The Lutheran approach would argue that faith would lead to good actions, but this is not always the case, as well as this, it still leave the question of what happens to those who have lived good life’s, but not had faith?
-The distinction between the two traditions is that the Lutheran approach is that God alone is in control of salvation but for the catholic church, it is the person and God who are in control of their salvation.
What is the belief that there is no salvation outside of a particular faith called? (not exclusivism)
extra ecclesiam nulla salus - mostly commonly found in Calvinist traditions
counter argument against extra ecclesiam nulla salus
its very circular - the only the church because the church teach it - there is no external evidence
Rahners view on who will be saved
-free will was a gift from God, only God knows whom he will save and that includes anonymous Christians
Biblical evidence to suggest faith alone is sufficient for salvation with a counter of Biblical evidence
Romans 10:13 ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved ‘
However in James 2:19-24 ‘ You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder … You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.’
Barths approach to salvation
took quite a radical approach as he rejected the the truth claim of any religion and believed all religions, even Christianity, fall short of gaining the full knowledge of Jesus required for salvation.
