Dialogue - part 3 Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is exclusivism?
Exclusivism is the view that only one religion is true and the others are necessarily false. Exclusivists argue that salvation is possible only through explicit and conscious knowledge of and faith in Jesus Christ. Furthermore, they believe that those who reject Christianity and even those of different denominations are destined for hell. For most of its existence, the RCC has maintained an exclusivist outlook on anyone who wasn’t Catholic.
Why do people disagree with exclusivism?
- Christians believe that God is omnibenevolent and therefore wouldn’t make the criteria for salvation so narrow as to only consist of Christians
- People who lived before Jesus could not have been saved yet there are passages in Old Testament that suggest they were
- God is wholly good and just. It wouldn’t be just to condemn people who haven’t heard of Jesus.
- The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats says ‘the righteous [will go] into eternal life’ and does not mention faith or belief
What is inclusivism?
The view that Christianity is the only true religion, that Jesus was God embodied as a human, and that his death was a sacrifice for the sins of the world. However, inclusivists also believe that non-Christians can go to heaven; expressed faith in Jesus and being a member of the Church are not necessary.
What is pluralism?
Pluralism rejects the idea that God has only revealed himself through Jesus Christ and that salvation can only be obtained through him. Pluralists disagree with both exclusivists and inclusivists. They say that God reveals himself through all the world’s traditions. The Christian faith is just one of many valid responses to God.
What is ecumenism and intra-faith communication?
A number of Christian denominations believe that it’s important to emphasise their common beliefs while recognising and respecting their differences. This is achieved through dialogues across the churches within the faith: intra-faith communication. An example of how intra-faith communication works is ecumenism which refers to the attempt to bring about unity of the Christian churches.
What does the World Council of Churches (WCC) do?
- Establishing a global fellowship of churches seeking a deeper understanding of each other, developing a wider dialogue and building communities rooted in justice and peace
- Building peace and serving human need
- Educating and training to ensure the future of ecumenism
Why are some Christians not in favour of ecumenism?
- Christian exclusivists find it hard to accept other denominations on equal terms
- Some churches are happy to remain distinct from other churches
- Some churches are concerned that ecumenism will make them less distinct from other Christian groups
What is inter-faith dialogue and what does it aim to do?
Inter-faith dialogue is an attempt to understand the differences and respect them while remaining true to one’s own faith.
Aims:
- Enabling members of different faith communities to form friendships and strengthen social ties
- Providing opportunities to learn about each other’s beliefs, values and practices
- Promoting multi-faith events in local communities
- Engaging in practical projects locally, nationally or internationally to help other people
What is proselytisation?
Telling others about their faith in order to convert them to become Christians.
- Christians who proselytise may call themselves evangelists
- The person who is being proselytised may feel that evangelism is an invasion of their privacy and does not respect the views they already hold
- Tension between freedom of expression and freedom of belief
What is the different between how Christians and non-religious views on morality?
Atheists and agnostics argue that human being use their reason and respect for others to work out what is wrong whereas Christianity teaches that morality comes from God. However, there is agreement about what positive values there are.
What are some Christian reasonings behind positive values?
- Compassion: Comes from God, whose own compassion is revealed most in Jesus’ teaching and his sacrificial death
- Support for those in need: Christians believe they have a religious + moral duty to help those who need it
- Promotion of peace over war: Jesus teaches about the value of peace
- Protection of the environment: For Christian, the environment is the creation of God, and human beings are his stewards (representatives) charged with the duty of caring for it
Which ‘traditional Christian values’ are Christians concerned, no longer seem important in a secular society?
- Too easy for married couples to divorce
- Sex should be an act of love and procreation that occurs only within a marriage, yet sex before marriage is now socially acceptable
- Christianity teaches that a married couple should have children
- Ideal family is led by 2 parents who act as role models and examples of a loving relationship
- Homosexuality is wrong
- Wealth and celebrity have no meaning as there is life after death
What religious privileges do humanists and secularists disagree with?
- They are against the establishment of the C of E. They also believe that religious groups play too great a role in advising governments and being involved in making decisions of state.
- They oppose the involvement of religious groups in publicly funded education
- Religious exemption, for example religious organisation are allowed to discriminate against people who wish to work for them but don’t share their faith
