Religious pluralism and society

• Social Cohesion 


  when a group is united by bonds that help them to live together peacefully
• Synod


  legislative body of the church of England
• Missionary Work


  activity that aims to convert people to a particular faith or set of beliefs or works for social justice in areas of poverty or deprivation
• Encyclical 


  open letter sent to more than one recipient
• Multi Faith Societies


  societies where there are significant populations of people with different religious beliefs
• In 2021, what percentage of the population described themselves as Christian?

  46.2%
• In 2021, what percentage of the population described themselves as Muslim?

  6.5%
• In 2021, what was the percentage that described themselves as non-religious?

  37.2%
• In 2021, what percentage described themselves as Jewish?

  0.5%
• In 2011, what percentage described themselves as Jewish?

  0.5%
• In 2011, what percentage described themselves as non-religious?

  25.1 %
• In 2011, what percentage described themselves as Christian?

  59.3%
• In 2011, what percentage described themselves as Muslim?

  4.8%
• Development of Contemporary multi-faith societies:

  • Historically, the UK was Christian after the Romans brought it over.
  • It became the primary faith in the 7th Century
  • Big cities often had small Chinese, Jewish or Muslim communities
  • Samuel Pepys - visited a Synagogue in 1663 - fascinated with the traditions of the area
  • Most of the population lived in isolated rural communities - thus never came into contact with other faiths
  • Laws and Customs - stemmed from the Christian faith
  • Jews were expelled from Britain in 1290 until 1656 (under Oliver Cromwell)
• Development of Contemporary multi-faith societies: cont'd

  • Post WW2 - Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims migrated from the empire and or colonies to help with work
  • Sikhs arrived from Uganda from 1972 when Idi Amin expelled the Asian population
  • King Charles wanted to be known as the Defender of Faith instead of Defender of the Faith - this didn't occur at his coronation
  • Greater understanding within the UK of different faiths and ideas
  • Christians are challenged not only by religious beliefs of other but also by those who disagree with religion at all
• What challenges do encounters with different faiths present for Christianity?

  • religious differences as provide opportunities for learning, sharing common values, adopting new ways of thinking and developing relationships
  • strengthens the ideas of co-operation
  • defend Christianity when criticised
  • multi- faith environment may be damaging Christianity - suggesting that there are other routes to salvation
  • encourage children to become interested in false beliefs
  • seen as ignorant to share the Christian faith - for conversion
• What does inter-faith dialogue mean?

  include those whose beliefs are non - religious or have different religious ideas in communication. To break down misconceptions and stereotypes.
• Inter faith dialogue:

  • aims to promote peace, co-operation and understanding
  • try to understand each other even if they don't agree
  • not a new idea - people have always discussed their beliefs with one another especially if they disagree
  • renewed interest in inter-faith dialogue as ethnic populations change and as world events occur
• 'Sharing the Gospel of Salvation': The Church of England (inter-faith dialogue)

  1. 'the dialogue of daily life' - people strike up conversation (informal) about their differing religious views
  2. 'the dialogue of the common good' - adherents of different faith work together to benefit the community
  3. 'the dialogue of mutual understanding' - people get together for formalised debates such as in the Scriptural Reasoning Movement
  4. 'the dialogue of spiritual life' - people of different religious beliefs meet together for prayer and worship
• What two events om The Future of Christian Theology (2011) did David Ford say shaped inter - faith dialogue?

  1. Holocaust
  2. 9 / 11
• Ford: The Holocaust

  • Some Christians see Judaism as a 'failed' religion who reject Christianity
  • now superseded by Christianity
  • led t o the Debru Emet = speak the truth -- signed by 200 Jewish rabbis and intellectuals
• Dabru Emet Text:

  • Jews and Christians worship the same God. 
  • Jews and Christians seek authority from the same book.
  • Christians can respect the claim of the Jewish people upon the land of Israel. 
  • Jews and Christians accept the moral principles of Torah
  • Nazism was not a Christian phenomenon
  • The humanly irreconcilable difference between Jews and Christians will not be settled until God redeems the entire world as promised in Scripture. 
  • A new relationship between Jews and Christians will not weaken Jewish practice
  • Jews and Christians must work together for justice and peace
• Ford: 9/11

  • This stemmed anti - Islamic ideas in the West
  • changing point in ideas to towards different faiths
• Catholic and interfaith dialogue: 'Redemptoris Missio'

  • Tradition of Papal Encyclicals - address significant issues within the life of the church and its relationship to modern society
  • Pope John Paul II released an Encyclical called 'Redemptoris Missio' in 1990 - subject was missionary work
  • Christian mission to convert non-Christians was still key
  • Christians empowered by the Holy Spirits to bring others to the Christian Faith - but he also recognises an Multi-faith society == respect choice
• What is a key part of of Redemptoris Missio (1990) subtitled?

  Dialogue with our brothers and sisters
• What did Pope John Paul II say about inter - religious dialogue?

  Should be seen in the context of the Christian mission. Pope says that God wishes to share his revelation and love with all people, even if they belong to other religions. Inter faith dialogue and the Christian message should not be confused although they work together.
• What does Pope John Paul II emphasise and assert in his encyclical?

  Christians still have the duty to emphasise that the way to salvation is through Jesus Christ and even if there is salvation through God's Grace but doesn't cancel out the fact that faith is needed
• Redemptoris Missio:

  • Refers to the Bible to show that Christianity is unique in offering the means to salvation
  • Pope underlines the need for respect in inter-religious dialogue
  • concludes with the recognition that dialogue can take many forms - emphasises that dialogue can be practiced by all members of the church
  • 'Dialogue is a path toward the kingdom and will certainly bear fruit, even if the times and seasons are know only to the Father'
• Church of England and inter faith dialogue: sharing the gospel of salvation

  • 2006 Paul Eddy put a question to the synod about the debate of inter faith of dialogue -- need clear guidance
  • Paul Eddy believed that Christians became too fearful of giving offence and therefore stopped preaching Jesus but he believed this was not right
  • 2010 = Sharing the Gospel of Salvation was released
• Sharing the Gospel of Salvation:

  • reaffirmed the Christian message - God's plan for salvation is through Jesus Christ
  • document reminds Christianity in Britain came through the efforts of others and missionary
  • when people convert to Christianity its through God not the action of others
  • reaffirms the oneness of God - one God offers salvation to everyone whether or not they know it
  • large communities of non - Christians - - problems for the Parish -- the document encourages Christians to be loving and sensitive
• Scriptural Reasoning Movement:

  • movement that started amongst Jewish scholars in the USA, then included Christians and Muslims as they are known as the 'Religions of the Books'
  • became part of the Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme
  • look at passages on a topic from each Holy Scripture
  • goal is to get above and past misconceptions and stereotypes -- NOT TO AGREE WITH EACHOTHER
  • opportunity to engage in debate and inter - faith dialogue
• Scriptural Reasoning Movement: cont'd

  • shouldn't be places were people feel the need to convert
  • not used for missionary work
  • help understanding different and conflicting religious truths - such as if Jesus was the Son of God or just a prophet
  • allows discussion and disagreements