Religious Pluralism and Theology (Chapter 11) Flashcards
What beliefs is christianity built upon?
No one can reach God or deserve salvation by their own efforts
Jesus was God thus Christianity is superior
Religions say different things, they cannot all be right
why for exclusivists can no one achieve salvation by there own efforts?
human beings are fallen because original sin
‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’
Romans 3:23
What God do exclusivists believe in?
Exclusivists believe in an immanent God who intervenes in the world at particular times and places through theophanies (visions of God) and through miracles. This means that although God is omnipresent he is present in a more knowable way at some points and times than at others. God intervenes in the world to make himself known because he desires that people come to know him.
What is fundamental to the exclusivist view?
Jesus was God incarnate
They argue that this makes Christianity superior to non-Christian religions which are based on prophets rather than on God himself and is the mediator between God and humans
‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me’.
John 14:6
how are inclusivists similar yet different over jesus being god incarnate
Inclusivists like Rahner agree that salvation is only possible through Jesus and they agree that Jesus should be viewed as God incarnate. However, they would point out that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. Rahner argued that if God genuinely wants all people to be saved then salvation must be attainable by those who have no opportunity to be Christian. Therefore, whilst Rahner thinks that Jesus brought God’s grace into the world he says that it can then be mediated (shared out) by non-Christian religions. An inclusivist might argue that the quotation from John only says that salvation is dependent on Jesus. It does not say that Jesus must himself be known.
how do exclusivists believe is the only way to be saved??
Many exclusivists believe that in addition to having explicit faith in Christ you also need to be a member of the institution of the Church to be saved.
The institution of the Church mediates God’s grace via the sacraments. For example, in the Eucharist the blessed bread and wine undergo transubstantiation and become the body and blood of Jesus. The believer who then takes communion receives the grace of God into their body.
what do exclusivists believe happens to non-believers?
The ethical problems with preaching that non-Christians go to hell was one that the early Christians are aware of. They, like many more recent exclusivists, came to the conclusion that this is why missionary activity was essential part of being a Christian.
karl Barth exclusivist yes -
barth represents ambiguity between exclusivist and inclusivism
His emphasis on the the singular importance of Jesus and the utter dependence on Christ for Salvation are beliefs that exclusivists would share. Also, wrote the Barman Declaration in 1934 where he said “Jesus is the one Word of God. There are no other sources of revelation.”
karl Barth exclusivist no -
Barth’s belief in God’s freedom which means that God could reveal himself through anything if he chose implies that it must at least be possible for God to reveal himself through non-Christian religions.
how does david hume criticise exclusivism?
argued that miracles can never be good evidence for God because how ever unlikely the event appears a rational explanation will always be more plausible than the idea that a miracle actually happened. By the same token, however much evidence there appears to be for Jesus’ divinity it will always be more likely that there is a rational explanation for things like the virgin birth and the resurrection.
how does d’costa criticise exclusivism?
makes the point that exclusivism ignores the idea of the Trinity. To say that God can only be known through Jesus is binatarian because it ignores the role of the Trinity.
what is inclusivism?
God is loving and fair so must make it possible for all people to be saved.
Religions have significant differences (so cannot all be true) but also have significant similarities (implying some shared knowledge).
why would inclusivists say they’re best
Inclusivists would say that their position is superior to pluralism because it maintains the unique position of Jesus and of the Church and it does not ignore the fact that religions sometimes teach opposing things.
They would also say that their position is superior to exclusivism because it follows on naturally from Christian principles that exclusivists seem to ignore (e.g. it takes into account that God is loving, that he created the world and that Jesus died for all). Furthermore, it encourages positive attitudes to non-Christians.
what is rahner’s version of inclusivism (main version of inclusivism) 1/2
Christianity is the one absolute religion.
Jesus died for human sin and enables people to be saved through grace. Jesus’ death was necessary for salvation.
This grace can then be mediated through non-Christian religions. Religions which mediate God’s grace are lawful religions.
Non-Christians who behave in a ‘Christian’ type way already have God’s grace acting in their life and should be regarded as anonymous Christians.
what is rahner’s version of inclusivism (main version of inclusivism) 2/2
In this way the Church is not confined to the visible institution of the Church but is comprised of those whose behaviour and values reflect those of a Christian.
Rahner supports his view by arguing that God is revealed both through creation and through history and that this is made clear in the Old Testament.
This means God’s grace is available outside Christianity. He says that Christianity has a historical starting point in time so clearly cannot be the way of salvation for all mankind.
