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Summary Theology - Pluralism & Society
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Pluralism & Society‘Critically assess how Christian communities have
responded to the challenge of encounters with other faiths,
referencing the Redemptoris Missio
1) Inter-Faith Dialogue
Inter-faith dialogue is the sharing and discussing of religious beliefs between
members of different religious traditions. The aim of interfaith dialogue is to
better understand people of different beliefs to build better relationships and
remove prejudices. it has become more prominent as multi-faith societies
have emerged.
The Catholic Church - Redemptoris Missio
Pope John Paul II issued an encyclical called Redemptoris Missio. An
encyclical is an open letter sent to more than one recipient
Redemptoris Missio translates as ‘The Mission of the Redeemer’.
This encyclical focused on the role of missionary work.
Missionary work aims to convert people to a particular faith or set of beliefs
and can also involve working for social justice in areas of poverty or
deprivation. Pope John Paul II emphasised that missionary work is still
essential for Christians despite the fact we are now living in a multi-faith
world.
Pope's message on salvation
The Pope stated that belief in Jesus Christ is the only route to salvation
and that, empowered by the Holy Spirit, Christians still have a duty to share
this message. He referenced Acts 4:12 to support this message: ‘Salvation
is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to
mankind by which we must be saved’.
Pope: for inter-faith dialogue
In relation to the rise of multi-faith societies, the Pope wanted Catholic
Christians to appreciate and learn from the beliefs of others with different
religions.
For the Pope, the Christian mission works alongside inter-faith dialogue. This
is because a loving God wants his revelation shared with all people and all
, faiths. All Christians can engage in inter-faith dialogue. From religious officials
to non-expert religious believers, inter-faith dialogue can take many forms.
Uniqueness of Christianity
Pope John Paul II stated that interfaith dialogue allows Christians to uncover
ultimate truths and that other religions such as Hinduism and Islam contain
key truths which develop moral character.
But he said Christianity is unique because it offers the only means to salvation
and the Christian duty to bring others to the faith remains.
Pope John Paul II referenced 1 Corinthians 9:16 to support his argument:
‘Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!’
2) The Church of England and Inter-Faith Dialogue
In 2006, a Church of England member, Paul Eddy, asked for guidance on
whether or not Christians should be trying to convert people of other faiths.
Sharing the Gospel of Salvation’
This question started a discussion. The document ‘Sharing the Gospel of
Salvation’ was produced by the Church of England Synod as a result.
The document begins by reminding Christians that British Christianity
was born as a result of the Christian mission. As a result, Christians
should not feel afraid to continue spreading the message of the
Christian faith.
Any conversion is the work of God and not their own individual success.
Duty of discipleship
‘Sharing the Gospel of Salvation’ reiterates core Christianity truth claims such
as Jesus being the incarnation of God and Christianity offering salvation to all
who accept it. Christians should be active in engaging with others in their
community about inter-faith dialogue. Whilst they should be sensitive to the
views of others, all Christians are called to the duty of discipleship.
3) Objections to multi-faith society
Undermining the Unique Message of Christianity:
Some Christians might feel that the existence of other faiths undermines the
unique message of Christianity and its belief in salvation through Jesus Christ.
Hick argues that accepting the validity of other religious traditions dilutes the
distinctiveness of Christianity's teachings. This objection often stems from
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