C6.1 pluralism

• Ecumenism: a movement that promotes the unity of different Christian denominations
• Established Church: a church supported by the government as a national institution, e.g. Church of England
• Inclusivism (Rahner): Christianity has a unique position but other faiths may also demonstrate the grace of God - normative means to salvation
• Particularism/ exclusivism (Barth): only those who hear + respond to the gospel of Christ can be saved
• Pluralism (Hick): each religion is an equal + valid understanding of God
• Particularists, e.g. Augustine, Cyprian of Carthage: “extra Ecclesiam nulla salus” - there is no salvation outside the Church
• Barth exclusivism: all have chance to be saved but some choose not to - "there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus"
• Swinburne's 2 criticisms of Hick's pluralism:

  1. means no freedom of choice as can't choose to reject salvation
  2. not coherent w Christian teaching not all saved - sheep/goats (Matthew)
• Parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew) - not all saved; those who don't believe in Jesus/don't follow his teachings go to Hell
• Biblical evidence for exclusivism:

  "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John)
• Rahner: ppl of other Abrahamic faiths can achieve salvation if act like Christians, even though don't know it - "anonymous Christians"
• synoptic strength of Hick's pluralism (philosophy)

  most philosophical convincing, religs all equally valid supported by Wittgenstein
• 2 criticisms of Rahner's inclusivism

  1. "anonymous Christians" = patronising, don't know what worshiping
  2. reduces Christianity to just being moral
• 2 criticisms of Hick's pluralism

  1. contradicts Jesus' teaching "no one to Father except thru me" (John)
  2. ignores diffs in religs; e.g. Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity gods