Pluralism Flashcards
1
Q
define exclusivism
A
- there is no salvation outside explicit commitment to Christian faith
2
Q
define inclusivism
A
- those who think Christianity is the key to salvation but think it might be possible for non-Christians to be saved by Christ even if they do not recognise Christ as such
3
Q
define pluralism
A
- the view that there are many different paths to salvation and that truth and salvation can be found in many different religious traditions and contexts
4
Q
sum up exclusivism
A
- only Christianity leads to salvation and the right relationship with God
- Jesus as the son of God brought salvation to the world once and for all through the crucifixion
- only though hearing the gospel and responding to it by faith in Christ can a person be saved
- for some Christians this includes baptism as a symbol of being cleansed from sin and re-born into Christian life as a new person
- salvation requires giving up one’s old way of life and developing a new one centred on Christ/Church
- Christ did not simply come to add another option to the many different routes to heaven but to provide a pathway to God that cannot otherwise be found
5
Q
define particularist
A
- some people who hold the exclusivist position prefer the term pluralist finding it a less negative tone that doesn’t seem to be as arrogant, hostile or disrespectful to others and their beliefs
6
Q
what is narrow exclusivism
A
- salvation only belongs to certain denominations of Christianity
- some fundamentalist Christians who take a literal view of the Bible might believe only those who have the same view of scripture as their own are ‘true’ Christians destined for heaven
- Catholic Church teach salvation only for the baptised and those who regularly receive Eucharist at Masses celebrated by Catholic priests
- motto - ‘extra ecclesiam nulla salus’ - there is no salvation outside the Church
- however, Vatican II changed attitudes - led to a more outward-looking Catholicism with views that were not as narrowly exclusivist as before
7
Q
what view did Augustine and Calvin take
A
- narrow exclusivism
- taught divine election
- God elects through grace only a small number of Christians to go to heaven
- simply belonging to the Christian religion and adopting Christian beliefs is not a guarantee of salvation
- God chooses who he will save and people cannot force his choice
8
Q
what is broad exclusivism
A
- belief that all people that accept Christ through faith are saved regardless of their denomination
- some exclusivists hold that truth can be found through other religions but it is only partial truth which is not enough for salvation
- salvation can only be found through Christianity
9
Q
Professor Gavin D’Costa
A
- divides exclusivists into 2 groups - restrictive and universal access exclusivists
- Costa supports his own stance of universal access exclusivism with 1 Timothy quote
- “God our own saviour who wants all people to be saved… there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Jesus Christ”
- although there is, in Costa’s view, only one exclusive way to salvation, it is the will of God that this one route is available to all
10
Q
what are restrictive and universal access exclusivists as defined by Professor Gavin D’Costa
A
restrictive access exclusivists
- those who follow a similar view to Calvin and hold salvation is only for those who hear and respond to the gospel during their earthly lives before death
- God chooses who he saves
universal access exclusivists
- hold Christ’s salvation is offered to all an that it is the will of God that everyone should come to love him
- some in the Catholic tradition draw attention to the possibility of salvation after death as part of the concept of purgatory
11
Q
Hendrik Kraemer
A
- leading figure in the ecumenical movement to bring dif Christian denominations together
- his book was v influential for Christian missionaries working in non-Christian countries as he emphasises non-Christians must convert to be saved
- God’s revelation can be seen by others outside Christian faith, but salvation only found in Christianity
- doesn’t make sense to look at other religions and pick out the beliefs/practices that seem to be the most Christian as if they’re points of contact
- religions have to be considered in their entirety as whole systems/ways of life
- the religion as a whole either accepts the salvation offered by Christ or it does not there is no middle ground or partial truth to be found
12
Q
who was Karl Barth
A
- Protestant theologian
- known for expressing views about the essential importance of Christ
- most classify him as an exclusivist
13
Q
what did Karl Barth believe
A
- believed people cannot know God through their own efforts
- God chooses to reveal himself through Christ, the Bible and the teachings of the Church
- in the beginning word quote
- argued the Word consists of three forms
- bible/church become the word of God when God chooses to use them to reveal himself
- Jesus is the only totally reliable way to genuine knowledge of God because Jesus is the way God chose to make himself known - unique self revelation
14
Q
what did Barth argue where the three forms of the Word
A
- most important is Christ, present from creation and made known to humanity through his life, death and resurrection
- Jesus was word of God in human form teaching and exemplifying God’s love to humanity
- second form is the Bible - not the word of God in a literal sense but a witness to the revelation of god in Christ
- third form is the Church’s teaching - bring the Christian message to people/spread the Gospel so everyone has change to hear it and respond
15
Q
what do some argue about Barth’s theology
A
- it’s not entirely exclusivist
- he does emphasise the centrality of Christ in salvation as the self-revelation of God
- but he also emphasises that God can and does reveal himself when he chooses which could which could leave open the possibility of God choosing to reveal himself in other ways
