pluralism and theology

• Exclusivism

  John 14:6 - Jesus is the way, the truth and the life

  
  

  Augustine - limited election - God chooses who is saved - narrow exclusivism

  
  

  Kraemer - only Christians can gain salvation, we have to accept and understand religions in their entirety - as a whole - other religions can offer God's revelation but ultimately a religion accepts or rejects the salvation offered by Christ - no middle ground - narrow exclusivism

  
  

  'Broad' exclusivists argue that all Christians who accept Christ are saved regardless of their style of worship, denomination or practices.
• Inclusivism

  there is the possibility of salvation for non-Christians but Christianity is the best route to achieve salvation

  Rahner - anonymous Christians - people who do Christian works/ live life like a Christian but don't identify as one

  • other religions contain partial truths
  • some people who lived before Christ - eg Jewish people before Jesus
  • people who haven't heard the message of Jesus

  Some inclusivists: salvation is possible if someone turns to Christianity after death. God’s omnibenevolence means that humans have the chance to repent and turn to him after death.
• pluralism

  
  

  mountain/peak analogy - multiple routes to reach ultimate reality/ the divine

  • differences in beliefs and practices are just the result of human culture

  Panikkar:

  • God makes himself known to humans in a variety of ways. Humans need to be open to wherever truth may be found - need for openness and humility
  • mystery of the divine
  • pluralism is a spiritual attitude rather than a philosophical perspective

  Kant: phenomenal realm (humans) vs noumenal (God) - we are limited/ separate from God
• pluralism

  Hick:

  • an omnibenevolent God would not exclude his children simply because they follow another religion - unlimited election
  • all religions are limited and flawed because humans are flawed
  • truth claims of religion = myths - Jesus was not literally the Son of God - teacher of wisdom
  • The afterlife provides the opportunity for individuals to continue their spiritual journey
• Salvation

  Craig - God has some 'middle knowledge' - he knows if someone would have turned to Christianity/ believed in it if they had heard its message - justice - omniscience

  • if people haven't heard the gospel its because God knows they would not have believed it if they had
  • babies who have died - God knows how they would have lived if they have reached it to adulthood
  • this means that some babies can be sent to Hell - is this ever justifiable? - omnibenevolence

  
  

  
  

  limited election - Augustine, Barth, Calvin

  unlimited election - Hick, Panikkar