pluralism and theology

Exclusivism

The view that only Christianity fully offers the means of salvation.

Main beliefs of exclusivism

-no one can reach God or deserves salvation by their own efforts

-Jesus was God incarnate thus Christianity is superior and only way to salvation

-religions say different things so they cannot all be right

-need to lead a Christian life

Key scholars of exclusivism

Hendrik kraemer (1888-1965), Karl Barth (1904-1984)

Traditional scholars of exclusivism

Augustine, Calvin, Aquinas

Solus christus

‘Only Christ’. Gods grace is possible only through Christ. Christs dearth was necessary and it is only through christ that anyone can be saved.

Extra ecclesium nulla salus

‘No salvation outside the church’ you must be a me member of the visible institution of the church to be saved as the church is a continuing mediator of Christs presence on earth.

Fides ex audita

True faith is only possible though hearing the gospel as witnessed in the bible and preached by the church

Votum ecclesia

‘Church of faith’ or implicit faith in the church. You can be an implicit member of the invisible church of faith through your desires and by the way you live your life

Which key terms are inclusivist

Solus christus and Votum ecclesiae

Which key terms are exclusivist

Solus christus, extra ecclesium nulla salus and Fides ex audita

Which key terms are pluralist

None

What are the two views exclusivism is divided into

Restrictive access exclusivism and universal access exclusivism

Restrictive access exclusivism

Human nature is sinful and therefore Christ is the only means of salvation. Salvation is only possible by directly hearing the gospel and being baptised. Considered the most traditional view, supported by Augustine and Calvin, God chooses few people for salvation (limited election)

Quotes that support restrictive access exclusivism

‘Jesus answered ‘I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes tot he father expect through me’ (john 14:6)

When peter preaches in Jerusalem he says ‘Salvation is found in no one else [but jesus] for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved’ (acts 4:12)

Universal access exclusivism

God wills the redemption of everyone (universal salvation). Christs salvation is offered to all and God wills us to love him. Roman Catholic and Protestants hold this view, it can be supported through moral living, sensus divintias, purgatory

Quotes that support universal access exclusivism

‘God our saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people’ (1 Timothy 2:3-6)

Exclusivist views

Roman Catholic stance= dominus lesus, also called the Lord Jesus, is a Roman Catholic decleration made by the congregation for the doctorine of faith in 2001. It reasserts and clarified that the Catholic Church is the one true church of Jesus Christ (exclusivism)

The Roman Catholic stances quote that is in favour of exclusivism

‘Rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions…has a high regard for the manner of life and conduct, the… teachings which although differ in many ways … reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens everyone

What type of exclusivist is hendrick kraemer

Restrictive access exclusivist

What does hendrick kraemer believe

Non Christian’s cannot achieve salvation through their own faith, they must convert to Christianity. God revelation can be seen by others outside of the Christian faith (e.g. natural theology-order and purpose in the world) BUT salvation can only be found in Christianity.

What does kraemer argue

It doesnt make sense to look at religions other than Christianity and pick out the beliefs and practices that seem to be the most Christian, because a religion has to be understood as a whole system. Religion ‘is not a series of tenets, institutions, practices that can be taken one by one as independent items of religious life’ (the Christian message in a non-Christian world) so all religions cannot be taken apart and considered in a piecemeal way - either the whole religion accepts salvation, or none of it does. There is no middle ground or ‘partial truth’ to be found

Why do some interpret Karl bath as a RAE scholar

Says that God may be known on,y when he reveals himself to the people he chooses. In ‘the revelation of God as the abolition of religion’ Barth argues that only Christian revelation is true and the truth-claims of other religions should be ‘abolished’ or treated as untrue. Christian teaching on the trinity is uniquely Christian so Christianity alone has exclusive access to this knowledge.

Karl Barth quote (church dogmatics) that supports RAE

‘It is the doctorine of the trinity which fundamentally distinguishes then Christian doctorine of God as Christian- it is therefore, also, that which marks off the Christian concept of revelation as Christian, in face of all other possible doctorines of God and concepts of revelation’

Why do some interpret Karl Barth as a UAE scholar

They see the word ‘abolation’ meant to transform rather than to destroy. Gods revelation transforms all religions because humans are incapable of understanding the divine ad so cannot claim to know the truth of God. The trinity isnt only accessible through Christianity, as the Holy Spirit can operate amongst all people through the reading of the bible and the church tradition

Strengths of exclusivism

-Internally coherent. If he says is God incarnate then it would make sense to claim that Christianity has the truth about God

-only approach to non Christian religions due to its directiveness due to its centrality of the incarnation. Inclusivism might be said to undermine bible, church and priesthood whilst pluralism makes chirstianity one religion among many

What is exclusivism based on

The assumption that Jesus was the son of God

Why are there reasons to doubt that Jesus was the son of God

-john hick argues that Jesus never claimed to be the son of God and the title was used in an honourififc sense to make the point that Jesus acted in a God-like way

-marks gospel does not emphasise Jesus’ divinity (earliest gospel memory is more fresh unlike others)

-the concept of incarnation (Jesus=fully God and fully man) is incoherent. Could also say the idea of sinners being made righteous by the death of an innocent man is morally dubious

-David Hume argues that miracles aren’t good evidence for God because however unlikely the event appears a rational explanation will always be available. No mater how much evidence there is for Jesus’ ‘divinity’ there will likely always be a rational explanation for things like the virgin birth and the resurrection

Theological problems with exclusivism

-if God is truly omnibenevolent and wants salvation for all why did he create criterion for salvation which is only open to some. Cruel to send morally right to hell just because they lived before Jesus

-if God is truly inifitne and eternal then surely no one can understand him and no one religion can claim complete access to the truth

-d’costa makes point that exclusivism ignores idea of trinity, to say God can only be know through Jesus is binatarian because it ignores the role of the trinity.

Biblical challenges with exclusivism

-the parable of the sheep and goats implies that judgement is done on the basis of works not faith. People will be sent to hell if they have not helped those in need

-account in acts 17 of Paul preaching to the men of Athens at the Areopagus is used by rahner to support the inclusivism

Practical problems with exclusivism

-seems to promote imperialistic attitudes and intolerance

-makes constructive Christian/ non Christian religious dialogue impossible

-as a matter of logic. Can only one religion be true? Russel comments ‘ it think all the great religions of the world are both untrue and harmful. It is evident as a matter of logic that since they disagree. Not more than one of them can be true’

-challenges posed by inclusivism and pluralism.

Inclusivism main beliefs

Christianity is the one and only true religion. Jesus’ death and resurrection are central. Non Christians can achieve salvation by being a morally good person, it is not necessary to have faith in Jesus or be a member of the church. God is loving and fair so all must be saved, Jesus died for the sins of everyone, religions share similarities. Can have knowledge of God without the bible (natural theology)

What are the two views that inclusivism can be divided into

Structural inclusivism and restrictive inclusivism

Structural inclusivism

Any religion whose structures develop an openness to Gods grace as revealed in Jesus Christ may receive Gods salvation e.g. Karl rahner

Restrictive inclusivism

Although God makes provision for individuals who have not heard the gospel but nethertheles responds positively to natural law, conscience and true elements of their religion, they do not believe salvation can be gained through non-Christian’s religions. It may be at best good preparation for salvation

Exclusivism scholars

Karl rahner

Karl rahners main beliefs

-only true religion because Jesus is son of God

-Jesus sacrifice is the ultimate act of grace and necessary for salvation

-before Christ there is lawful history so pre Christ people can be saved

-non Christians who behave in a “Christian” way already have Gods grace acting in their life and should be regarded “anonymous Christian’s”

-other religions help others towards salvation but there comes a point where they have to accept or reject Christianity (this can come after death)

-the church must be a viable expression of why other institutions may include in a invisible way

What does rahner argue

That God is revealed both through creation and through history, which is made clear in the Old Testament, therefore God is availed outside of Christianity as Christianity has a clear start point in time so cannot be the only way of salvation for all mankind. However some religions include error so Christina church has to evangelise

What is Karl rahners existential openness to grace

1. All humans experience of knowledge is limited and finite

2. Therefore humans have to accept they can only have n unconditional ‘openness’ to existence

3. This ‘openness’ suggests that all humans, whether they know it consciously or not desire grace and salvation

What is rahner arguing in his ‘existential openness to grace’

That all people are aware deep down of their morality and limitations. This prompts the, to think about the nature or existence leading humans to encounter the unfathomable experience of Gods infinite grace. The only religion to present grace is Christianity.

Rahners anonymous Christian

Individual who is part of a religious institution that through its structures, practices me values is a means of grace (Votum ecclesia-desiring to be member of the church). Anyone who follows their mom Christian religion faithfully is therefore a member of the invincible church

Example of real world anonymous Christian’s

Religion and history in Israel before Christ (Judaism) still able to have salvation

Theological investigations quote

“Somehow all men must be capable of being members of the church and this capacity must not be understood merely in the sense of the abstract… possibility but as real and historically concrete one” “for this reason a non Christian religion can be recognised as a lawful religion without thereby denying the error or deoravity contained in it

What is Aquinas’ argument that rather agrees with

Notion or Votum ecclesia- that even wanting grace by faithfully following a non Christian religion is sufficient to receive Gods grace

What happened in acts 17 that supports rahners anonymous Christian

Paul commends the Greeks a state to ‘the unknown God’. they were worshipping the Christian God without even knowing it

What is the invisible church

The work of the anonymous Christian who do not know they are acting through the grace of God and Christ

What is the visible church

Cannot be exclusive community but has a role to play in the teachings of Christianity into the wider world. Visible symbol of Christ

Will all good moral people be saved according to inclusivism

Moral action is only good if it conforms to the examples set out by Christ. Even then salvation is only provisional. In order to experience the fullness of Gods grace and anonymous Christian must convert to Christianity and become an active member of the church (this may happen after death)

What can inclusivism been seen as

The middle man between to problematic extremes (exclusivism and pluralism)

Criticisms of rahner inclusivism

-why bother if salvation is available outside the church

-von Balthasar- ‘anonymous Christian’ has to be identified through good moral behaviour but arent saved by works alone. What extent is faith considered

-patronising to assume other religions or atheists are ‘anonymous Christians’ why can’t there be anonymous Jew or Muslim

Pluralism main beliefs

-different religions share the same ultimate goal meaning so many different religions can lead to salvation

-differences between religions are superficial and because of human nature

-people don’t need to convert Christianity to be saved as salvation isn’t only possible through Christ

Key scholar of pluralisms

John hick, Kant , knitter and ward

What is pluralism

The logical outcome of bus insistence that ‘revelation’ was “universally accessible via moral reason and not via particular historical events such as the incarnation”

how was pluralism developed

developed from a desire to develop a secular liberal aim that successful societies are ones where people of different beliefs coexist. Wants to remove imperialist motives from religions.

Three different types of pluralism

Unitary theological pluralism (hick)

Ethical theological pluralism (knitter)

Pluriform theological pluralism (ward)

What is unitary theological pluralism (hick)

The idea that there are many different paths to reach God/the ultimate truth, but ll the paths ultimately lead to the same thing

What is ethical theological pluralism (knitter)

The idea that all religions are built on the same values and practical actions of justice and concern for others. This is the similarity that unites all religions. Developed in response to hick

What is pluriform theological pluralism (ward)

The idea that there are many different paths to many different truths, i.e. all religions are correct in their own way. Developed in response to hick

Kants belief

If you have reason to be moral and ethical you can use reason to be divine and saved

John hick on pluralism

Originally an evangelical Christian until he worked in Birmingham saw Sikh’s,Muslims and Hindus faith which made him question whether God would condemn these good people just because they were not Christian.

Hicks view on the incarnation

Should b understood mythically as the expression of devotion towards God

What notion of revelation does hick propose

Theocentric notion of revelation

What does theocentric mean

Focused on God as the centre of everything

What is criticised about hick being theocentric

Excludes non-theistic religions such as Buddhism and so hick develops his ideas into unitary theological pluralism through Kant

What is hicks copernican revolution in religion

Belief we can no longer see our own religion as the center but God must be and that means each religionist valid and true in that it is focuses on God. There are many paths to salvation

John hicks unitary theological pluralism

Idea that emphasises natural theology rather than revelation as hicks pluralism applies universally. This movement is more philosophical than theological

What is noumenal reality (Kant)

What a thing is in itself

What is phenomenal knowledge

The world as we experience it

What did hick find in Kants epistemological distinction

That although all religions are phenomenally different noumenal they are all referring to the same underlying an-sich, or reality (eternal one or the real)

How did hick use Kants categorical imperative to test for authentic religion

Through morality and moral behaviour. All authentic religions are those who uphold the categorical imperative

What are the alternative pluralisms

ethical theological pluralism (knitter)

pluriform theological pluralism (ward)

Ethical theological pluralism (knitter)

Developed in response o problems with hicks UTP as it suffers from same kind of imperialism he was aiming to avoid. All religions are soteriocentric (focused on salvation). Not reality centered as each religion understands soteriology in different ways. All religions have same primary aim (justice and concern for others). Different religions needs to share with each other

Pluriform theological pluralism (ward)

Argues against upt which says there is one underlying real. Ptp=many real as as there are experiences by each religion. No onen can have a definite knowledge of the real (an-sich) each religion can have its own particular authentic version of salvation, liberation or knowledge. Knowledge is gained through religious experience not revelation (no competition for exclusive truth). As experiences change in religion so does the presentation of truth claims over time

Strength of pluralism

Hick idea= attempt at ‘global theology’ by accounting for all religions

hick= interpolation of Jesus without morality is better as if we give Jesus humanity there is no reason for humans to not act like Jesus

supports claims that God is all loving

Weakness of pluralism

Undermines sola christus principle by avoiding beliefs about Christ and his revelation of God (is Christian pluralism Christian?)

Hick utp is form of exclusion (he knows what the real is me is judging other religions by this)

Based on Kant rather than revelation claimed by religions

Hicks use of Kant leads to agnosticism

UTP presupposes all religions have a sense of the rank but many forms of Buddhism reject this idea

Religion isn’t only based on moral outcomes (knitter etp)