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A Level RE > DCT - Religious Pluralism and Theology > Flashcards

DCT - Religious Pluralism and Theology Flashcards

1
Q

What is religious pluralism?

A

All Religions have the truth

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2
Q

Liberalism is what?

A

a political and moral philosophy based on liberty, consent of the governed and equality before law

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3
Q

Why does religious pluralism pose a problem to Christian beliefs?

A
  1. Religious pluralism poses a problem to Christian beliefs as it suggests the truth, which Christians believe is found in Christ, can be found elsewhere. Also, it suggests that salvation can be found outside of Christianity.
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4
Q

Why would religious pluralists say that salvation is universal?

A
  1. Religious pluralists would say that salvation is universal as since God is omnibenevolent, he would not condemn the majority of people to hell based upon their environment and culture – as clearly across the world religion and place are linked.
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5
Q

Quote from Saint Cyprian of Carthage (3rd century)

A

‘Extra ecclesiam nulla salus’

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6
Q

Meaning of ‘Extra ecclesiam nulla salus’

A

‘Outside the Church there is no salvation’

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7
Q

What is Religious Exclusivism ?

A

The belief that only baptised Christians will gain salvation

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8
Q

Religious exclusivism is underpinned by six key ideas, what are they?

A
  1. Human beings are fallen and cannot know God or earn salvation
  2. God intervenes in the world
  3. Jesus was God incarnate
  4. The Bible is the word of God
  5. You must be a member of the Church to be saved
  6. Religions say different things, they cannot all be right
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9
Q

Who is Gavin D’Costa?

A

the Professor of Catholic Theology at the University of Bristol

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10
Q

What does D’Costa believe about Religious exclusivism?

A
  • D’Costa proposed two types of religious exclusivism:

restrictive access and universal access

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11
Q

What is restrictive access exclusivism?

A

 Places particular emphasis on the sinfulness of human nature and therefore the uniqueness of Christ as the only means of salvation, salvation is only possible by directly hearing the Gospel (fides ex auditu) and accepting baptism into the Church

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12
Q

What is universal access exclusivism? (Timothy quote)

A

 The key difference between RAE and UAE can be seen in the following quote:
 ‘This is good, and pleases 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. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time,’ 1 Timothy 2:3-6
 While RAE theologians would interpret ‘the world’ to mean the elect, UAE theologians interpret it to mean everyone. They argue that a person can prepare to receive the Gospel by living a moral life and having a sensus divinitatis. When they hear the Gospel preached they will accept it.
 Moreover, universal access exclusivists believe that if someone lacks fides ex auditu in this life, they may encounter and accept the Gospel in the next. This may be in an intermediate state such as hell or purgatory.

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13
Q

Finish the Augustine quote, ‘He who is separated from the body of the Catholic Church, …

A

… however laudable his conduct may otherwise seem, will never enjoy eternal life, and the anger of God remains on him by reason of the crime of which he is guilty in living separated from Christ.’

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14
Q

Finish the Augustine quote, ‘No man can find salvation except in …

A

… the Catholic Church. Outside the Catholic Church one can have everything except salvation. One can have hour, one can have the sacraments, one can sing hallelujah, one can answer amen, one can have faith in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and preach it too but never can one find salvation except in the Catholic Church.’

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15
Q

What is the Catholic Churches main stance?

A

Religious inclusivism

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16
Q

What is Dominus Iesus (2003)

A
  • Dominus Iesus is a declaration by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, approved a signed by its then prefect, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI
  • It is most widely known for its elaboration of the Catholic dogma that the Catholic Church is the sole true Church of Christ
  • ‘The full and complete revelation of the salvific mystery of God is given in Jesus Christ.’
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17
Q

For exclusivists, missionary activity is essential because:

A
  • It is part of the commandment to love your neighbour
  • God wants everyone to be saved
  • Jesus tells his disciples to make ‘disciples of all nations’
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18
Q

Mark 1:15

A

‘The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.’

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19
Q

Define religious inclusivism

A

Religious inclusivism is the belief that God is present in non-Christian religions to save believers through Christ

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20
Q

Majour Issues with Religious Exclusivism

A
  • Do you ned to be baptised or it is enough to intend to get baptised?
  • What about those who existed before God?
  • What about those who have no heard the gospel?
  • Some ‘bad’ Christians seem to be superior in morality to ‘good’ people
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21
Q

What is structural inclusivism?

A
  • Structural inclusivism teaches that any religion can develop an individual’s openness to God’s grace
  • The Catholic Church officially agrees with the view that ‘outside the Church there is no salvation’ notion, but argues that what counts as being a member of the Church is not known to us since we do not know who God will count as being in his Church
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22
Q

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1260

A

‘ “Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the paschal mystery.” Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such a persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity.’

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23
Q

Explain Catechism of the Catholic Church 1260

A

Because Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for everyone, God offers everyone to take part in the resurrection. Even everyone who ignores the Church but is a good person who tries to seek the truth will be saved. In fact, it could be argued this person would have been baptised if they knew it was necessary.

  • Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was for everyone, not just the blessed
  • God does not want to limit his election to heaven
  • The Holy Spirit is present for all people, not just Christians
  • Acknowledges that not everyone will encounter the gospel
  • Those who pursue the truth in other faiths using their reason can have salvation
  • These people would be committed Christians if they knew of the Church – they have good intentions
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24
Q

Finish the Karl Rahner quote, ‘The number one cause of atheism …

A

… is Christians. Those who proclaim him with their mouths and deny him with their actions is what an unbelieving world find unbelievable.’

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25
Q

Gavin D’Costa distinguishes between two types of inclusivism?

A
  • Structural inclusivism

- Restrictive inclusivism

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26
Q
  • Karl Rahner argues for a ____ inclusivist position
A

structural

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27
Q
  • Rahner defends the solus Christus principle but still thinks salvation is available outside of the Church, what is the solus christus principle?
A

the ‘Christ is necessary’ principle

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28
Q
  • The votum Ecclesia means what?
A

the ‘desire to be in the Church’

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29
Q
  • Rahner argues many invisible Christians have this votum ecclesia, but why are they not christians?
A

they are practising other religions (maybe due to place of birth) and so don’t have access to the true scripture or scripture at all, deep down they have the votum Ecclesia but they can’t put this into words

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30
Q

Rahner can say Christ is the only means of salvation, but at the same time …

A

… others can be saved

31
Q
  • The Church does not want to dilute the urgency of salvation through baptism or participation in Church life, but at the same time, they recognise what?
A

God’s mercy overflows strict exclusivism and the Church can hope that all people can be saved

32
Q

What is inclusivism?

A

Inclusivism is the belief that God is present in non-Christian religions to save believers through Christ.

33
Q

What types of inclusivism does Gavin D’Costa talk about?

A
  • Structural inclusivism

- Restrictive inclusivism

34
Q

Mark 9:40, in support of religious inclusivism

A

‘For whoever is not against us is for us’

35
Q

2 Peter 3:9, in support of religious inclusivism

A

‘He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance’

36
Q

John 1:9, in support of religious inclusivism

A

‘That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world’.

37
Q

Titus 2:11, in support of religious inclusivism

A

‘The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men’

38
Q

What is restrictive inclusivism?

A

.Some theologians may argue a restrictive inclusivist approach
.This is the idea that while people cannot attain salvation through a faith other than Christianity, their religion may open them up to the potential of God’s grace
.They may respond well to natural and revealed knowledge of God e.g. natural law and conscience
.While they may not gain salvation in this life, it may prepare them to encounter the Gospel in the next e.g. in purgatory

39
Q

What is restrictive inclusivism very similar to?

A

Very similar to universal access exclusivism – the belief that other religions can’t give you salvation, but you can encounter the gospel in the next life

40
Q

What are Karl Barth’s beliefs surrounding inclusivism and exclusivism?

A
  • God may be known only when he reveals himself to the people he chooses
  • Barth considers that the Christian teaching on the Trinity is unique – no other religion expresses God in this way
  • Barth makes it clear that only Christianity has exclusive access to this knowledge:
    o ‘It is the doctrine of the Trinity which fundamentally distinguishes the Christian doctrine of God as Christian.’
  • But Barth does not claim that only Christians have access to God’s grace
  • For example, God as the Holy Spirit is the only means by which each human mind is opened to accept the understanding of the divine
  • But, since there is no limit on who the Holy Spirit can work with, this means all people have the possibility of encountering God’s grace, even if they are not Christian
  • Barth’s theology on knowledge of God is beyond human comprehension
  • Total knowledge of God is like ‘pouring Niagara falls into a milk jug’
  • We do not know who is a part of God’s church, and so no Christian is able to judge the fate of others
  • This is why, as Barth encourages himself, Christians must be tolerant and understanding towards other religions
41
Q

Strengths of religious inclusivism?

A

It is supportive of all achieving salvation – natural knowledge of God would support this
Reflects Christian morality – agape

42
Q

Weaknesses of religious inclusivism?

A

Patronising to other faiths
John – ‘I am the way the truth and the light’
Jesus clearly advocates an exclusivist approach
Undermines the death of Christ – doctrine of justification (Luther)
Takes away from the significance of living as a good Christian

43
Q

Acts 4:12

A

‘And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’

44
Q

Define religious pluralism

A

An attitude or policy regarding the diversity of religious belief systems co-existing in society, all religious have an equal right to co-exist.

45
Q

What is the analogy of the elephant?

A

The analogy tells of blind men finding an elephant, they each touch different parts and say they are different things (one claims it’s a snake based off the trunk, another claims it’s a spear based off the tusks etc). They are describing the same thing in radically different ways, thus one should conclude that no individual religion has a corner on truth, but that all should be viewed as essentially equally valid.

46
Q

Why is Hick a pluralist? Consequently, how does this change his view on Jesus and salvation?

A

• John Hick expresses the problem of your religion being the result of where you were born
• John Hicks response is to be a pluralist
• He says that we have to change Christianity from being Christocentric to Theocentric
o What he means by this is that Christianity must reject the idea that it is Christ alone that can achieve salvation
• Hick rejects the idea that Christ was the incarnation of the second person of the trinity and was therefore unique
• Instead, Hick says, Jesus was a good man, deeply inspired by God, but no more important than other great religious figures like Muhammad and Buddha
• For Hick, its God who gives salvation

47
Q

What two bible quotes can be used to support religious pluralism?

A
  • 1 John 4:8 – ‘But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love’
  • 1 John 4:16 – ‘We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.’
48
Q

Weaknesses of religious pluralism?

A
  1. Religious pluralism could be criticised as an arrogant approach
  2. By suggesting all religious claims are myths and are not be treated objectively, pluralism destroys what religious people believe themselves, pluralism has no specific content – according to D’Costa
  3. Religious pluralism undermines the traditional Christian view of salvation
49
Q

‘A loving God will save all people’ Discuss, support, John Hick

A

John Hick – Universalism, the view that eventually everyone will be saved since they will eventually repent and become ‘good people’

50
Q

‘A loving God will save all people’ Discuss, support, Scripture

A

Scripture clearly outlines that God is a God of mercy and wants all people to come to salvation – ‘he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance’ 2 Peter 3:9

51
Q

‘A loving God will save all people’ Discuss, support, Exclusivism

A

Exclusivism present and unjust and unloving God because of his treatment of those who, through no fault of their own, aren’t Christian

52
Q

‘A loving God will save all people’ Discuss, support, universal access exclusivists

A

Universal access exclusivists believe that if someone lacks fides ex auditu in this life, they may encounter and accept the Gospel in the next, this may be in an intermediate state such as Hell or Purgatory

53
Q

‘A loving God will save all people’ Discuss, disagree, God wants everyone to be saved

A

God wants everyone to be saved – but to be saved they must be Christian, by being a missionary you cam enable God’s universal salvific will to be done

54
Q

‘A loving God will save all people’ Discuss, disagree, the Catechism

A

The Catechism of the Catholic Church outlines that all people are called to salvation, it is their responsibility to listen to this call: ‘Since Christ died for all, and since all people are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of made partakers, in a way known to God of the paschal mystery.’

55
Q

‘A loving God will save all people’ Discuss, disagree, exclusivists

A

Many exclusivists argue that scripture within the New Testament advocates for religious exclusivism, and that salvation is only possible through the Church – ‘He that believes and is baptised is saved. But he that does not believe is dammed.’ Mark 16:16

56
Q

‘Theological pluralism undermines Christian beliefs’ Discuss, support, unique

A

Christianity believes that Christ is unique, to reject this is to clearly undermine core Christian values

57
Q

‘Theological pluralism undermines Christian beliefs’ Discuss, support, superior

A

If pluralists hold that all religions are paths to salvation, and other approaches to different worldviews are wrong, then it is claiming superiority and therefore undermining Christian beliefs

58
Q

‘Theological pluralism undermines Christian beliefs’ Discuss, support, Luther

A

Reformation theologian Martin Luther argued that salvation is only possible through Christ

59
Q

‘Theological pluralism undermines Christian beliefs’ Discuss, support, the way the truth

A

It is clearly outlined in the Gospel that Jesus should be recognised as the way, the truth, and the life, to disregard this is to undermine core Christian principles

60
Q

‘Theological pluralism undermines Christian beliefs’ Discuss, support, Dominus Iesus (2001)

A

Dominus Iesus (2001) claimed religious pluralism undermines the uniqueness and important of the incarnation of Jesus and the church as a salvific institution

61
Q

‘Theological pluralism undermines Christian beliefs’ Discuss, disagree, Hick

A

Religious pluralism does not undermine Christian beliefs since according to John Hick, Jesus was not the incarnation

62
Q

‘Theological pluralism undermines Christian beliefs’ Discuss, disagree, Golden Rule

A

The Golden Rule is present within most world religions, the principle of ‘treat others as you would like to be treated’ is a common quote from all major faiths

63
Q

‘Theological pluralism undermines Christian beliefs’ Discuss, disagree, Fletcher

A

For situation ethicist Joseph Fletcher, ‘love is the only universal’. Religious pluralism does not undermine Christian beliefs as the only consideration that neds to be made regarding morality is the principle of agape

64
Q

‘Theological pluralism undermines Christian beliefs’ Discuss, disagree, Kung

A

The Catholic theologian Hans Kung argues that we have more in common as humans than we do dividing us, we should focus on our similarities, what he refers to as Global Ethic

65
Q

Critically assess the view that Christianity is the only means to salvation, support, unique

A

Christianity believes that Christ is unique, to reject this is to clearly undermine core Christian values

66
Q

Critically assess the view that Christianity is the only means to salvation, support, Luther

A

Reformation theologians such as Martin Luther argued that salvation is only possible through Christ

67
Q

Critically assess the view that Christianity is the only means to salvation, support, the way the truth

A

It is clearly outlined in the gospel that Jesus should be recognised as the way, the truth, and the life. This clearly demonstrates that Christianity is the only means to salvation.

68
Q

Critically assess the view that Christianity is the only means to salvation, support, Dominus Iesus (2001)

A

Dominus Iesus (2001) claimed religious pluralism undermines the uniqueness and important of the Catholic Church as a salvific institution

69
Q

Critically assess the view that Christianity is the only means to salvation, support, anonymous Christians

A

Good people from different faiths are ‘anonymous Christians’ who have a deep down votum Ecclesia – a desire to be in the Church, and this is enough to save them

70
Q

Critically assess the view that Christianity is the only means to salvation, disagree, born

A

It seems strange to say that it is only through Christ that anyone can be saved when your religion is often a matter of where you were born

71
Q

Critically assess the view that Christianity is the only means to salvation, disagree, Golden rule

A

The Golden Rule is present within most world religions, the principle of ‘treat others how you would like to be treated’ is a common quote from all major world faiths

72
Q

Critically assess the view that Christianity is the only means to salvation, disagree, Christocentric

A

John Hick argues that salvation depends on God rather than Jesus, he says that we must change Christianity from being Christocentric and Theocentric

73
Q

Critically assess the view that Christianity is the only means to salvation, disagree, universalism

A

John Hick argues in favour of ‘universalism, this is the view that eventually everyone will be saved since they will eventually repent and become ‘good people’

74
Q

Critically assess the view that Christianity is the only means to salvation, disagree, Neilson

A

The ethicist Kai Neilson argues that what humans consider to be moral and immoral is completely dependent on culture

A Level RE (29 decks)

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