Pluralism Flashcards
(27 cards)
What is exclusivism
The view that only one (your) religion leads to salvation
What is inclusivism
The view that one’s religion is the final way to salvation, but other religions may have incompete or partial values that are true
What is religious pluralism
The idea that all religions in different ways reflect a singular divine truth
What two bible passages support Exclusivism
Deuteronomy 6-Love the lord your god with all your heart
Joshua 23-If you transgress the covenant of the lord you shall be
John 14-Jesus says “No one comes to the father except through me” and “I am the way the truth and the life”
Acts 4-There is salvation in no one else
What was the dogma Extra Eccleisam Nulla Salus
Outside the church, no salvation
Comes from the 3rd century and is still a part of catholic teaching
What documennt did Karl Rahner have enormous influence in producing
Vatican II
What is Karl Rahner’s central idea about pluralism
All human beings have an awareness of something beyond the finite realm
What is Rahner’s term for a non-christian
Anonymous christians-someone who responds to God’s presence but is not explicitly aware of him
What are rahner’s 4 theses about non-christians
- Christianity views itself as the only path to salvation
2.A non christian religion can be recognised as a lawful religion (God pleasing pagans in the OT) - If other religions can be recognised as having value, they must be viewed as relating to christianity in some way-anonymous christians
4.The church needs to see itself not as the sole source of salvation, opposed to all external, but take a more inclusive view
Whatt does Hick believe is still needed in theology
A copernician revolution
We need to shift from a christ centric model to a God/ultimate reality centred one
What is an epicycle and how does Hick relate it to christianity
An adjustment of a theory in the face of new evidence so it can still be true
Hick says christianity has found there is truth and value in other religions, but does awkward epicycles rather than acknowledging they are all focused o the ultimate reality
What major point does Hick attack inclusivist theory for
It depends on where people are born-If Ranhner was born in India he may have become a hindu inclusivist
Why does Hick say it does not seem the case that Christianity is the one true way to see the ultimate reality
You would see marked differences between it and other religions e.g. increased “saintliness”-Hick says this is not the case
Noumenon vs Phenomenon
Noumenon-A thing-distinct from our sense
Phenomenon-A thing as we perceive it
What is Hick’s philosphy called
Pluralistic Universalism
What led to Hick believing all religions have common elements
Attending diverse religious services in birmingham in the 60s
What does Hick believe is the true heart of religion
Religious experience-not doctine, scripture or tradition
What is hick’s resolution for why there are so many religions
Parable of the blind man and the elephant
All religions are describing different parts of the ultimate reality
What does Hick say is the biggest roadblock to achieving Christian pluralism and why
The doctrine of the incarnation
Hick says no one has ever successfuly explained how jesus incarnated, there is little proof of his miracles(corssan/bultmann) and it renders other religions redundant
What is degree christology
Hicks idea that Jesus was a human with a who achieved a high degree of god-consciousness, rather than literally divine
What factors does Paul Knitter say should be kept in mind when reading biblical passages that seem to point to exclusivism
Absolutism is a result of historical factors e.g.lack of knowledge about other religions, apocalyptic mentality
Titles given to jesus were not meant to be objective truth but represent the disciples own feelings
Christ is more than just jesus-Logos, or the word is eternal
Why does Hick say his pluralism is not relativistic
Religions can be judged by how effectively they focus on the ultimate reality
What is Christian universalism
The idea that God will save everyone, in the end
Timothy 2-God wills that everyone will be saved
Who taught that the devil, after a time of punishment, would be purified for heaven
Origen
