Lesson 1: Exclusivism and Inclusivism
Exclusivism: the view that only Christianity fully offers the means of salvation
Inclusivism: the view that although Christianity is the normative means of salvation,
‘anonymous’ Christians may also receive salvation
Pluralism: the view that there are many ways to salvation, of which Christianity is one
path
This idea comes from the book “Christians and religious pluralism” - Alan Race’s book
1982.
The context of Christianity:
- Before Christianity there were Greek and Roman God’s, it developed from
Judaism.
- Earliest Christians saw themselves as having a unique relationship with God
made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
- They started converting people, the belief was that only faith in Christ could
bring salvation.
- This belief holds Christianity as being exclusive.
Christian Exclusivism
- Only Christianity can lead people into a right relationship with God
- Jesus is the son of God; therefore, his sacrificial death was an event of cosmic
significance
- The sacrifice purchased salvation for the world. It need only be believed to be
received
- (Bible) Mark: “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does
not believe will be condemned”
- The term exclusivist can sound negative and hostile so the term “particularist”
is often used.
The Church has had many splits and disagreements in its 2000-year history, so there
is also the issue of how Christians view different other types of Christian
denominations
Narrow Exclusivism (Catholic Chruch)
- Only people who are part of Catholicism will receive salvation
- “There is no salvation outside of the Church”
- Only baptised Catholics would go to heaven
- Vatican II declared that “many elements of sanctification and truth can be found
outside of its visible structure”
- Thus, allowing that other versions of Christianity may have some validity
Broad exclusivism
, - All people who accept Christ through faith are saved, regardless of what Church
they belong to.
- “Restricted access” meaning that your decision of faith must be made before
death and will be the chosen few
- “Universal access” meaning that the opportunity to decide may be post death
Kraemer
- The Christian message in a non-Christian world, “non-Christians can’t achieve
salvation through their own faith system, they have to convert”
- The salvation offer of Christ is either accepted or not, you can’t take it apart and
look for commonalities with other religious
- There is no partial truth.
Karl Barth
- You can’t know God through your own effort; he can only be known because he
has chosen to reveal himself (Jesus is the revelation of God, the Bible and the
Church testify to this).
- This makes Christianity unique, God cannot be known outside of Christ
Inclusivism:
- this is the middle path between exclusivism and pluralism
- Only Christianity has the true revelation of God and salvation.
- Elements of truth in other religions are the work of Christ, even if they are not
recognised as much.
- An omni-benevolent God would not reject those who sincerely follow their
religion, particularly if it was all they know
- This would mean that while salvation is only available because of Christ, it is not
impossible outside of the Christian Church
Karl Rahner was an inclusivist who introduced the idea of the “Anonymous
Christian”.
- Chrsitianity holds the truth and is the ultimate religion, however, this excused
those who lived before Jesus came to earth and those who have never heard
about him before
- The grace of an omnibenevolent and omniscient God can offer salvation to
those who though not their own fault, have not been able to respond to him in
the Christian message
- The anonymous Christian: someone with a genuine faith in God who lives a
good life, they will be saved because they are following Jesus without knowing it
- However, once they have heard the gospel of salvation of Christ they should
become a Christian, there is no longer an excuse.
Exclusivism: the view that only Christianity fully offers the means of salvation
Inclusivism: the view that although Christianity is the normative means of salvation,
‘anonymous’ Christians may also receive salvation
Pluralism: the view that there are many ways to salvation, of which Christianity is one
path
This idea comes from the book “Christians and religious pluralism” - Alan Race’s book
1982.
The context of Christianity:
- Before Christianity there were Greek and Roman God’s, it developed from
Judaism.
- Earliest Christians saw themselves as having a unique relationship with God
made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
- They started converting people, the belief was that only faith in Christ could
bring salvation.
- This belief holds Christianity as being exclusive.
Christian Exclusivism
- Only Christianity can lead people into a right relationship with God
- Jesus is the son of God; therefore, his sacrificial death was an event of cosmic
significance
- The sacrifice purchased salvation for the world. It need only be believed to be
received
- (Bible) Mark: “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does
not believe will be condemned”
- The term exclusivist can sound negative and hostile so the term “particularist”
is often used.
The Church has had many splits and disagreements in its 2000-year history, so there
is also the issue of how Christians view different other types of Christian
denominations
Narrow Exclusivism (Catholic Chruch)
- Only people who are part of Catholicism will receive salvation
- “There is no salvation outside of the Church”
- Only baptised Catholics would go to heaven
- Vatican II declared that “many elements of sanctification and truth can be found
outside of its visible structure”
- Thus, allowing that other versions of Christianity may have some validity
Broad exclusivism
, - All people who accept Christ through faith are saved, regardless of what Church
they belong to.
- “Restricted access” meaning that your decision of faith must be made before
death and will be the chosen few
- “Universal access” meaning that the opportunity to decide may be post death
Kraemer
- The Christian message in a non-Christian world, “non-Christians can’t achieve
salvation through their own faith system, they have to convert”
- The salvation offer of Christ is either accepted or not, you can’t take it apart and
look for commonalities with other religious
- There is no partial truth.
Karl Barth
- You can’t know God through your own effort; he can only be known because he
has chosen to reveal himself (Jesus is the revelation of God, the Bible and the
Church testify to this).
- This makes Christianity unique, God cannot be known outside of Christ
Inclusivism:
- this is the middle path between exclusivism and pluralism
- Only Christianity has the true revelation of God and salvation.
- Elements of truth in other religions are the work of Christ, even if they are not
recognised as much.
- An omni-benevolent God would not reject those who sincerely follow their
religion, particularly if it was all they know
- This would mean that while salvation is only available because of Christ, it is not
impossible outside of the Christian Church
Karl Rahner was an inclusivist who introduced the idea of the “Anonymous
Christian”.
- Chrsitianity holds the truth and is the ultimate religion, however, this excused
those who lived before Jesus came to earth and those who have never heard
about him before
- The grace of an omnibenevolent and omniscient God can offer salvation to
those who though not their own fault, have not been able to respond to him in
the Christian message
- The anonymous Christian: someone with a genuine faith in God who lives a
good life, they will be saved because they are following Jesus without knowing it
- However, once they have heard the gospel of salvation of Christ they should
become a Christian, there is no longer an excuse.
