PLURALISM DIALOGUES Flashcards
(33 cards)
plural western society and tolerance
liberal democracies in western europe are characterised by the ideology of liberalism. it tolerates the freedoms of the individual as long as there is no threat to the wellbeing of society, and permits the individual to believe what each wishes, as long as they don’t undermine the rights of others. it allows and welcomes plural societies, considering a variation of lifestyles makes for cultural riches and diversity.
what is religious pluralism
one aspect of a plural society is religious pluralism. this can refer to a variation of beliefs within a religion, such as the anglican/catholic/methodist splits in christianity, and the variety of different religions mixing, such as islam, sikhism, or hinduism.
What are the two problems with a pluralist society
the epistemological problem: to what extent may truth claims of other religions be considered true in christian theology?
the soteriological problem: can people of non-christian religions or no faith receive god’s grace?
why do humans believe what they believe (phenomenological debate and cultural influence )
why do we believe what we believe? some argue it is a cultural or phenomenological debate. different cultures develop their lifestyles based on belief systems adapted to their environment. so it can be assumed that religious belief is connected to society but is not in itself exclusive or unique.
established religions don’t really use the phenomenological argument, responding that their beliefs are true regardless of culture.
Sensus divinitaitus and knowledge of God being exclusive to christians only
for natural theology christian theologians, knowledge of god is not exclusive to christians, and non-christian religions may develop compatible truth claims. revealed theologians consider that something may be known of god through a sensus divinitatus, religious experience or conscience, but it is insufficient to have a full relationship with god, which can only be acheive through jesus.
necessary and sufficient beliefs in Christianity
avin d’costa argues the answer will depend on the ‘controlling beliefs’ of a christian community,
from a christian perspective, is belief in god necessary for salvation? some responses are:
belief is necessary but not sufficient, because belief in christ is also needed
belief in christ alone is necessary and sufficient
belief in christ is sufficient but not necessary because there are other conditions like being loving and kind
although there are many necessary conditions, no single condition is sufficient for salvation
the controlling beliefs within christianity and denominations may differ
he particular controlling beliefs will depend on the denomination, so while calvinism and roman catholicism teach all six, the catholic church does not believe we are fallen and incapable of knowing god. theologians of different traditions interpret these controlling beliefs based on what they consider to be necessary and sufficient conditions for salvation.
Theological inclusivism and russel
he particular controlling beliefs will depend on the denomination, so while calvinism and roman catholicism teach all six, the catholic church does not believe we are fallen and incapable of knowing god. theologians of different traditions interpret these controlling beliefs based on what they consider to be necessary and sufficient conditions for salvation.
christian response to russel
christians would disagree that it is ‘untrue and harmful’, but many would agree if one religion is true the rest are not. this position is theological exclusivism. this raises to questions about the nature of god:
what are the two types of exclusivism
restrictive access exclusivism (RAE)
universal access exclusivism (UAE)
restrictive access exclusivism and the traditional belief
RAE is considered the most traditional position. the controlling beliefs here place emphasis on the sinfulness of human nature and the uniqueness of christ as the only means to salvation (sola christus). salvation is only possible through directly hearing the gospel (fides ex auditu) and baptism. this position is biblically supported:
jesus said to him, ‘i am the way, and the truth, and the life. no one comes to the father except through me’ – john
there is salvation in no one else – acts
Calvinists and those who lived before christ
what about those who lived before christ or lived in a non-christian culture? is it impossible for them to receive salvation? it would seem contradictory for a just and loving god to condemn them when it is not their fault.
the response by calvinists is that humans are inherently sinful and god is not obliged to save anyone, but because he is loving, he will same the elect for their virtuous lives. some denominations have supported the doctrines of limited election, double predestination and the antelapsarian divine decree.
some contemporary scholars justify the criticism that double predestination limits human freedom and the purpose of faith by using the middle knowledge argument, which states that god knows all possible events done by free agents.
Whats universal access exclusivism and how do calvinist view st pauls quote differently
a key different between RAE and UAE is when st paul writes that ‘in christ, god was reconciling the world to himself’, RAE interprets the world to mean the elect, while UAE interprets it to mean everyone.
Quote from timothy and God desiring everyone to be saved
god our saviour desires everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth…
timothy
how can those born before christ be salved
UAE is supported by roman catholic and protestant theologians. the problem is if god wants everyone to be saved, how are those born before or ignorant of christ can be saved if they lack fides ex auditu. two answers may be:
preparation: the following may be good preparation before they receive the gospel: living a moral life according to natural law, devotion to god in a non-christian religion and having a sensus divinitatis.
life after death: in hell or purgatory a person may encounter the gospel and accept god and christ.
importantly, UAE distinguishes between universal salvation and universalism because there can be no salvation outside the church (extra ecclesiam nulla salus).
Pope paul and the Other religions reflecting some truth
although differing in many ways from her own teachings, nonetheless often reflect a ray of truth which enlightens everyone.
pope paul
Catholic Church recognising a ray of truth within other religions however recognising that they do lack the necessary controlling factors for salvation
they lack the necessary controlling beliefs for salvation. in dominus iesus, the church makes it clear that the position of pluralism undermines the unicity of the church.
many consider the catholic position actually as inclusive, not exclusive, because it recognises rays of truth in other religions. this indicates ambiguity in the model of inclusive/exclusive. it also highlights the problems of a religion wishing to respect the integrity of each religion while not limiting god.
Whats karl barths
at the heart of his theology is the argument that god may be known only when he reveals himself to whomever he choses. this seems to support RAE. one interpretation of barth is that he argues that since only christian revelation is true, all other must be untrue. barth also considers the teaching of the trinity as uniquely christian and it ‘fundamentally distinguishes’ it.
other scholars interpret him as UAE or inclusive. they argue that barth meant god’s revelations transform all religions because they are all human attempts to understand the divine and none can claim to know god. they also argue barth’s teaching on the trinity does not imply only christians have access to salvation.
Critic of RAE
RAE has been the cause of christian imperialism, conflict and suffering. christianity has persecuted others for not having their version of the truth, fought wars against non-believers and been used by states to convert and control others.
RAE presents an unjust and unloving god to those who through no fault of their own have not received god.
Critic of UAE
UAE lacks consistency, because other religions may have ‘rays of truth’ which are sufficient but these are not sufficient outside of the church
What are the two types of inclusivism
structural incluvisists (SI) restrictive inclusivists (RI)
whats the structural inclusivism position
the SI position is that any religion whose structures develop an openness to god’s grace in jesus may receive salvation. the most influential form of inclusivism was developed by karl rahner.
Rahner on all humans being aware
humans are aware of their mortality and limitations, and it prompts them to think about their existence. when they reflect on it, they realise that being is deeply mysterious. at this point, rahner claims they encounter the experience of god’s infinite grace, the source of being.
all religions implicitly encourage the same thing however Christianity does this explicitly through jesus Christ
claims religions implicitly support this claim when they encourage us to behave selflessly, lovingly and charitably, and when their structures create this openness. the only religion which claims to present this grace explicitly is Christianity through Jesus.
