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Four Views on Salvation in a Pluralistic World (02)
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Paul Jang
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2008-12-03 14:39:39, hit : 3,046 |
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(B) The Technical Terms relating to Pluralism
We need to correctly understand the Christian salvation in this pluralistic world. In so doing, the following terms in relation to SALVATION should be surveyed.
(1) Exclusivism
(1) Exclusivists are generally presented unsympathetically, as fiercely ruling out the truth of other religion, proclaiming (sometimes arrogantly) Christian superiority, having native views on world history, etc.
(2) Exclusivism should be understood in terms of theological and not social exlusivism.
(3) It should not be understood as restricting association with adherents of other faiths, nor as encouraging intolerance of disrespectful behavior toward those of other faiths (an obligatory disclaimer).
(2) Restrictivism
(1) Restrictivism is commonly used as a synonym for exclusivism.
(2) In contrast with inclusivism, it obscures the breadth of options in the classical exclusivist position.
(3) It carries the suggestion that fewer are saved in it than in inclusivism. In other words, it means that people could be restrictively saved.
(4) Just because "salvation is available to more people under inclusivism, it does not imply that more people actually avail themselves of salvation.
(3) Particularism
(1) Particularism is used inter-changeably with exclusivism as more appropriate term.
(2) Particularists argue that salvation is available only through faith in God's special acts in history, culminating in Jesus Christ.
(3) The other options by contrast construe salvation pluralistically:
1) as being independently available in many cultures and religions.
2) inclusively, where Jesus Christ is the normative fulfillment of the salvation available throughout other cultures.
(4) Particularism is a hallmark of the salvation-history scheme, the oldest enduring tradition in Christian theology in which it divides its scheme into two spheres between general and special revelation.
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Introduction
Theology 