Pluralism and Society

Question 1

What is the UK?

Answer 1

•A multi-faith society

Question 2

What were the results of the 2011 Census?

Answer 2

•59% Christians
•5% Muslims
•4% Other religions (Hinduism, Judaism, etc.)
- This means religious diversity has increased
* Christianity has decreased since 2001 as then 71% of people said they were Christians

Question 3

What is the main cause of religious diversity increasing?

Answer 3

•Migration
- Migration increased due to liberalism, globalisation, economic migration and political disruption

Question 4

What is the monarch?

Answer 4

•Head of the Church
- The traditional title for the monarch was “Defender of Faith”

Question 5

Why has Christianity decreased?

Answer 5

•Increase in religious diversity and secularisation

Question 6

What is inter-faith dialogue?

Answer 6

•It is when discussions and meetings take place between representatives of different faiths in order to more fully understand each other’s religions

Question 7

What are the 3 different approaches to inter-faith dialogue?

Answer 7

1. Theological Exclusivism
2. Theological Inclusivism
3. Theological Pluralism

Question 8

What are the 2 different types of Theological Exclusivists?

Answer 8

1. Restrictive Access Exclusivists
2. Universal Access Exclusivists

Question 9

What do Restrictive Access Exclusivists believe?

Answer 9

• They believe that dialogue with others is a way to introduce them to the gospel with the hope of conversion to Christianity (fides ex auditu)
- This means they believe they need to introduce the gospel to everyone as they don’t know who the elect are or who they are not

Question 10

What do Universal Access Exclusivists believe?

Answer 10

• They believe that other religions should be respected

Question 11

Who supports Universal Access Exclusivists?

Answer 11

•Barth
- He argues that the word contains “lesser lights” that reflect the light of Christ, which could include other religions, and that God can reveal himself to whoever he wants, which includes people within other religions

Question 12

How does the Catholic Church support Universal Access Exclusivists?

Answer 12

•Nostra Aetate
- This was the declaration that expressed respect for some aspects of other religions as they don’t reject anything “that is true and holy” and other religions, but also maintain that they were true and holy because they were reflections of the truth that comes from Christ

Question 13

What do Theological Inclusivists believe?

Answer 13

• They want to avoid Christian Imperialism by ensuring that dialogues with other religions are open and genuine discussions
- However, this does not mean that they are accepting all aspects of other faiths

Question 14

Who describes Theological Inclusivism as being “tolerant, humble and yet firm towards all non-Christian religions”?

Answer 14

•Rahner

Question 15

What are the 2 types of Theological Inclusivism?

Answer 15

1. Structural Inclusivists
2. Restrictive Inclusivists

Question 16

What do Structural Inclusivists believe?

Answer 16

• They focus on the structure of the religion as a whole because it can be salvific and they believe discussion will centre around the ways in which each religion can learn from the other to become more salvific

Question 17

Who supports Structural Inclusivists?

Answer 17

•Ford
- This is because Scriptural Reasoning focuses on the 3 Abrahamic religions due to the belief in the same God and the scriptures having links which makes it easier for the religions to learn from each other

Question 18

What are 2 examples of
inter-faith dialogue?

Answer 18

1. Dabru Emet = this was a call for Jews to start seeing Christianity in a new and more positive light as Christianity attempts to move away from its horrific treatment of Jews in the past
2. A Common Word Between Us = a declaration published by Muslims to emphasise that both Muslims and Christians focus on love of God and love of neighbour which is the basis of peace

Question 19

What does Ford argue about Dabru Emet and A Common Word Between Us?

Answer 19

• He argues that these statements should be seen by Christians as an opportunity to re-examine their own Scriptures to find new and more positive ways of understanding the relationship between Christianity and other religions

Question 20

What do Restrictive Inclusivists believe?

Answer 20

• They believe that salvation comes from Christ as a result of personal faith and commitment, not from other religions, so they focus on individual dialogue, rather than on the religion as a whole
- This means inter-faith dialogue works more with local communities rather than with global communities

Question 21

What are the 3 types of Theological Pluralism?

Answer 21

1. Unitary Pluralists
2. Pluriform Pluralists
3. Ethical Pluralists

Question 22

What do Unitary Pluralists believe?

Answer 22

• They believe that different religions are all aspects of the same undying religion so discussions should focus on finding this reality
- This means they are aiming to find a “global theology”

Question 23

Who supports Unitary Pluralists?

Answer 23

• Hick
- He believes that you have to educate people about the myths of each religion as the myths are not making ultimate claims about the truth

Question 24

What do Pluriform Pluralists believe?

Answer 24

• They believe inter-faith dialogue is based on the understanding that all religions contain some truth, but not the whole truth
- This means they accept differences between religions

Question 25

Who supports Pluriform Pluralists?

Answer 25

• Ward - He believes that inter-faith dialogue should focus on genuine discussion of disagreements and that there should be an openness to the idea that your own beliefs may not be completely adequate

Question 26

What do Ethical Pluralists believe?

Answer 26

• They believe that inter-faith dialogue should focus on common ethical problems faced by all religions, such as promoting peace and liberation

Question 27

Who supports Ethical Pluralists?

Answer 27

• Knitter - He argues that the purpose of inter-faith dialogue should be practical, rather than theological

Question 28

Who published Redemptoris Missio?

Answer 28

•The Catholic Church - They argued that it was their duty to preach the gospel to other people in attempt to convert them to Christianity - However, they attempted to maintain a respectful attitude by arguing that Christians should approach inter-faith dialogue with a desire to learn, not just to evangelise

Question 29

Who published Sharing the gospel of Salvation?

Answer 29

• The Church of England - They argued that Jesus is a unique revelation of God, and only means of salvation and that they have to share the gospel with others, because it can be good for them too - However, they have to be careful about language and must be sensitive in their approach

Question 30

What else did the Church of England publish?

Answer 30

•The Mystery of Salvation - They argued that Christ is the only means of full salvation, but that “aspects of salvation are available in other ways” - This means they can work together with other religions and learn from them, at the same time as sharing the gospel with the aim of conversion

Question 31

What is social cohesion?

Answer 31

• It is the willingness of members of a society to work together to make life better for each other and themselves

Question 32

4 ways inter-faith dialogue promotes social cohesion:

Answer 32

Question 33

One reason why inter-faith dialogue has not impact on social cohesion:

Answer 33

Question 34

Who argues that inter-faith dialogue can often be one off discussions that have little wider impact?

Answer 34

•Ford - He argues that people should engage in longer-term initiatives such a scriptural reasoning in order to have a greater impact

Question 35

Who founded scriptural reasoning?

Answer 35

•Ford and Ochs

Question 36

What is scriptural reasoning?

Answer 36

• It is when people from the 3 Abrahamic faiths join together to discuss Scriptures - They will choose a theme and then each representative will present their own views, which will be followed by questions and discussion

Question 37

What are the 3 guidelines for scriptural reasoning?

Answer 37

1. Participants present their own views and don’t claim to represent the beliefs of everyone in their faith 2. The discussion is a chance to learn and should not be used for missionary work 3. There is a focus on hospitality (representatives take turns to host and welcome everyone)

Question 38

What are the 4 aims of scriptural reasoning?

Answer 38

1. To engage with other religions and learn by studying each other’s Scriptures 2. To take seriously the differences and similarities between the religions (this does not encourage common theology) 3. To encourage participants to think more deeply about their own faith 4. To develop “partnerships of difference” (this means participants will co-operate together in a spirit of collegiality and hospitality)

Question 39

What does Ford believe about “partnerships of difference”?

Answer 39

• He believes the partnerships can support all religions in the face of the growing challenges of the 21st century

Question 40

5 strengths of scriptural reasoning:

Answer 40

Question 41

4 weakness of scriptural reasoning:

Answer 41