theology of religions - pluralism

Question 1

what is theological pluralism?

Answer 1

The idea that there are many ways to salvation and Christianity is just one path.

Question 2

what did Panikkar think?

Answer 2

he believed inclusivism and exclusivism limit Gods freedom to make himself known. pluralism emphasises the transcendence of God and mystery of the divine to appear in any way he wants.
we should treat life as a searching pilgrimage with an openness to however the divine expresses themself.

Question 3

john scripture for pluralism

Answer 3

‘In my father’s house there are many rooms’

Question 4

which pluralism did Hick follow?

Answer 4

Unitary Theological pluralism

Question 5

what were Hicks’ groundwork?

Answer 5

wanted to develop a global theology to improve cooperation between world religions
he is a natural theologian - sensus divinitatus
religious experience occurs and interpretated through our individual belief systems
cultural differences provide different lenses for us to experience the divine

Question 6

how was Hick influenced by Kant?

Answer 6

Kant distinguished between the phenomena (our individual experience) and noumena (what something actually is)
Therefor the noumena of the divine is one thing but humanity experience it through different phenomena (religions)

Question 7

what did hick call for?

Answer 7

Copernican revolution

Question 8

what did hick mean by Copernican revolution?

Answer 8

we should view religion as theocentric not Christocentric because they’re all explaining the same thing. We should demythologise the Bible and remove truth elements from it.

Question 9

strengths of pluralism

Answer 9

allows a global theology - fitting with post-enlightenment thinking
fits with Gods attributes
doesn’t limit God
Wittgenstein - evidence of the phenomena and noumena by wide range of religious experience

Question 10

limitations of pluralism

Answer 10

lack of biblical support
it removes religious uniqueness and culture
Gospels are eyewitness documents ?

Question 11

what is Tillich’s pluralist stance?

Answer 11

illich’s ‘ultimate concern’ is the estrangement and anxiety that one feels from being separated from the ‘Ground of all Being’ – that is Tillich’s understanding on what religion is - all religion is essentially the same