Review of Knitter’sTypologyn Replacement Model:

l Christianity, the “only way,”replaces other faiths (eithertotally or partially)

n Fulfillment Model:l Christianity is the “true”

religion but it does not reject,but rather “confirms” goodelements in others

n Mutuality Model:l a “rough parity” between all

religions; all ways lead to thesame end goal

n Acceptance Model:l there are real differences

among religions and they arelegitimate (different ends indifferent religions!)

An Assessment

n Gains and Problems in theReplacement Model (s)

Fulfillment andPluralistic Models

FULLFILMENTMODELThe Contemporary Roman

Catholic Theology ofReligions

Roman Catholic view ofreligions in a nutshelln While Christ is the only Savior and

only source of salvation, people inother religions, who never heard ofChrist, may be saved because of theuniversal effects of Christ’s work

n Two requirements:l People follow the “light” of their

religions as best as they canl People pursue moral precepts in

the structure of their religion asbest as they can

n N.B.: This is NOT “works-righteousness”

Background ofContemporary CatholicView of Religionsn Until Vatican II, Catholics (with

most other Christians) affirmedthe “Extra Ecclesiam NullaSalus” principlel N.B: historical background of the

slogann The Thomistic doctrine of

“nature-and-grace”l “Grace of God does not

nullify but rather helpsperfect nature”

n The importance ofecclesiastical structures andhierarchy

Vatican (1962-65)

n Documents relevant totheology of religionsl Nostra Aetate (on other

religions)l Ad Gentes (on mission)l Lumen Gentium (on church)l Gaudium et Spes (on modern

world)

1) The possibility of salvation topeople of other faiths because ofChrist

People of “good will” and desire to liveaccording to the light given them,can be saved because of Christ.

n - Ad Gentes (# 7): Those who, through nofault of their own, are ignorant of thegospel, God can lead to that faith withoutwhich it is impossible to please him.

The universal working of the Spirit inmaking the “paschal mystery” ofChrist available to all people.

n Gaudium et Spes (# 22): All this holds truenot only for Christians but also for allindividuals of good will in whose heartsgrace is active invisibly. For since Christdied for all, and since all human beings arein fact called to one and the same destiny,which is divine, we must hold that the HolySpirit offers to all the possibility of beingassociated, in a way known to God, with thePaschal Mystery.

2) The Value of Religions as the“preparation for the Gospel”n The religions are in various ways

related to the church; there is a kindof “hierarchy of religions”

n LG # 14-16:n 1st level: full incorporation:

members of the CatholicChurchl 2nd level: inquiring membersl 3rd level: other Christians: while

they are not true “churches”, theyare true Christians

l 4th level: OTHER RELIGIONSn Judaism; Islam (monotheism)nHinduism (polytheism)nBuddhism (non-theism)nOthers: atheists…

3) The superiority of ChristianFaith and the Need to doMissionn The best example is LG # 14-17:n Before speaking of relation to other

religions, # 14 says that the “churchis necessary for salvation”

n Then # 17 says:n As the Son was sent by the

Father,so He too sent the Apostles,saying: "Go, therefore, makedisciples of all nations, baptizingthem in the name of the Father andof the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all thingswhatsoever I have commandedyou…". The Church has receivedthis solemn mandate of Christ toproclaim the saving truth from theapostles and must carry it out to thevery ends of the earth.

An Assessment

n Gains and Problems in theFulfillment Model?

Pluralistic Theologiesof Religions

Mutuality and AcceptanceModels

Review of Knitter’sTypology

l Replacement Model:n Christianity, the “only way,” replaces

other faiths (either totally or partially)l Fulfillment Model:

n Christianity is the “true” religion but itdoes not reject, but rather “confirms”good elements in others

l Mutuality Model:n a “rough parity” between all religions;

all ways lead to the same end goall Acceptance Model:

n there are real differences amongreligions and they are legitimate(different ends in different religions!)

Pluralistic theologies inKnitter’s typologyn Two forms of Pluralism:

l Mutuality andl Acceptane

n Mutuality Model: “ThreeBridges”l Philosophical-Historical:

Hickl Religious-Mystical:

Panikkarl Ethical-Practical: Knitter;

Liberationists

Background issues

n The Importance ofEnlightenment andModernity

n Until the time ofEnlightenment, allChristians – despite theirhermeneutical anddoctrinal differences – hadtaken the Bible as thedivine revelation, the Wordof God

The Critique of Christian theology

n The “rationality” ofChristianity: whatever is inkeeping with modern rationalthinking, can be accepted,that which is not, should beeither rejected orreinterpreted

n Suspicion of miracles andsupernatural

n The Quest of the HistoricalJesus

n Doctrinal Criticism…

General Features ofPluralistic Theologies

of ReligionsMutuality Model

Features of Pluralism:Mutuality Modeln All religions, notwithstanding

apparent differences, have thesame ultimate reference point,be that a personal God (as inJudaism, Islam, and Christianity),or a deity or pantheon of deities(as in Hinduism), or some kind of“ultimate reality” (as inBuddhism that does not have anyconcept of God at the center)

n There is thus an assumption ofthe “rough parity” betweenreligions

Features of Pluralism:Mutuality Modeln No religion has the right

to impose its ownsupremacy or truth onothers

n On the contrary,religions should give uptheir desire to convertothers and instead, seekfor common basis

Features of Pluralism:Mutuality Modeln Epistemologically, no

religion has an access tothe (absolute) truth

n At their best, religiousconcepts areapproximations or myths ormetaphors

n Rather than propositional,religious terms such as“incarnation” or“resurrection” are“metaphorical” or “mythical”

Features of Pluralism:Mutuality Modeln While many religions have

“mediators” (Jesus Christ)or “founders” (GautamaBuddha) who enjoy a highlyelevated and special status,none of them is exclusive ofothers

n Claims such as that “Jesusis the only way” can only beapplied to Christian faith butnot to all religions

John Hick’sPluralistic Views

A Leading ChristianPluralist

A. Background

n From conservativeevangelical to self-described pluralistl a. Conversion and early

theological workl b. The rise of pluralistic

convictions

A. Background

n Phenomenological similarityof religions based on a wideexposure to various religionsespecially in the East

n Assumption of the commoncore of all religionsnotwithstanding differencesin manifestations

B. Key Claims

n The mythical (or metaphorical)nature of religious language:religious terms are not “facts” orpropositions

l Key to negotiating differingbeliefs; e.g. incarnation

n “Copernican Revolution”l God at the Center (“complementary

pluralism)l “Ultimate Reality” at the center

n Revised Christology: The Metaphorof God Incarnate

l Reinterpretation of all traditionaldoctrines: “degree” vs. “substance”

l Reinterpretation of “salvation”

Review of Knitter’sTypologyn Replacement Model:

l Christianity, the “only way,”replaces other faiths (eithertotally or partially)

n Fulfillment Model:l Christianity is the “true”

religion but it does not reject,but rather “confirms” goodelements in others

n Mutuality Model:l a “rough parity” between all

religions; all ways lead to thesame end goal

n Acceptance Model:l there are real differences

among religions and they arelegitimate (different ends indifferent religions!)

Raimundo Panikkar andPaul F. Knitter

Other Mutuality ModelAdvocates

Raimundo PanikkarBiographical note:n half-Indian (from India) and

half-AmericanKey Claimsn God as “mystery”n “Cosmo-theandrism” (cosmos,

theos, anthropos)l Christians name this Trinity,

other religions other waysl The Trinitarian structure

genuinely reflects the structureof reality

Key Claims cont.n Pluralistic Christology:

“Universal Christ andParticular Jesus”: “Jesus isChrist but Christ is notJesus”l Logos or Christ has been

incarnated in Jesus ofNazareth, but incarnationis not limited to Jesus

n Unlike Hick, Panikkar doesnot dream of elimination ofdifferences but rather comingtogether in some way oranother religious sensibilities

Paul Knitter:Theocentric Christologyn Biographical Noten Knitter takes biblical

Christology “seriously” but not“literally”

n Jesus Christ is “unique” in thathe is authoritative revelation ofGod, but there may be othersavior figures among religions

n Constitutive versusRepresentational Christology:the latter holds up Jesus as adecisive embodiment of God’ssaving love

Jesus’ Role in Liberation

n Knitter locates the “uniqueness” ofJesus in his capacity to elicit aproper incentive and response topromoting the welfare of allpersons, especially of poor andunderprivileged.l This “relational uniqueness” is

inclusive of othersn The focus of Christian mission

shifts from proclamation to serviceand dialogue.l “global responsibility”

n praxis over theory

An Assessment

n Gains and Problems of theMutuality Model

Acceptance Model

General Features

Knitter: General Featuresof Acceptance Model

n The Rise of Postmodernitywith its focus ondifferences and alterity

n “Big narratives” anduniversal explanationsare under suspicision

n Differences are not onlyreal but they areincommensurable

Knitter: Three categories ofAcceptance Model

n (1) Postliberalism (G.Lindbeck)

n (2) Many religions = ManySalvationsl S. Mark Heim

n (3) Comparative Theology

Acceptance Model

S. Mark Heim’s TrinitarianTheology of Religious Ends

Criticism of Pluralisms(of Mutual Model genre)Biographical Noten Heim believes these are not

pluralisms but new forms ofuniversalism, “anonymousimperialists”

n Denial of real differencesbetween religions

n They owe too much toWestern Christianity’sconflict with modernity

n Failure to facilitate genuinedialogue, respect, andcooperation

A Trinitarian Theology

n Trinity represents unity withindiversity; because of thediversity in the Godhead, thereis diversity to the religious endsamong religions

l Each religion has their own specificend: nirvana for Hindus; heaven forChristians

n These different endscorresponds to the diversityin the Godhead and are thusGod-willedl there could be movement

among religions from one endto another, but that is not atask for us

A Trinitarian Theology

n Christian salvation =communion with the TriuneGodl if others do not reach it – or

even desire it -, their own endmay be valid for them, but notfor Christians

An Assessment

n A) Acceptance Model inGeneral

n B) Heim’s trinitarianapproach