Faith at the bar of reason exclsm inclsm global missn

teaching slides

Module: Theology at the Bar of Reason

Session 5 Exclusivism, inclusivism and global mission

Or How the East was 'won' but then got its own back...

Have you heard the one about the about the Buddhist monk in a pizza take-away?

Have you heard the one about the about the Buddhist monk in a pizza take-away?

He went in and said:Make me one with everything

Teacher God, open our minds: so may we build new knowing on former learning.

Creator of learning, open our hearts: may we embrace surprise and challenge, confident in your love.

God who Sees, open our spirits: let us discern your grace and presence in our class today.

Loving God, open our lives: may we learn from each other and serve each other in learning together.

What we're looking at in the session now ... Missions to China and India in 'our period' (but some leakage),

mainly Jesuits (who were a Modernist lot -maybe)

And thinking a bit about some of the issues raised (see title).

How we're learning ... Sorry: there might be a lot of listening -but at least its mostly story (hurrah!)

Why we're learning this stuff Well, we're still living with and talking about the issues raised.

Pioneer ministers are looking back at some of this for help and inspiration.

Gospel and Culture ...

You may remember this ....

Christians beyond Rome (Al Rum) ...

Syrian merchantsand monks

Synod 410 AD

Mongolia:Kerait people

Chang-An /Hsianfu /Xi-an stele

Look at exerpt; what do you make of it?

Matteo Ricci goes to China1582 ff.

Rites Dispute

Terms for GodChinese liturgyHonouring Kung Fu Tze(aka. Confucius).

India: Mar Thoma

Assyrians /Nestorians?

India: Mughals, Portuguese & Empire

Goa 1498 ff

Mission Theology and History

Roberto Nobili (arrives 1605 at Madurai)


Lutherans (Danish) arrive 1706 at Tranquebar


Henry Martyn(1781-1812)

... summary of his life on handout

William Carey(1761-1834)

See handout for overview...

John Roberts, Wind River .

The Wind River Indian Reservation was established for the Eastern Shoshone Indians in 1868. Revd John Robertscame in 1883 and started an Episcopal Mission near Fort Washakie.

A very brief history of inter-faith theology

Justin Martyr 100-165: preparatio evangelica

Tertullian: What has Athens to do with Jerusalem? c.160-225

John of Damascus: 'Dialogues'.also Catholicos Timothy

Gregory the Great: baptise asmuch as possible of Saxon religion

Ramon Lull: 'One religion but a variety of rites' (De Pace Fide 1452)

The challenges of inter-faith encounter

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Abusive practices (eg sutti)

Kindness and character of other religionists

Depth/beauty of teachings

Beauty or power of worship


Raises questions:

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Raises questions:

What is the status of other religionsand/or their followers?Does God have a purpose for them?How should we treat them?What about those who haven't heard?What is the scope of Atonement?

How did /do Christians respond?



Here's one I prepared earlier...

Exclusivism

Inclusivism

Pluralism



Exclusivism (or Particularism) -- "Salvation is found in only one religion."... there is only one way to God and salvation. Thus one religion is uniquely and supremely true and all other religions are false



Inclusivism "One religion is best but salvation is possible in other religions."

... People of other faiths can be saved by Jesus even if they do not explicitly believe in Him.



Pluralism "All major world religions lead to God and salvation."

... all major religions are equally valid and lead to God and salvation, no religion is inherently better or superior to any other major world religion.

The mission effects of theologies ...

What implications can we see for missionof each of these positions?Both positives and negatives should be considered.

Exclusivism /particularism

Inclusivism

Pluralism

The mission effects of theologies ....

Particularism or Exclusivismpowerful motivator (but not TULIPs), urgency (but unlovely?), conversion, God can seem narrow and unpowerful to save (how do you feel about JW's?), 'gnostic'?, general revelation not valued for salvation, focus on evangelism (vs social dimensions).


InclusivismEncourages inculturation and engagement with the religious other.Some interpretations could lead to complacency.Both critique and affirm other faiths.Emphasises salvation vs confession of faith; potentially flexi about boundaries.


Pluralismdowngrades evangelism, or disallows it.Tends to focus on dialogue and working together for peace and justice.Tends towards erosion of Christian identity even syncretism.


Religious syncretism: blending of two or more religious belief systems into a new system, or the incorporation into a religious tradition of beliefs from unrelated traditions.

Some think syncretism corrupts the original religion, rendering it no longer true. "Syncretism" becomes a disparagement implying that to incorporate a new view, belief, or practice into a religious system actually distorts the original faith

Some biblical texts that tend to be used ...

1Timothy 2:4 in the sight of God our Saviour, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus ...,...

Commitment to universal mission; questions some TULIP. What about the 'beyonders'?

Some biblical texts that tend to be used ...

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me

.

-exclusivist usage, but inclusivist reading possible. There is even a pluralist reading (about God as Father).

And some more ...

Acts 4:12. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

Favourite of exclusivists, but in context may not bear all the weight.

And some more ...

Matthew 25:31ff. When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,.... as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me ...

More difficult text for exclusivists, tends to sit more easily for inclusivists and pluralists.

And some more ...

John 10:16. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Pluralists sometimes cite this. Probably it is more inclusivist -friendly, though.

The Scandal of Particularity ...

A term used to describe the Christian claim that only through a Christ who lived at a particular time in a particular place has universal salvation been wrought.

How do you respond to that?

Issues to ponder further...

What work is the Spirit doing beyond the Church?

What constitutes salvation for individuals?

Can people be 'existentially BC' even if chronologically AD?

C1C2C3C4C5C6

The C1-C6 SpectrumChrist-Centred Communities.

The six types on the spectrum are differentiated by language, culture, worship forms, freedom of association and religious identity

Decide which order the cardscan be best put in to constitutea spectrum.

3-5 mins

C1C2C3C4C5C6

The C1-C6 Spectrum*John Travis, EQM Oct.1998.p407

C1 Traditional Church, uses 'outsider' language.

C1C2C3C4C5C6

C3 Using vernacular, & religiouslyneutral vernacular cultural forms.

C1C2C3C4C5C6

C4

Vernacular language, culture,and biblically religious forms

C4 MBB's tend to identify asFollowers of Isa Masih or similar .

C1C2C3C4C5C6

C6

Underground believers;outwardly conform to social and religious milieu

C1C2C3C4C5 C6

The C1-C6 SpectrumThere is controversy aboutC5 MBB's

Groups: Why do you think that might be?

5mins

stretch your legs for a couple of minutes ....

Let's collect some answers ...

Groups of 2 or 3:

Faith at the bar of reason exclsm inclsm global missn

Spiritual

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