In-depth, critical and evaluative A01 + A02 notes for the topic Religious Pluralism and Theology for the Developments in Christian Thought unit for OCR Religious Studies.
RELIGIOUS PLURALISM AND
THEOLOGY
The Problems posed by Theological Pluralism
Epistemological: Are the truth claims of other religions compatible
with Christianity?
Soteriological: Can non-Christians receive salvation?
Sufficient (D’Costa)
Enough for something to be the case: Is only just believing in God
and being a Christian enough for salvation?
Necessary
Required for something to be the case: Is salvation only open to
those who believe in the resurrection of Jesus? Is it required to have
been elected predeterminable?
Exclusivism
The belief that only through believing in the death and resurrection of
Christ and responding to the Gospel is the way to salvation
Narrow Exclusivism:
Only those who follow scripture closely (Bible-believing) are
elected for salvation. Just being Christian isn’t enough.
Commonly held by Catholics- “extra ecclesian nulla salus”. Also
evident in the beliefs of St Augustine and Calvin.
Heteronomous moral principles
Broad Exclusivism
Vatican II: Introduced reform to the Exclusivist views of the
Catholic Church, opting for a broader view that all denominations
within Christianity can reach salvation
Lumen Gentium: “(Christ is) an entity with visible delineation
through which He communicated truth and grace to all”
High Christology evident in quote above
Universal Access Exclusivism (D’Costa)
People can receive salvation after their death, perhaps in
purgatory. It is the will of God that everyone come to love
Christ
Timothy 2:3-6: “God our saviour, who wants all people to be
saved”
Restrictive Access Exclusivism (D’Costa)
Salvation is available to those who hear and respond to the
Gospel in their earthly lives. God chooses who hears this and
saves them.
, Similar to the views of Calvin and Augustine’s Post-Laprasian
society
Grace is costly-Bonhoeffer
Kraemer’s Exclusivism
Influenced the ecumenical and missionary movement; acknowledged
that it was human reason to know the divine.
Salvation is only found through Christianity so it’s distinct beliefs
should be spread to others.
Religions should be understood independently and any attempt to
establish common ground does not stand.
Criticism of Middle Knowledge, as it is either receiving salvation or not.
Barth’s Exclusivism
Believes in the “theology of the word”, knowledge of God is only known
where God chooses to reveal it through his word.
Belief in Jesus is the most reliable to genuine knowledge as Jesus is the
full and unique way God has chosen to reveal his word
Therefore, only through understanding Jesus is the way to salvation. No
sincere attempts to understand God can compare to that extent.
STRENGTH OF WEAKNESS OF EVALUATION (Which is
EXCLUSIVIST VIEW EXCLUSIVIST VIEW significant and why?)
Supports restrictive RAE position suggests Barth highlights the
access view; meaning the existence of an inherently mysterious
that salvation may be unjust and unloving God nature of the Divine; we
possible in the afterlife simply cannot know for
for others as there is no sure.
predestination in the
“election”. Supports
“costly grace”.
The Church may simply Believes in the The Middle Knowledge is
be seen as all who are abolishment of all other a good response to this.
guided by the Holy non-Christian belief
Spirit, acknowledging systems as “untrue”,
the Inclusivist view and giving way to Christian
the Middle Passage Imperialism and
persecution
Christianity is an The “rays of light” that The history of Christian
inherently unique and are championed by the imperialism creates a
distinct belief system, UAE view still fall short different image of what
making it superior to for what is needed for the “rays of lights” are.
others. Alongside this, salvation. They are Christianity should
its teachings are widely effectively frivolous in remain distinct and
spread, making it any right exclusivist, but
accessible to transform accessible for those who
other belief systems seek it.
Preaches that all The unknowable Tolerance is the best
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