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development - pluralism & theology - Coggle Diagram
development - pluralism & theology
religious pluralism & theology: inclusivism
non-Christians do Christian work
other inclusvists argue that non C might call Christ by other names or be doing the work of Christ without realising it
eg Muslims give money to the poor as part of takah, the 3rd pillar of their faith. they could be doing the work of Christ in helping th needy without realising it
Karl Rahner
'Anonymous Christians'
uses examples of the Old Testament prophets to support this position
Rahner coined the term for those who are following Christianity and the message of Christ without realising it
argued that many people are not exposed to the message of Christianity eg Jews who lived before JC or people who live in places where the Gospel message has not arrived
argued that other religions may contain partial truths. especially the case if the religion has a similar structure to Christianity
salvation possible after death
argue rigatoni God's omnibenevolence means that humans have the chance to repent and turn to him after death
some inclusivists argue that salvation may be possible for an individual if they turn to Christianity after death
theory of inclusivism
inclusivists might support their belief by using texts such as 'I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth' Job
argue that there is a possibility of salvation for non-Christians but Christianity is the best route to achieve salvation
religious pluralism & theology: exclusivism
view of 'narrow' exclusivists
Hendrik Kraemer argued that religions are whole belief systems. it does not make sense to pick out beliefs and practices which we think are true. a religion has to accept the salvation offered through Christ or choose not to. there is no middle ground
believe that only
some
Christians will achieve salvation. Augustine believes that Christians are subject to the grace of God and God will choose which Christians go to heaven
meaning of exlusivism
in Christianity, exclusivism is the view that people must have explicit faith in JC to be saved. for them, JC brought salvation to the world via the sacrificial death on the cross and the Resurrection
exclusivists might support their belief using texts such as 'Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me' John
the view that
only one
religion offers complete means of salvation -
all
Christians
view of 'broad' exclusivists
argue that all christians who accept Christ are saved regardless of their style of worship, denomination or practices
christianity exists in a religiously plural world. in the theology of religion, three broad perspectives are offered to address issues like truth or salvation - exlusivism, inclusivism and pluralism
religious pluralism & theology: pluralism
Hick's pluralist views
H thought that God wills universal salvation and that the afterlife provides the opportunity for individuals to continue their spiritual journey
argued that religion I flawed and limited. thus, Christian truth claims about JC must be understood as myth, not literal truth claims
argue that an omnibenevolent God would no deny salvation to an individual if they were looking to serve God in a religion other than Christianity
support their belief
by using texts such as 'And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and ot love mercy and to walk humbly with your God' - Micah
Panikkar'sm beliefs about God
believed that God makes himself known to humans in a variety of ways. humans need to be open to wherever truth may be found
raised in the Hindu and Catholic traditions
theory
all religions share same goals and ideals. all religious believers aim to lead moral lives and understand God. any differences in beliefs and practices are just the result of human culture
view the there are many ways to salvation through different religions. truth is not exclusive to just one religious tradition
salvation
the relationship between a loving God and Salvation
would an omnibenevolent God deny any person salvation?
free will to follow Christianity
a loving God would not force someone to be saved
human beings have to be free to decide if they want to follow Christianity, another religion or none at all
pointless Christian message
if JC died on cross for no reason, then message of Christianity is pointless. there is no imperative to follow any religion if all people receive salvation whether they believe it or not
Hicks on the afterlife
argues it provides humans with the oppurtunity to develop their spiritual journey towards God - called universal salvation
Sin - undeserving of salvation
humans are born with original sin, no one deserves salvation
for Augustine, it is only through God's love that a select few will reach salvation
pluralist argument about God
God has revealed himself in diff ways to diff people across diff cultures. each religion provides a diff means of understanding God, the divine or ultimate reality
not accepting Christian message
God has made salvation available to everyone. if people do not wish to accept the message of Christianity, then they cannot blame God for they consequences
analysing christian theories
can there be other means to salvation if Jesus is the 'truth'?
pluralist counter-argument
not compatible with an all-loving and forgiving God that only those who believe in the christian message are saved. some people have more opportunities than others to access the Christian message. it is unfair to punish those who are unable to access it
might respond Christ is 'a truth' rather than 'the truth'
Biblical support: sole salvation
passages from the bible support the position that Christianity is the only means of salvation - in John: ' Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and th life. No one comes to the Father except through me'
Craig: 'middle knowledge'
this knowledge enables God to know if people would have believed in the Christian message if they had a chance to hear it
argued that God possesses 'middle knowledge'
disagreements between religion
there are fundamental disagreements between religions eg Christianity claims that JC is the Son of God, Jews and Muslims disagree
the message of Christianity is undermined and diluted if belief in JC is not necessary for salvation
all religions could be wrong but they can't all be right
will all good people achieve salvation
arguments for and against and other
argument: unfair on non-christians
many examples of people who have dedicated, even sacrificed, their lives for moral causes. many of these people may not be christian and it would be unfair for them to be refused salvation
argument: against
OS means all human beings will fall short of achieving salvation through good works. the grace of God means that all those who have Christian faith will be forgiven of sin
argument: faith and goodness needed
some biblical passages suggest that faith and good deeds are both necessary
Abraham os considered righteous because of his willingness to sacrifice his son for god based on faith and trust in God
arguments: for
some biblical passages suggest that Christian faith alone is required for salvation
'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'
many passages in the Bible teach that God will judge people on th basis of their actions rather than faith in God
eg Parable of Sheep and Goats shows the son of man judging people on their treatment of the sick and vulnerable
does pluralism undermine core christian beliefs?
agree
preserves God's omnibenevolvence
as salvation is available to everyone
rejects message about Jesus
rejects the central meson Christianity that JC came to remove sin and save humanity. it is not a christian position
Genesis & miracles vs universe
aspects of traditional Christianity, such as the stores of Genesis or Jc's miracles, do not fit with the scientific understanding of the universe
pluralism is self - contradictory
states that there is no 'right view' which provides the full truth of God or ultimate reality but then proceeds to argue that the pluralist view is the 'right view'
hick's view
if we view all Christianity truth claims as myth, then beliefs of christianity are undermined
his pluralist view requires Christians to take a very different understanding of the Bible
relationship with God
Christian beliefs are Christocentric (centred on Christ) but this is an error - they should be theocentric (centred on God) because Christians do. not worship JC over God the Father
other religions
accepts that their claims about miracles' are all equally likely to be valid. there is no reason that Christian claims should be better than others
greatness of God
combined with <2,000 years of humans mistakes, we understand that God is greater than any human intuition
disagree
Christian message through the Bible and tradition is clear: the Christ event was unique and eternally significant and makes the Christian religion the true faith. pluralism can question this but this does not make it wrong