Pluralism in Christianity Research Paper Example

One of Christianity's many controversies is whether or not any humans are denied salvation. Although various points of view claim to have the correct perspective, pluralism holds the strongest argument. It is important to refer to such key thinkers as John Hick, Kant, Augustine and Hendrik Kraemer.

Some Christians and many people believe in pluralism, which suggests that there are many ways to salvation, and Christianity is just one of these paths. The analogy of the blind men and elephant can illustrate this idea of pluralism. It entails a group of blind men who come across an elephant and each touch a different part of it; each will further understand what the elephant is like, even though each is equally valid. For example, one of the men touching the tail thought it was a rope, whilst the man holding the leg believed it to be a tree trunk. John Hick is one of the best-known advocates for pluralism. As a natural theologian, he felt that all that needed to be known should be deduced from this world. People believe because of religious experience; however, this can be interpreted through individual faith traditions, religious experience is common to all faiths. Therefore, different people are experiencing and interpreting the same reality in different ways. Cultural differences provide the different lenses through which we experience the divine. Hick was heavily influenced by Kant, who distinguished between the noumena, what a thing actually is, and the phenomena, how we individually experience it. Therefore the noumena of the divine is one thing, but it is experienced through different phenomena, religions. This theory recognises that diversity in viewpoints and approaches is crucial to the functioning of society and makes it possible for unity and individuality to coexist at the same time.  A quote from the Bible supporting pluralism is, "In my father's house there are many rooms" God does not just reveal himself to Christians. All religions are equally valid. Many Hindu's support the idea of religious pluralism and argue that the Christian God is just one understanding of a very complex being. Therefore, regardless of what religion you practice or if you do not practice one, God will ultimately save you. However, for some Christians, religious pluralism is an obstacle to religious development. It can cause the loss of distinctiveness and challenge the 'one true way ';  the idea of God saving all is a difficult concept for many Christians. It invalidates the whole religion altogether. Why should they lead a moral life if God will give them salvation anyway? Nevertheless, this argument is weak as no matter the end result as a Christian, your duty should always be to choose good and live morally as Jesus taught. Many people welcome religious pluralism as a means to religious freedom, where everyone can practice their own religion without being judged. As a result, society functions better, there is no hostility between any religions, overall providing a more peaceful environment.

On the other hand, Many Christians, specifically Catholics, hold the prominent view of exclusivism, believing that only Christianity holds the truth and can offer salvation. Calvinists and Augustine, in particular, take a more narrow approach. They teach that the Bible is clear that fallen humanity was restored through the extraordinary sacrifice of Jesus, who taught, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". It is thought that humans are sinful as a result of the fall, and no one deserves to be saved, God chooses who he saves, and this cannot be forced. Pope John Paul II  said that all non-Roman Catholic religions were 'defeats'. The Catholic Church maintains that there is no salvation outside of the church; to have a chance of going to heaven, one must be baptised and live a devout Catholic life. Since the 1960s, the catholic church has accepted that while other denominations and religions have elements of truth, the full expression of truth can only be found in the catholic church.  Christians believe that the Bible is the word of God, and so the Bible must be true. If it says Jesus is the only way to salvation, then it must be true. Broad exclusivism suggests that all people who accept Christ through faith are saved regardless of denomination or style of worship. Hendrik Kraemer was a famous Christian exclusivist, part of the movement to bring together different Christian denominations. He wrote the book 'The Christian message in a non-Christian world', influential for overseas missionaries. His book highlighted that non-Christians could not gain or achieve salvation through their own faith systems but must convert to Christianity. Salvation is only found in Christianity, no matter how well-meaning the other faiths are. Even after years of working with other religions, many Christians at heart believe that their religion is still the only true one. However, one of exclusivism's major flaws includes the fact that it leads to wars and conflict and treats others as less valuable people. The idea that if God sends people to hell who couldn't hear the Christian message proves that God isn't omnibenevolent. If God cannot be fully comprehended, it is impossible to assert that anyone can have complete control over the truth and, thus, salvation. D'Costa points out that exclusivism is wrong because it is incompatible with God's love, ignores the example of revelation in the Old Testament, which occurs outside Christianity, and ignores the importance of moral action and behavior.

In conclusion, the idea of pluralism is a stronger argument as it makes an effort to understand differences that others may find difficult to accept. Therefore is a more realistic approach to modern-day Christianity.