theo - religious pluralism

religious pluralism

= society where there is many religions coexisting

ecumenicalism

= different christian denominations working together

multiculturalism

= people from different cultures living in the same society

different faiths

where can multiculturalism be seen?

• migration

• bigger cities - shops, restaurants

• places of worship

• music, media, art - culture

• education - national curriculum

• fashion

• sharing different and diverse beliefs

BENEFITS of multiculturalism

• diversity and culture represented

• education

• influences from music, art, media, fashion, food

• relationships built between different people

• economic growth - new ideas and globalisation

ISSUES with multiculturalism

• racial tension

• -possible extremism

• may have views/ practices that are condemned in society

• hierarchy and dominance - establish auth

• generational differences

• lang barriers

• societal separation

• lack of understanding

who was ENOCH POWELL?

MP for birmingham 1968

rivers of blood speech - caused racial attacks

‘as i look ahead, i am filled with foreboding … i see the river tiber teaming with much blood

universal declaration of HUMAN RIGHTS

article 18

• everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion … in public or in private

absolute vs relative position

ABSOLUTE = there is a right and wrong view - mutually exclusive

RELATIVIST = right/ wrong depends on stance

the great schism

1054

• divide between western catholic and eastern orthodox churches

  • 4th century nicene creed led to dispute - if disagree, were prosecuted

reasons for the great schism

• nature of the holy spirit

• wording for god

• use of leavened/ unleavened bread in HC

• power struggle between bishops of rome and constantinople, each believed their diocese was more important

  • each head would not recognise the importance of the other and they excommunicated each other

reasons for divisions in faith

• differences in practices - sacraments

• int. of scripture and bib. criticism regarding contemporary issues - e.g. homosexuality ‘man must not lie …’

• gender roles - egalitarian vs complimentarian

• auth of bible vs church

• catholic church w/ apostolic ath vs priesthood of all believers, sola scriptura

• young vs old earth creationism

• buildings - simple (quakers) vs elaborate (orthodox)

• LAD - spiritual vs physical, limbo and purgatory, praying for dead in orthodox for 40 day waiting period

• belief of trinity

• structure of service - liturgical vs non-liturgical

catholic attitude to other denominations

• other denominations are cut off from the authentic source of teachings and sacraments

• liberal catholic thinkers have a closed inclusivist position - respect to other denominations and religions - others lack the continuity and authority of catholicism

• ut unum sint (they may be the one) - pope john paul II 1995 calls them separated brethren

EXCLUSIVIST approach

= my religion is the only true religion and other religions are wrong

‘i am the way and the truth and the life …’

INCLUSIVIST approach

= some religions may have aspects of the truth although my religion is the truth fully

CLOSED inclusivism - one specific religion as all the truth but others have some truth

OPEN inclusivism - one religion has the best grasp of the truth but can have errors and may learn from other religions

who was KARL RAHNER?

catholic theologian

• thinking on relationship between christianity and other world religions

• describes christianity as a religion founded on gods ultimate at of revelation, it is an ‘absolute’ religion that that sets the standard in which other religions should be measured

what did KRAMER say and why did rahner disagree?

= non-christian religions are misguided attempts to seek truth for themselves

RAHNER: non- christian religions hold some degree of truth e.g. figures in old T - job, moses had faith yet couldnt respond to jesus as lived befre him

what are ANONYMOUS CHRISTIANS?

people who dont know christ but have faith in god

• not been baptised, dont go to church or read the bible

• the attitudes they adopt are turning to christ without realising

• romans 2:14-16 ‘the requirements of the law are written on their hearts’

• non-believers can still have an intuitive sense of christ

anonymous chrsitians and RECEIVING SALVATION

CAN receive salvation:

• in line w/ omnipotence, omnibenevolence

• ‘faith w/o work is dead’

CANNOT receive salvation:

• surely would be better to not preach or evangelise?

• K. Barth and the word

CHRIST and salvation

only way to salvation:

• ‘no one goes through the father except through me’

NOT the way to salvation:

• people who came before him

• other religions hold more weight if jesus not needed

karl barth

protestant theologian

• importance of christ for human salvation (jesus is the living word of god, teaching and exemplifying god’s love’)

• emphasise jesus as the word

• god reveals himself through jesus, bible and church teachings - chooses to reveal

• jesus is only totally reliable way to god as he is fully and uniquely the way in which god has chosen to make himself known

• god cannot be found through human efforts

HICK and pluralism

AFTERLIFE

• truths in the afterlife will be verified (eschatological)

• all religions offer a way to the same goal

• parable of celestial city

• salvation will be UNIVERSAL

• he is a UNIVERSALIST = all humans will be saved by god no matter their religion

HICK and pluralism

parable of the ELEPHANT AND BLIND MEN

• each man had different interpretation of the elephant - snake, tree, wall etc

• in actuality, they had all touched a different part of the elephant

individuals experience reality through their own lense - upbringing, society

importance of perspective

different tradition = different lens = different doctrine

ULTIMATELY REAL vs religious interpretation

HICK’S interpretation of religion

religion = to transform from self centeredness to reality-centeredness religion is primarily about self- transformation rather than any historical or other truth claims

HICK and pluralism

EVIL AND SUFFERING

= soul making theodicy

VALE OF SOUL MAKING

• does nit believe in hell, so where do evil people go?

• a loving god will allow all people to eventually be saved, so there must be other opportunities beyond this lifetime to do good and gain salvation - other lives beyond death

vale of SM vs purgatory

hick and catholic belief in purgatory are compatible

HICK = will achieve purification

vs

CATHOLIC = must be purified to be saved

H = focus on future lives in other worlds

vs

C = single temporary state beyond death

what is ARTICLE 18

1948

• everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion

• includes freedom to change religion/ belief

• freedom in public/ private o manifest belief in practice, worship, observance

hate crime is prosecuted on the basis of:

• race

• religion

• disability

• sexual orientation

• transgender identity

motivated by hostility

what is hostility?

= ill will, spite, contempt, prejudice, unfriendliness, antagonism, resentment, dislike

freedom of religious exrpession

NADA EWEIDA

able to wear a cross on lapel (british airways) as wasnt restricting anyone elses rights

freedom of religious exression

MR AND MRS BULL

• ordered to pay £3600 in damages for refusing a gay couple to stay in their guest house

• breach of sexual orientation regulations

• BUT didnt let in any unmarried couples due to their religion

christian responses to freedom of religious expression

EVANGELICAL

= emphasise importance of personal commitment to christ

• separation of church and state, want to allow greater measure of freedom of religious expression for their religion

• may use force to strongly oppose actions contrary to faith e.g. abortion

• in the world not of the world

christian responses to freedom of religious expression

OTHER CHRISTIANS

= called to work for transformation of society

• contribute to moral and social debate from distinctive perspective

• promote civic order to contribute to common good

  • responsibility to promote christian values in society for benefit of all

evidence regarding religious freedom

pope benedict ‘religious freedom is a condition for the moral legitimacy of every social and legal norm’

roman 13:1-2 ‘obey the government for god is the one who has put it there’

why SHOULD the right to religious freedom be absolute?

• article 18

• called to express religion for particular cause - case studies/ MLK

• literal int. - evangelical = great commission, SoL, purposes of life

• essential feature - early church, jesus

• responsibility to have a voice for those who do not

• mission - faith w/o works dead

why should the right to religious freedom NOT be absolute?

• hate crime

• fundamental principles - agape, compassion in SE

• inclusivity - pluralism - quakers often do not get involved

• dawkins - child abuse if extreme religious expression - terrorism, war, death

• FGM sometimes seen as religious expression - interpretation can be harmful