Religious Pluralism And Theology (exclusivism)

Question 1

What is religious pluralism

Answer 1

Refers to a variety of beliefs within a religion e.g Methodist anglicans catholics and different religious beliefs e.g island Sikhism

Question 2

What two probelms does religious pluralism lead to

Answer 2

• epistemological problem which is the problem of to what extent are truth claims of other religions be considered true for Christianity
• soteriological problem is the problem of whether a non Christian religion or non believer can achieve gods salvation

Question 3

What is the theology of religions

Answer 3

Theology of religions is concerned with Christianity’s theological, philosophical and practical relationships with other religions
- there are three theology of religions
- theological exclusivism
- theological inclusivism
- theological pluralism

Question 4

What is the difference between a necessary and sufficient condition

Answer 4

• A necessary condition is one which is necessary but not sufficient for something to be the case.
  E.g be a uk citizen to be the prime minister
• sufficient condition is one where it is sufficient for something to be the case but not necessary
  E.g having a large sum of money and no criminal record to be a us citizen, this is enough but not the only way

Question 5

What question is posed in the theology of religions

Answer 5

What is necessary and sufficient to receive salvation
- gavin d Costa believes it is dependant on the controlling beleifs of the tradition or community

Question 6

What is sola Christ us

Answer 6

• the controlling belief that gods grace is on,y accessible through Christ

Question 7

What is fides ex auditi

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What is extra ecclesiasium nulla salus

Answer 8

The controlling belief that you need to be a member of the church to receive salvation as the church is the mediator of Christ

Question 9

What is theological exclusivism

Answer 9

Theological exclusivism is the view that Christianity is the only means of receiving salvation

Question 10

What is Bertrand’s Russell’s quote to support theological exclusivism

Answer 10

“ as a matter of logic, no more than one of them can be true”
- highlights the viewpoint of theological exclusivists

Question 11

What are the two types of theological exclusivism

Answer 11

• restrictive access exclusivism
• universal access exclusivism

Question 12

What is restrict access exclusivism

Answer 12

Restrictive access universalism is the view that salvation is only possible through fulfilling the controlling beliefs of fides ex auditu and being baptised into the church
- emphasises the sinful nature of humans and the uniqueness of Christ as the only means of salvation

Question 13

What quote do restrictive access exclusivist use to support them

Answer 13

“ there is salvation in no one else” - acts 4:12
“ he said, I am the way… no one gets through to the father except through me” - John 4:16

Question 14

What are the issues of restrict access exclusivism

Answer 14

• what about people who have not heard the gospel through no fault of their own, such as living in a non Christian culture or living before Christ. It would be contradictory if a just and loving god to condemn his creation through no fault of their own

Question 15

How does Calvin respond to this criticism of Rae being unjust

Answer 15

He argues that as humans are sinful by nature, god is under no obligation to save anyone at all but though he is a must and loving god he elects those who have live righteously to live eternally in his presence

Question 16

What is universal access exclusivism

Answer 16

Universal access exclusivism is the view that god wills the redemption of everyone

Question 17

What si the difference between Rae and uae

Answer 17

In St Paul’s quote “in Christ god was reconciling himself with the world”
- RAE sees the world as the elect
- UAE sees the world as everyone

Question 18

What is the biblical support for UAE

Answer 18

“ god our saviour, who desires everyone to be saved” - Timothy

Question 19

What is a problem with uae

Answer 19

• how are those who were born before Christ or not born in Christian cultures means to be saved if they haven’t got fides ex auditu

Question 20

Preparation

Answer 20

• living a life according to conscience and natural law whilst having devotion to a non Christian god allowing them to develop sensus divinitatis can act as good preparation for the individual so they will receive the gospel when presented

Question 21

Life after death

Answer 21

When in an intermediate state or purgatory they may receive the gospel

Question 22

What is the difference between universalism and use

Answer 22

UAE BELEIEVS IN EXTRA ECCLESIUM

Question 23

What is the Roman Catholic view on the theology of religions

Answer 23

Theological exclsuivists

Question 24

What do Roman Catholics say about other religion s

Answer 24

“ reflect a ray of truth which can Englishmen everyone”
- other religions contain bits of the truth and should be respected hwiever these religions lack the controlling beliefs which means these religions cannot be the means of salvation

Question 25

What does the RCC say in dominus Jesus

Answer 25

• that the ideas of theological pluralism and relativism undermine the unicity of the church and the fullness of christs salvation

Question 26

Karl Barth

Question 27

Karl Barth

Question 28

How is Christian imperialism a weakness

Answer 28

• suffers from Christian imperialism as it ebleices Christianity is the truth. It can be argued this brings harm into society as over the years Christian’s have persecuted others due to different beliefs and fought wars over their beefiness

Question 29

How does exclusivism contradict god

Answer 29

Portrays a unjust and loving god

Question 30

How does the RCC lack consistency

Answer 30

In Vatican II, the RCC says that as other religions posses rays of truth, they can be a means of salvation
However in dominus iesus, the RCC argues for extra eccesium nulla salus

Question 31

How does it wrongly judge universalism

Answer 31

UAE wrongly judges universalism as undermining Christian beleifs, this is wrong as universalism puts eschatological emphasis on the fact that god has love for all his creations and wants them to enter his beatific vision