Religious Pluralism and Theology

Question 1

What is liberalism?

Answer 1

Liberalism is an ideology which develops its laws based on the principle that humans flourish when they are given maximum freedoms and minimum control by governments.

Question 2

What are the two notions that are important to liberalism?

Answer 2

Liberalism considers that two notions are important:
- The freedoms of the individual, provided there is no threat to the wellbeing of society.
- The individual may believe what they wish to believe, provided tese beliefs don’t undermine the rights of others.

Question 3

What is a plural society and what ideology welcomes it?

Answer 3

A plural society is a society which tolerates many different beliefs and lifestyles.

Liberalism allows and welcomes plural societies, as they believe a variety of beliefs and lifestyles make for happier, culturally richer and diverse societies.

Question 4

What is religious pluralism?

Answer 4

Religious Pluralism refers to the varieties of beliefs and practices within a particular religion, as well as varieties of different religions and their beliefs and practices.

For example, this includes Catholicism, Anglicanism, Methodism, etc within Christianity.

Question 5

What is epistemology and the epistemological approach?

Answer 5

Epistomology is the study of knowledge.

The epistemological problem asks to what extent may the truth claims of non-Christian religions also be considered true within Christian theology?

Question 6

What is Soteriology and the soteriological approach?

Answer 6

Soteriology refers to the study of salvation or liberation according to Christian teaching and the different ways in which humans achieve this.

The sotieriological problem asks if people of non-Christian religions or no religion are still able to recieve God’s salvation.

Question 7

What are the three theology of religions?

Answer 7

The three theology of religions include:

• Theological exclusivism
• Theological inclusivism
• Theological pluralism

Question 8

What is a sufficient condition?

Answer 8

A sufficient condition is when it is enough for something to be the case.

For example, having no criminal record and giving a lot of money is sufficient to gain US citizenship, but it is not necessary, as there are other means of gaining citizenship.

Question 9

What is a necessary condition?

Answer 9

A necessary condition is when it is required for something to be the case.

For examplem it is necessary for the prime minister to be a UK citizen, however, it is not sufficient because he also needs to be chosen by the party.

Question 10

What does Gavin D’Costa believe about sufficient and necessary conditions to reach salvation?

Answer 10

D’Costa believes that the answer of what the sufficient and necessary conditions of salvation are depends on the controlling beliefs of a Christian community.

Question 11

What are some Christian beliefs on if it is necessary or sufficient for a person to believe in God to recieve salvation?

Answer 11

Christian responses may include:

• Belief in God is necessary, but it is not sufficient, they must also believe in Christ.
• Belief in Christ is necessary and sufficient.
• Belief in Christ is sufficient, but not necessary (other conditions include loving, etc.)
• There are many necessary conditions (openness to God, respect for their neighbour), but no one sufficient condition.

Question 12

What is Sola Christus?

Answer 12

Sola Christus is one of the controlling beliefs D’Costa makes reference to.

It refers to the belief that God’s grace is only possible through Christ.

Question 13

What is Extra ecclesiam nulla salus?

Answer 13

Extra ecclesiam nulla salus is one of the controlling beliefs D’Costa makes reference to.

It refers to the belief that salvation is not possible outside of the Church, as the Church is the continuation of Christ’s presence on Earth.

Question 14

What is Fides ex auditu?

Answer 14

Fides ex auditu is one of the controlling beliefs D’Costa makes reference to.

It refers to the belief that true faith is only possible through hearing the Gospel as witnessed in the Bible and preached by the Church.

Question 15

What is God and creation?

Answer 15

God and creation is one of the controlling beliefs D’Costa makes reference to.

It refers to the belief that God alone created the world and the belief that he is one, but he is also triune (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

Question 16

What is Eschatology?

Answer 16

Eschatology is one of the controlling beliefs D’Costa makes reference to.

It refers to the belief that God promises a future state if bliss or beatific vision after death for the elect or damnation for the wicked.

Question 17

What is Sin and election?

Answer 17

Sin and election is one of the controlling beliefs D’Costa makes reference to.

It refers to the belief that humans are fallen and incapable of knowing God fully by themselves; God calls or elects some to salvation and some to damnation.

Question 18

What is Theological Exclusivism and what did Bertrand Russel say about this?

Answer 18

Theological Exclusivism is the idea that only Christianity fully offers the means of salvation.
This argument is supported by Bertrand Russel, who stated:
‘It is evident as a matter of logic that, since they disagree, not more than one religion can be true’.

Question 19

What important issues does theological exclusivism raise?

Answer 19

Theological Exclusivism raises two important issues about the nature of God:
- Can God be known outside of Christianity?
- Is knowledge of God the same as receiving salvation?

Question 20

What is Restrictive Access Exclusivism (RAE) and what controlling beliefs can be associated with this?

Answer 20

Restrictive Access Exclusivism (RAE), according to Gavin D’Costa, is a kind of theological exclusivism. This is the view that salvation is only possible by directly hearing the Gospel and accepting baptism.

RAE follows the ideas of Sola Christus (God’s grace only possible through Christ) and Fides ex auditu (true faith is only possible through hearing the gospel as witnessed in the Bible).

Question 21

How do Restrictive Access Exclusivists support their position?

Answer 21

Restrictive Access Exclusivists support their position with reference to Biblical Texts, such as:

• John 14:6 - ‘Jesus said to him “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.’
• Acts 4:12 - ‘There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’
• 2 Corinthians 5:18 - ‘All this from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself.’

Question 22

What is the argument against Restrictive Access Exclusivism (RAE)?

Answer 22

An argument against Restrictive Access Exclusivism is that those who have not heard the gospel at no fault of their own (e.g. not living in a Christian community) are, according to RAE, incapable of receiving salvation, something that appears superficial for a loving God to do.

Question 23

What is the response to the argument against Restrictive Access Exclusivism given by Calvinists?

Answer 23

The response given by Calvinists to the arguments against Restrictive Access Exclusivism is that since God is just and loving, there are those who he elects due to their virtuous and devoted lives. This therefore supports the doctrine of limited election and double predestination - the belief that God selected those who will go to heaven and hell at the moment of creation.

Question 24

What is the Middle Knowledge argument?

Answer 24

The Middle Knowledge argument is a criticism for double predestination, stating that it is responsible for limiting human freedom; humans have free will, but God is omniscient and knows all that will happen, therefore God already knows who will receive the Gospel.

Question 25

What is Universal Access Exclusivism (UAE)?

Answer 25

Universal Access Exclusivism is the idea that God wills for the redemption of everyone.

Question 26

How do Universal Access Exclusivists and Restrictive Access Exclusivists interpret the words of St Paul differently?

Answer 26

St Paul writes ‘in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself’.

• Restrictive Access Exclusivists interpret ‘the world’ as referring to those elect to salvation.
• Universal Access Exclusivists interpret ‘the world’ as referring to everyone.

Question 27

What is Universal Access Exclusivism supported by?

Answer 27

• Roman Catholics and Protestant theologians

The New Testament: ‘God our saviour desired everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth’.

Question 28

What is the problem with Universal Access Exclusivism?

Answer 28

The problem with Universal Access Exclusivism is the idea that if God does indeed will the redemption of everyone, then how are those born before Christ or into non-Christian societies are to be saved without fides ex auditu?

Question 29

How do Universal Access Exclusivists argue that salvation is possible for those born before Christ or into non-Christian societies?

Answer 29

Universal Access Exclusvists argue that:

• Living the moral life according to conscience, natural law and devotion to God through a non-Christian religion prepares someone for receiving the gospel.
• The person may accept God’s redemption in Christ in purgatory afte death.

Question 30

What is the view on universal salvation and universalism to Universal Access Exclusivists?

Answer 30

Universal Access Exclusivists support universal salvation, however, they do not support universalism - the belief that God will restore the whole of the world to perfection - as there is no salvation outside of the Church.

Question 31

What does the Roman Catholic Church say about other religions?

Answer 31

In regards to other religions:
‘The Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions.’
‘Reflect a ray of that truth’
There is a need to be respectful of non-Christian religions, however they lack the controlling beliefs, and therefore cannot be a means of salvation.