The exclusivist approach to the question of religious diversity is the only approach that takes seriously the importance of religious truth.'—Explain and critically assess this claim.

8. I agree with Hick/pluralism that... (evaluation)

1. Christianity shouldn't be understood as the 'truth'. Truth claims of Christianity (e.g. Jesus' resurrection, Mary a virgin when she gave birth) were not literal facts but myths and should be understood as such. Once they are understood as a myth, we can recognise that each religion holds as much truth as the next one, because they each hold different symbols and are each meaning in their own context rather than contradictory. 2. We must respect the freedom of God, and go beyond human attempts to define it and make it into a system of doctrines. 3. We are free to discover our own truths and to hold our own beliefs, without attempting to destroy different cultural traditions and doctrines. Finding truth is a personal thing with no right or wrong (as exclusivism wrongly states).

3. Criticisms of rigorist exclusivism (4 main limitations and then 2 mini strengths)

1. Rather an inclusivist approach even, if the focus is on explicit acts of faith in Christ in order to be saved. 2. Can this view be justified in a multi-faith society? If so many religions are co-existing together, than how can we negate religions other than Christianity. Do the views and religious truths of these people not matter? 3. Exclusivism is not compatible with the idea of an all-loving and forgiving God. It suggests that God loves some people more than others, because some people have more opportunities to become Christian that others. God loves all regardless of faith-equal. 4. It creates social division and conflict, as it fails to recognise the richness and wisdom of other world religions by arrogantly assuming that Christians know best and that Christianity and Christ are superior. Elitist and bigoted. HOWEVER... - It's true to the faith tradition it is a part of. - Takes seriously particularity.

Evaluation of Barth's relevational exclusivism (2)

1. Some believe his theology isn't entirely exclusivist. Although he emphasises the centrality of Christ in salvation, he also emphasises that God can and does reveal himself when he chooses, which could leave open the possibility of God choosing to reveal himself in other ways. 2. It's highly dismissive an demeaning of other faiths and a very vain view to believe that Christianity is superior.

1. Intro (4) - Definition of exclusivism - Two main types of exclusivism - My view of exclusivism/question - Why I think pluralism is better- truth can be found in all religions

Definition: - The doctrine or belief that only one particular religion or belief system is true. 2 main types: 1. RIGORIST EXCLUSIVISM: Salvation comes from faith in Christ 2. REVELATIONAL EXCLUSIVISM: Knowledge of God only through the revelation of the Word of God and the revelation of Jesus Christ. My view: - Although it demonstrates the need for faith, this view is difficult in multi- faith societies. Pluralism recognises that truth can be found in all religions, rather than taking an elitist stance on one particular religion which exclusivism does, particularly through it's emphasis that Christ is necessary in gaining knowledge of God to be saved. The problem with this is that is places Christianity higher than other religions, failing to recognise that religious truth can also be found outside of Christianity.

7. John Hick's Pluralism (4)

- Exclusivism & incompatibility with Christian teaching. - Rejects solus Christus. - A God of love wouldn't condemn and deny a person salvation, just because their cultural heritage was such that they were looking to serve God in a religion other than Christianity. -Called for a COPERNICAN REVOLUTION.' in theology. Copernicus was originally met with resistance when he claimed that the Earth was not at the centre of the universe but that it orbited the sub. Hick uses this to say that instead of seeing Christianity as a normative absolute, and measuring other religions against it, we should instead put 'GOD' or 'REALITY' in the centre. - Religion is a human phenomenal way of understanding the world. - PHENOMENAL= as it appears to us. - NOUMENAL=things as they really are. All religions are human constructs , where we filter our understanding of God in accordance with our ow contexts and cultural upbringing. Thus a particular religion cannot hold 'the truth', such as Christianity.

2. Rigorist Exclusivism (5)

- Salvation comes from faith in Christ alone (solus Christus). - This salvation is only available to the person who engages in explicit act(s) of faith in Christ which comes from repentance and embracing a new life in Christ. Kraemer: All world religions need evaluating as whole systems- can't pick and mix across different faiths or take them apart. Religion as a whole either accepts the salvation offered by Christ or it does not -Traditional and conservative views of Protestant Theology. - Traditional and conservative forms of Roman Catholicism. Catholic Motto: EXTRA ECCLESIAN NULLA SALUS"- THERE IS NO SALVATION OUTSIDE THE CHURCH.

9. In conclusion (2)

It is wrong to suggest that exclusivism is the only approach that takes seriously the importance of religious truth as individuals can find truth however they do personally. Christianity or Christ may be important to some individuals to find meaning, but in a multi-faith society, others may favour other religions/beliefs in order to find truth, and should not be made to feel inferior. Exclusivism is not compatible with the idea of an all loving God and only seeks to create conflict. Rather it can be argued that pluralism is a better option and indeed does take seriously the importance of religious truth, by arguing that there is no one path to religion, meaning that no particular religion can hold the truth, as exclusivism suggests

4. Revalational exclusivism (Karl Barth) (5)

KARL BARTH: - Outside the revelation of Jesus Christ, there is NO knowledge whatsoever of God. - Knowledge of God only through the revelation of the Word of God. Thus, Barth rejected any form of natural theology. - The Word of God is: 1. Jesus Christ ( word of God in human form, teaching and exemplifying God's love to humanity. (Jesus is the only genuine truly reliable way of knowing God.) 2. The Bible (derivatively as testimony to Jesus Christ) 3. Preaching (derivative from the Bible). -Pluralism rejected. - Christianity is the 'True Religion' but no religion has its worth as 'religion'.

6. However... Pluralism intro for evaluation to answer question (3) + (1) (my view)

PLURALISM MAIN BELIEFS - Religious truth can be found within all religions (thus disagrees with the above claim). - No religions or religious traditions are superior to one another (they are different and relative to one another). - Parable of the 6 blind men and the elephant: There isn't one definite answer as to what an elephant feels like to each one of these men, in the same way that there is no religion that is more important than any other. I favour the pluralist approach rather than the exclusivist one, by recognising that truth can be found in all religions, rather than just Christianity like exclusivists believe. Instead, pluralism highlights that no religions are superior and is a useful approach when looking at religion in a multi-faith society (exclusivism doesn't recognise this.)