Originally Posted By: Revlgking
1. Is it truly your opinion that Christianity is THE one and only true religion? If so, what do we do with all the other major religions--Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. Do we have to say that they are all false and that all followers of other sincere faiths are doomed to hell?


Revlking,

I'll explore one of your questions. As you used to be a Minister I would think you probably know about the mainstream stance on this issue.

Think about Heliocentrism. One group of people thought the sun revolved around the earth whilst others thought it was the other way round. Only ONE group was right. So we shouldn't have a problem believing that many can be mistaken and some can have truth.

Christians in the UK evangelical tradition, along with many others, believe that people who have never encoutered Christ will of course not be called to account on the basis of how they responded to him. So a Muslim who has never been given a realistic representation of Christ will be judged upon how they have responded to their conscience. This is the case with all Old Testament characters and with tribal peoples etc.

Regarding what is false - both sides on the Heliocentrism debate understood a fair amount of the truth. They understood that heavenly bodies revolved in defined ways etc. There is truth found in all faiths, and most thinking Christians would recognise that we have no basis for claiming absolute knowledge of truth. In the words of St. Paul - 'We see through a glass darkly. We know now in part - but then we shall know in full(upon death)'. Other faiths also see through a glass darkly. As does science when it turns its head to an examination of similar ideas. But even Sam Harris, America's Atheist Bulldog, has his share of truth.

There is much to be learnt from sincere people of different faiths.

It is incorrect to talk of Christians believing that anyone who does not pursue a dogged theological line will end up being rejected by God.

From http://geneva.rutgers.edu/src/christianity/heavenhell.html

" The standard Christian position is that anyone who rejects Christ will end up in hell. Does this mean that only Christians can be saved? The Catholic church and many Protestant churches don't think so. They believe it is possible that Christ can come to someone in an inward and spiritual way, even if they've never heard of Christ. Thus someone can be an "anonymous Christian." That is, they can know Christ spiritually without realizing it it Christ.

Most Christians also believe that God's judgement will take into account the sorts of opportunities a person had to learn the truth. A person who has never heard the Gospel can't be said to have rejected Christ. An even worse situation occurs when Christians have persecuted other groups. A person who sees Christ as a persecutor has hardly had a real exposure to the Gospel.

[Historical note: It's worth noting that two major classical Protestant writers thought it was possible for non-Christians to be saved: Zwingli and Wesley. Calvin did not.] "

Blacknad.

Last edited by Blacknad; 01/21/07 02:47 PM.