Religious Diversity P.1 Christ among other gods

Road Map 1.Introduction 2.World Religions 3.Religious Diversity 1.Exclusivity, inclusivity, pluralism

Test Your self 1.What three religions focus on the same God which was also the God of Moses? A. Judaism, Taoism, Confucianism B. Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism C. Islam, Christianity, Buddhism D. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

2. The Islamic people are called A. Buddhists B. Hindus C. Christians D. Muslims

3. What religion was once a part of Judaism? A. Christianity B. Confucianism C. Taoism D. Buddhism

INTRODUCTION According to a recent report, nearly two out of three adults contend that the choice of one religious faith over another is irrelevant because all religions teach the same lessons about life. They believe that it doesn’t matter which god you pray to because every deity is ultimately the same deity veiled in a different name.

World Religions Christianity: 2.1 billion. Islam: 1.3 billion. Hinduism: 900 million. Buddhism: 376 million. Sikhism: 23 million. Judaism: 14 million.

The Question of Religious Diversity

Defining Diversity What types of religious diversity might we encounter?

How distinct are these major religions? In looking at these major belief systems and their views of God, we find tremendous diversity: 1.Hindus acknowledge multitudes of gods and goddesses. 2.Buddhists say there is no deity. 3.Muslims believe in a powerful but unknowable God. 4.Christians believe in a God who is loving and approachable.

Some Questions Mission Missiology and the question of inter-religious dialogue. How does this affect mission? The impact of diversity on religions and their development. Questions of truth and practice. Is there one way to religious truth/salvation and if so, how are we to discover it? Why does diversity occur and what does it tell us about religion?

Particularism (Exclusivism) The view that only one religion is valid (I.E. true and salvatory). In Catholicism this is expressed as the doctrine of ‘extra ecclesiam nulla salus’ (outside the church there is no salvation): Cyprian- ‘You cannot have God as father unless you have the Church as mother.’ ‘I am the Way the Truth and the Life no one comes to the Father except through me.’

Particularism: Assessment Strengths Weaknesses

Pluralism The view that all, or many, religions are equally valid (true and salvatory). John Hick claims there is, ‘a transcendent unity of religions’. Keith Ward claims that religions are ‘complimentary’, making up for the errors and deficiencies of each other. The Elephant Analogy.

Pluralism: Assessment Strengths Weaknesses

If all religions of the world are equally true, logic requires that they are all equally false. The conflicting doctrines would cancel one another!

Inclusivism Karl Rahner claims that, while Christ is essential for salvation, salvation through Christ is possible outside of Catholicism and even Christianity. The visible/invisible churches: ‘the invisible is broader than the visible. The invisible Church is not the hidden kernel existing within the visible, but an extension of the Church beyond the boundaries of those who explicitly confess Christianity.’ - Karen Kilby. ‘Anonymous Christians’. ‘the healthy elements in each person, that which has been healed and made holy, is the fruit of the grace of Christ, even though the person may not be consciously aware of himself as saved through Christ.’ - Zagzebski

Inclusivism: Assessment Strengths Weaknesses

SUMMATION

Religious pluralism: all religions are correct, they just offer a different path and have a different perspective on the Ultimate Reality. Religious inclusivism: only one religion is fully correct, but it’s still possible to attain salvation or nirvana through another religion. Religious exclusivism: salvation can be attained only through the one true religion; all others are mistaken.

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