Posted: February 18th, 2023
Discussion Assignment Instructions
The student will complete two discussions in this course. The student will post one thread of at least 400 words for the assigned Module: Week. There are two parts to each prompt, so approximately half of the 400 words should be dedicated to each part. For each thread, students must support their assertions with at least one scholarly citation for each prompt part. Be sure to avoid extended quotes. These citations must be in current Turabian format. Acceptable sources include the textbooks and the Bible.
Some attacks that cast doubts on Christianity come from one of several types of pluralism, that is, from an inclusive understanding of religious belief. The following are discussed in Gould:
a. Simple Religious Pluralism (Gould p. 129-31)
b. Sophisticated Religious Pluralism – Knitter’s Version (Gould p. 131-32)
c. Sophisticated Religious Pluralism – Hick’s Version (Gould p. 132-37)
All three versions are really an attack on the uniqueness of Jesus.
In this discussion, you will need to do two things:
1. Describe how one of these forms of religious pluralism is an attack against the uniqueness of Jesus (use of the textbook is required here but other sources may be
SOLUTION
Simple Religious Pluralism, as described by Gould, is a type of pluralism that maintains that all religions are equally valid and true. This view asserts that every religion has its own unique way of expressing and understanding the divine and that no one religion has exclusive access to truth. Simple Religious Pluralism is often used as a way to reconcile conflicting religious beliefs, and it attempts to promote religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
While this view may seem appealing on the surface, it is not without its problems. First, it fails to recognize the significant differences that exist between religions. Religions often make contradictory claims about the nature of the divine, the afterlife, and the moral life. These differences cannot simply be brushed aside as inconsequential. Second, this view implies that all religions are equally valid, even those that promote harmful or immoral practices. For example, some religions promote violence, discrimination, or human sacrifice. Simple Religious Pluralism would have to accept these practices as valid expressions of religious belief, which is unacceptable.
A Christian response to Simple Religious Pluralism would be to affirm that while there may be elements of truth in other religions, Christianity holds a unique and exclusive claim to truth. Jesus himself declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, ESV). This claim is not meant to be exclusive in a narrow-minded sense, but rather as an invitation to all people to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, Simple Religious Pluralism fails to recognize the significant differences between religions and leads to unacceptable implications. Christians should affirm the exclusive claim of Christianity to truth while still promoting religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
References: Gould, J. (2018). Questioning pluralism: The problem of religious diversity. IVP Academic.
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