Religious Pluralism and Theology

Question 1

what is inclusivism?

Answer 1

the view that although one’s religion is the normative means of salvation, those who accept its central principles will also receive salvation

Question 2

what are inclusivist thinkers uncomfortable with?

Answer 2

the view that salvation is impossible outside the church

Question 3

even though inclusivist thinkers are uncomfortable with the view that salvation is impossible outside the church what do they want to maintain?

Answer 3

that christianity holds the truth

Question 4

what do inclusivist thinkers belief about salvation?

Answer 4

salvation is possible even after death

god gives chances to repent before entering heaven

Question 5

how do inclusivists believe god’s omnibenevolence opens up the possibility of salvation for non christians?

Answer 5

non christian religions hold truth and god makes allowance for those following him, but in the context of the wrong religion

Question 6

how do inclusivists perceive the truth found in other religions?

Answer 6

it is the work of christ

Question 7

who was karl rahner?

Answer 7

20th century theologian

described christianity and the absolute religion

Question 8

what is an ‘anonymous christian’?

Answer 8

a term adopted by rahner to describe people who were living good lives and who could be saved even if they did not explicitly express christian belief

Question 9

how did rahner rationalise the existence of the anonymous christian?

Answer 9

humans= fallen and inclined to sin
moral and spiritual actions= only attainable with gods help
therefore if someone behaves in a moral way they must have had god’s help

Question 10

what biblical quote does rahner use as evidence of an anonymous christian?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

what did hendrik kraemer argue about non christian religions?

Answer 11

they are little more than misguided attempts by some people to find truth for themselves

Question 12

what are non-christian religions, for kraemer?

Answer 12

cultural constructs

Question 13

how did von balthasar critique rahner?

Answer 13

argued that rahner was trying to appeal other religions

Question 14

define pluralism

Answer 14

the view that there are many ways to salvation, of which christianity is one path

Question 15

explain the parable of the blind men and the elephant

Answer 15

each of the blind men feel a different part of the elephant and therefore interpret the elephant differently

Question 16

explain how john hick used the copernican revolution as analogy for christianity

Answer 16

copernicus = established the sun at the centre of the universe not earth
hick wanted reestablishment of god and truth at the centre of religion rather than christianity

Question 17

how did hick use kant?

Answer 17

his use of the noumenal and phenomenal

Question 18

what is the noumenal?

Answer 18

exactly how things are in the world, in turn renders all religions to fall short of the truth - the noumenal

Question 19

what is the phenomenal?

Answer 19

how things appear through our lenses of experience

phenomenal understanding applicable —> religion

Question 20

what did hick argue about the gospels?

Answer 20

gospels = myth

with this view they can be understood for their allegorical and spiritual truths

Question 21

how does panikkar disagree with hick in terms of myth?

Answer 21

disagreed that jesus was a myth, instead christ as a way of god revealing himself through a religious figure

Question 22

how does panikkar agree with rahner?

Answer 22

the ideal of the anonymous christian - focused on truth rather than the label of christianity

Question 23

how did panikkar disagree with rahner?

Answer 23

disagreed with rahner’s belief that christianity held more truth than other religions - saw christianity as limiting god’s freedom

Question 24

define exclusivism

Answer 24

the view that only christianity fully offers the means of salvation

Question 25

what, for exclusivists, is the only way of achieving salvation?

Answer 25

following the way of christ

Question 26

what is the two types of exclusivism?

Answer 26

narrow and broad

Question 27

what is narrow exclusivism?

Answer 27

the view that salvation is only possible for people within their own denomination

Question 28

give an example of narrow exclusivists

Answer 28

fundamentalists might argue that only those who interpret the bible literally will achieve salvation

Question 29

what is broad exclusivism?

Answer 29

holds that all people who accept christ through faith are saved

Question 30

what does gavin d’costa call his position on salvation?

Answer 30

universal access

Question 31

what is the universal access position?

Answer 31

christ’s salvation is offered to all - even after death

Question 32

what other type of exclusivist did d’costa identify?

Answer 32

restrictive access exclusivists

Question 33

what do restrictive access exclusivists believe?

Answer 33

salvation is only for those who hear and respond to the gospel during their daily lives

Question 34

give an example of a restrictive access exclusivist

Answer 34

john calvin

Question 35

what did hendrik kraemer believe about religions?

Answer 35

we should not look for ‘points of contact’ between religions, instead look at religions in their entirety