Theological pluralism AO2 and Essay Plans

Question 1

If different world religions offer different paths to salvation, then Jesus died on the cross for nothing
Agree

Answer 1

• Jesus’ incarnation and sacrifice on the cross are central to the Christian message as the means by which humanity can be reconciled with God after the Fall. If there are other means of salvation, this makes Jesus’ action’s uneccesary.
• People need to have explicit faith in Christ and be baptised in order to be saved.
• Other religions can have aspects of truth where they agree with the teachings of Christianity or atlas compatible, but they only have partial truth.
• People might be anonymous Christians and even be saved if they do not recognise that it was Christ who saved them.
• Biblical evidence suggests that this statement is inaccurate- Jesus himself stated that in John 14:6 ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me’.
• Solus Christus: Inclusivists maintain that Christ’s death was necessary and it is the only way that anyone can be saved.

Question 2

If different world religions offer different paths to salvation, then Jesus died on the cross for nothing
Disagree

Answer 2

-Karl Rahner- 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.
-Rahner-Yes, Jesus died to human sin and enables people to be saved through grace. Jesus’ death was necessary for salvation.
However- Grace can be mediated through non-Christian religions. Religions which mediate God’s grace are lawful religions. non Christians which became in a type of way are anonymous Christians.
-Revelation can happen through many different religions.
-Some would argue that it does no make sense for a loving God to restrict salvation only to those whose culture happens to belong to the right religion.
-John Hick- all religions involve experiences of the divine. Goes on to challenge whether the resurrection happened at all.

Question 3

The best response Christians can make to living in a multi faith society is to take an inclusivist approach
YES

Answer 3

• Inclusivism avoids the claim that a loving God would not reject people just because they belong t the wring religious faith community.
• Inclusivism avoids the accusation of diluting Christianity (e.g Hick’s transcendental pluralism that rejects key beliefs like the Virgin Birth, Incarnation, Resurrection, Miracles etc.) to the point where central teachings are sidelined.
• D’Costa rules out pluralism because it ignored the centrality of Jesus and makes all religions re-define their claims.
• D’Costa also rules out exclusivism because it is incompatible with a benevolent God,ignores the examples of revelation in the OT, Ignores the importance of moral action and behaviour.

Question 4

The best response Christians can make to living in a multi faith society is to take an inclusivist approach
NO

Answer 4

• Inclusivism ignores the fact that religions are whole systems and cannot be viewed in a piecemeal way.
• The idea that some people are anonymous Christians is patronising to those who have chosen a path other than Christianity.
• Inclusivism arrogantly assumes that Christianity is the best religion and that Christians have more knowledge of God than other religions.
• John Hick believes that unknowability of God makes such Christo-centric starting point unphilosophically sound.