Salvation

• What is the official teaching of some Catholics regarding salvation?

  Only available to baptized Catholics
• How did Vatican II change the Catholic view on salvation?

  It softened the exclusivist stance
• What do broader exclusivists believe about salvation?

  All who accept Christ are saved
• What does the fluoride parable illustrate?

  Salvation is possible through Jesus' resurrection
• Normative way to salvation

  the usual or idea way to be saved, but not necessarily the only one
• If Christ is the 'truth' can there be any other means of salvation? - Exclusivist view

  Such a serious question as to whether or not someone spends eternity in heaven or hell requires definitive answers

  • Pluralism moves away from any possibility of there being truth
  • Pluralism fails to notice essential and revealed Christian truths, eg. the effect of the Fall on the world and humanity
• If Christ is the 'truth' can there be any other means of salvation? - YES

  • Inclusivism shows that Christ's truth is for all humanity, Christ's incarnation took place out of love and this same love must look after those who are not Christians
  • Pluralism rejects the idea that Christ is 'the' truth - the words of the Bible might not be literally true, eg. including the words attributed to Jesus
  • If God truly does not save others then this God is not worthy of our worship
• Would a loving God deny any human being salvation?

  • Pluralists - it is possible that God is present in different ways and in different cultures, so that people can understand salvation in an appropriate way
  • Some Christians - believe that Original Sin made too great an impact on the world
• Church of England: Sharing the Gospel of Salvation (2010)

  • acknowledges that modern Britain is a multi-faith society which everyone shares
  • suggests that salvation has been achieved through the Christ-event and therefore Christian’s must proclaim this
• Church of England: Sharing the Gospel of Salvation (2010) - the role of the Christian

  • be sensitive to those around them, do not try to ‘’make a sale’
  • develop good relationships with people in the spirit of welcoming in the hope that they will be baptised in the future, to ‘go beyond tolerance’
  • live a good Christian lifestyle as distinct and authentic Christians
  • work for the common good of society