DOCSLIB.ORG

The Judgment of God and the Rise of 'Inclusivism'

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Judgment of God and the Rise of 'Inclusivism' The Judgment of God and the Rise of ‘Inclusivism’ in Contemporary American Evangelicalism Victor Kuligin Dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Theology (DTh) in Systematic Theology at the University of Stellenbosch University of Stellenbosch Republic of South Africa Promoter: Prof DJ Smit March 2008 I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the work contained in this dissertation is my own original work and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it at any University for a degree. V Kuligin: __________________________ Date: __________________________ Copyright © 2008 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved ABSTRACT This study offers an overview and critique of the growing movement in American evangelicalism of what is popularly known as “inclusivism.” The mounting uneasiness expressed in many evangelical circles in North America concerning the fate of the unevangelised, and how that may square with the traditional evangelical view of their lostness, has produced a vigorous Soteriology which means to address what is viewed as inadequacies in the traditional model of salvation found in the American evangelical community. After an Introduction which defines the terms of the discussion, a systematic presentation of the main views of inclusivism is presented, mainly through the eyes of two of its foremost proponents, Clark Pinnock and John Sanders (although many others are also referenced). Major topics of coverage include the character and nature of God as supremely expressed in the teaching of Jesus, the work of the Holy Spirit through non-Christian religions, and how a balance between the love of God and human freedom can be maintained. Inclusivism endeavours to distance itself both from modern pluralism and evangelical exclusivism, the latter the dominant soteriological position of American evangelicalism for the past several generations. Driven by a strong sense of the love of God, inclusivists contend that God will do anything he can to draw people to himself. While maintaining the particularity of Christ, inclusivists nonetheless see a universal outworking of Christ’s salvation, even to those people without epistemological awareness of Jesus’ atoning work. This works out in a greater appreciation for the salvific benefits of general revelation and non-Christian religions, resulting in a “wider hope” that more of humanity will be saved than is typically expected in exclusivism’s “fewness doctrine.” After a presentation of the main views of inclusivism, a final section of this study is devoted to an evangelical evaluation. Is it an acceptable alternative to the traditional exclusivism of American evangelicalism? A systematic evaluation of the main tenets of inclusivism is presented, going through such areas as its Bibliology, Pneumatology, Christology, and Hamartiology, with a final look at its soteriological conclusions and the practical effects it may have on evangelical world missions. The main point of departure is seen in the area of the judgment of God, and how a “hermeneutic of judgment” is needed to properly counterbalance inclusivism’s “hermeneutic of hope.” i OPSOMMING Hierdie studie bied ‘n oorsig en kritiek op die groeiende beweging onder Amerikaanse evangelikalisme van wat populêr bekendstaan as “inklusivisme.” Die groeiende ongemak, uitgespreek in talle evangelikale kringe in Noord Amerika oor die toestand van die onge- evangeliseerdes, en hoe dit vergelyk met die tradisionele evangelikale beskouing oor hulle verlorenheid, het ‘n kragtige Soteriologie tot gevolg gehad. Dit beteken dat dit wat gesien word as ontoereikendheid in die tradisionele model van verlossing in die Amerikaanse evangelikale gemeenskap, aangespreek sal word. Ná ‘n inleiding, wat die terminologie van die diskussie definieer, word ‘n sistematiese uiteensetting van die hoof-standpunte van die inklusivisme aangebied, hoofsaaklik volgens die beskouinge van twee van die hulle sterkste voorstanders, Clark Pinnock en John Sanders (hoewel daar ook na baie ander verwys word). Die belangrikste onderwerpe wat aanbespreek word sluit in: die eienskappe en natuur van God, soos hoofsaaklik uitgedruk in die leringe van Jesus, die werk van die Heilige Gees deur die nie-Christelike godsdienste, en hoe die ewewig tussen God se liefde en menslike vryheid behou kan word. Die inklusivisme poog om dit te distansieer van beide moderne pluralism en evangelikale eksklusivisme, terwyl laasgenoemde die oorwegende soteriologiese standpunt in Amerikaanse evangelikale kringe was vir verskeie geslagte van evangelikales. Aangespoor deur ‘n sterk bewustheid van die liefde van God het inklusiviste geglo dat God enigiets moontlik sal doen om mense na Hom toe te trek. Terwyl hulle nog vashou aan die uniekheid van Christus, sien inklusiviste nogtans ‘n universele uitwerking van Christus se verlossing, selfs aan daardie mense sonder the epitemologiese bewustheid van Jesus se versoeningswerk. Dit mond uit in groter waardering vir die verlossingsresultate van die algemene openbaring en nie-Christelike godsdienste, wat uitloop in ‘n “breër hoop”, dat ‘n groter deel van die mensdom gered sal word as wat verwag word in die “minheid leerstuk” van die eksklusivisme. Na ‘n aanbieding van die hoof-standpunte van die inklusivisme, volg die laaste afdeling van hierdie studie, wat aan ‘n evangelikalistiese evaluering toegewy is. Is dit ‘n aanvaarbare alternatief vir die tradisionele eksklusivisme van Amerikaanse evangelikale teologie? ‘n Sistematiese evaluering van die hoof-standpunte van inklusivisme word aangebied, deur die volgende studievelde te vergelyk: Bibliologie, Pneumatologie, Christologie, en Hamartiologie (leer oor die sonde), met ‘n laaste beskouing oor die soteriologiese en praktiese resultate en effekte op evangelikale wêreldsending. Die hoof vertrekpunt word gevind rondom die ii ‘oordeel van God’ en hoe ‘n “hermeneutiek van oordeel” nodig is as ‘n volledige teenwig vir die “hermeneutiek van hoop” in die inklusiwisme. iii FOREWORD American evangelicalism is a phenomenon of grand proportions. Its influence is felt not only in the United States itself, but in virtually every corner of the globe. Current missiological statistics, for example, show that over half of all missionaries in the world come from the United States, and a very large portion of these from evangelical churches and mission agencies. Large sums of American money go to all areas of the world feeding Christian enterprises that are largely funded by American evangelicals. Evangelical colleges and universities abound from the east coast to the west. In fact, there are more evangelical tertiary institutions of learning in America than all the universities of Europe combined, so large is the evangelical machinery of the United States. When evangelical publishing houses, companies and corporations are included, the influence of evangelicalism in America can hardly be ignored. The past five American presidents all claimed to be evangelicals in varying degrees, or looked to woo the evangelical community, and with good reason. Some estimates put the number of evangelical Christians in the United States close to one hundred million, or nearly one-third of the population, and although such statistics are difficult to pin down, lower estimates place the figure closer to the fifty million range, still a large figure. Regardless of the exact number, such a block of people wields tremendous influence, not only in the religious sphere, but the political as well. It is not remiss to say that any study of Christianity in America over the past century which does not take into consideration evangelicalism, could rightly be said to be an incomplete study. Even major secular magazines such as Time and Newsweek recognise this fact, and annually devote several issues to Christian themes. Over the past several years, Time Magazine has had annual articles covering “The Twenty-Five Most Influential Evangelicals” and the like. And yet, evangelicalism is in a crisis. A recent New York Times article covering several pages considered the fragmentation that the evangelical movement has begun to experience, both in the religious as well as political realm. Although this may be news to secularists who politically follow evangelicalism, this is hardly news when it comes to the religious sphere of iv the movement. For the past two decades if not longer, major theological rifts have occurred in American evangelicalism. This dissertation will cover one of the hotter issues, that concerning the fate of the unevangelised. This debate has far reaching effects, especially in the area of world missions, and some have considered it the theological issue which will eventually reshape evangelicalism. American evangelicalism is presently experiencing a paradigm shift in its Soteriology, one which may radically change the traditionally negative view evangelicalism has had of non-Christian religions, thus reshaping important practical areas such as evangelism, missions, and apologetics. As far reaching as these American developments may have on the rest of the world, the aim of this dissertation is not to dissect and digest the various views of God’s judgment and salvation outside of North America. I am an American who has lived in Namibia for the past thirteen years. It is natural that I would pursue a doctorate from a South African institution, even though I realise that the views I hold are not altogether embraced by its faculty. It is also natural that I would pursue
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Hindu Responses to Religious Diversity and the Nature of Post-Mortem Progress
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Apollo Hindu Responses to Religious Diversity and the Nature of Post-Mortem Progress The last two hundred years of Hindu–Christian encounters have produced distinctive forms of Hindu thought which, while often rooted in the broad philosophical-cultural continuities of Vedic outlooks, grappled with, on the one hand, the colonial pressures of European modernity, and, on the other hand, the numerous critiques by Christian theologians and missionaries on the Hindu life-worlds. Thus, the spectrum of Hindu responses from Raja Rammohun Roy through Swami Vivekananda to S. Radhakrishnan demonstrates attempts to creatively engage with Christian representations of Hindu belief and practice, by accepting their prima facie validity at one level while negating their adequacy at another. For instance, these figures of neo-Hinduism accepted that such ‘corruptions’ as Hinduism’s alleged idol- worship, anti-worldly ethic, caste-based distinctions and the like were all too visible on the socio-cultural domain, while they formulated revamped Vedic or Vedantic visions within which these were to be either rejected as excrescences or given demythologised interpretations. In Swami Vivekananda, we find on some occasions a more strident rejection of certain aspects of western civilization as steeped in materialist ‘excesses’ which needed to be purged through the light of Vedantic wisdom. Through such hermeneutical processes of retrieval, often carried out within contexts structured by British colonialism, these figures were able to offer forms of Hinduism that were signifiers not of the Oriental depravity that the British administrators, scholars and missionaries had claimed to perceive on the Indian landscapes but of a spiritual depth that transcended national, cultural and ethnic boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Standard Resolution 19MB
    The e-journal of analog and digital sound. no.24 2009 NOTHING BUT ANALOG! MoMA’s New York Clearaudio, Lyra, Air Tight and More NEW Punk Exhibit Grateful Dead Book By Ben Fong-Torres STYLE: We Ride Ducati’s Newest Supermotard At Indy! Box Sets: AC/DC and Thelonius Monk Perreaux Returns to the US Bob Gendron Goes To NYC to View Punk’s Past at MoMA TONE A 1 NO.24 2 0 0 9 PUBLISHER Jeff Dorgay EDITOR Bob Golfen ART DIRECTOR Jean Dorgay r MUSIC EDITOR Ben Fong-Torres ASSISTANT Bob Gendron MUSIC EDITOR M USIC VISIONARY Terry Currier STYLE EDITOR Scott Tetzlaff C O N T R I B U T I N G Tom Caselli WRITERS Kurt Doslu Anne Farnsworth Joe Golfen Jesse Hamlin Rich Kent Ken Kessler Hood McTiernan Rick Moore Jerold O’Brien Michele Rundgren Todd Sageser Richard Simmons Jaan Uhelszki Randy Wells UBER CARTOONIST Liza Donnelly ADVERTISING Jeff Dorgay WEBSITE bloodymonster.com Cover Photo: Blondie, CBGB’s. 1977. Photograph by Godlis, Courtesy Museum of Modern Art Library tonepublications.com Editor Questions and Comments: [email protected] 800.432.4569 © 2009 Tone MAGAZIne, LLC All rights reserved. TONE A 2 NO.24 2 0 0 9 55 (on the cover) MoMA’s Punk Exhibit features Old School: 1 0 The Audio Research SP-9 By Kurt Doslu Journeyman Audiophile: 1 4 Moving Up The Cartridge Food Chain By Jeff Dorgay The Grateful Dead: 29 The Sound & The Songs By Ben Fong-Torres A BLE Home Is Where The TURNta 49 FOR Record Player Is EVERYONE By Jeff Dorgay Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: 55 MoMA’s New York Punk Exhibit By Bob Gendron Budget Gear: 89 How Much Analog Magic Can You Get for Under $100? By Jerold O’Brien by Ben Fong-Torres, published by Chronicle Books 7.
    [Show full text]
  • Downloads\0673558-Eq-130916-Theology of Religions Instrument Ja__Ljf Final 22 Dec 2015.Doc 20/09/2016 ASTLEY-FRANCIS THEOLOGY of RELIGIONS INDEX 2
    Original citation: Astley, Jeff and Francis, Leslie J.. (2016) Introducing the Astley–Francis Theology of Religions Index : construct validity among 13- to 15-year-old students. Journal of Beliefs & Values, 37 (1). pp. 29-39. Permanent WRAP URL: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/81708 Copyright and reuse: The Warwick Research Archive Portal (WRAP) makes this work by researchers of the University of Warwick available open access under the following conditions. Copyright © and all moral rights to the version of the paper presented here belong to the individual author(s) and/or other copyright owners. To the extent reasonable and practicable the material made available in WRAP has been checked for eligibility before being made available. Copies of full items can be used for personal research or study, educational, or not-for profit purposes without prior permission or charge. Provided that the authors, title and full bibliographic details are credited, a hyperlink and/or URL is given for the original metadata page and the content is not changed in any way. Publisher’s statement: “This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International . Journal of Beliefs & Values on 07/03/2016 available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13617672.2016.1141527 A note on versions: The version presented here may differ from the published version or, version of record, if you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher’s version. Please see the ‘permanent WRAP URL’ above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription.
    [Show full text]
  • The Problem of Religious Pluralism
    Scholars Crossing Faculty Publications and Presentations Department of Philosophy 2008 The Problem of Religious Pluralism Michael S. Jones Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/phil_fac_pubs Part of the Christianity Commons, Philosophy Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Jones, Michael S., "The Problem of Religious Pluralism" (2008). Faculty Publications and Presentations. 4. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/phil_fac_pubs/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Philosophy at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Problem of Religious Pluralism Michael S. Jones, PhD The “problem of religious pluralism” engages several distinct but interrelated issues. The “problem” arises when one considers the variety of religious beliefs and practices in the world and, taking into consideration both their similarities and differences, attempts to formulate a coherent position on their origin, truthfulness, soteriological efficacy, and value in general. Of these questions, the one that has received the most treatment is the question of the soteriological efficacy of the world’s religions. That all religions contain some truth is not generally disputed: Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and Islam have the truth of monotheism, for example; some versions of Hinduism are also theistic in their final analysis of ultimate reality (see, for example, the theologies of Sankara and Ramanuja) and have well-developed theodicies, epistemologies, and absolutist ethical systems; the central role of self-giving love in Mahayana Buddhism certainly has biblical parallels, and so on.
    [Show full text]
  • Music 5364 Songs, 12.6 Days, 21.90 GB
    Music 5364 songs, 12.6 days, 21.90 GB Name Album Artist Miseria Cantare- The Beginning Sing The Sorrow A.F.I. The Leaving Song Pt. 2 Sing The Sorrow A.F.I. Bleed Black Sing The Sorrow A.F.I. Silver and Cold Sing The Sorrow A.F.I. Dancing Through Sunday Sing The Sorrow A.F.I. Girl's Not Grey Sing The Sorrow A.F.I. Death of Seasons Sing The Sorrow A.F.I. The Great Disappointment Sing The Sorrow A.F.I. Paper Airplanes (Makeshift Wings) Sing The Sorrow A.F.I. This Celluloid Dream Sing The Sorrow A.F.I. The Leaving Song Sing The Sorrow A.F.I. But Home is Nowhere Sing The Sorrow A.F.I. Hurricane Of Pain Unknown A.L.F. The Weakness Of The Inn Unknown A.L.F. I In The Shadow Of A Thousa… Abigail Williams The World Beyond In The Shadow Of A Thousa… Abigail Williams Acolytes In The Shadow Of A Thousa… Abigail Williams A Thousand Suns In The Shadow Of A Thousa… Abigail Williams Into The Ashes In The Shadow Of A Thousa… Abigail Williams Smoke and Mirrors In The Shadow Of A Thousa… Abigail Williams A Semblance Of Life In The Shadow Of A Thousa… Abigail Williams Empyrean:Into The Cold Wastes In The Shadow Of A Thousa… Abigail Williams Floods In The Shadow Of A Thousa… Abigail Williams The Departure In The Shadow Of A Thousa… Abigail Williams From A Buried Heart Legend Abigail Williams Like Carrion Birds Legend Abigail Williams The Conqueror Wyrm Legend Abigail Williams Watchtower Legend Abigail Williams Procession Of The Aeons Legend Abigail Williams Evolution Of The Elohim Unknown Abigail Williams Forced Ingestion Of Binding Chemicals Unknown Abigail
    [Show full text]
  • Kierkegaard's View of Religious Pluralism in Concluding Unscientific Ostscriptp
    Intermountain West Journal of Religious Studies Volume 3 Number 1 Article 2 2011 Kierkegaard's View of Religious Pluralism in Concluding Unscientific ostscriptP Brock Bahler Duquesne University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/imwjournal Recommended Citation Bahler, Brock "Kierkegaard's View of Religious Pluralism in Concluding Unscientific ostscriptP ." Intermountain West Journal of Religious Studies 3, no. 1 (2011). https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/imwjournal/vol3/iss1/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Intermountain West Journal of Religious Studies by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Brock Bahler: Kierkegaard & Religious Pluralism 1 Brock Bahler Brock Bahler is a PhD student at Duquesne University where he also works as an editor at Duquesne University Press. His expertise is primarily continental philosophy and philosophy of religion and he has published articles addressing the work of Levinas, Derrida, and Augustine, respectively. Recently, he presented a paper at the Kierkegaard Society at the APA, entitled, “Kierkegaard’s ‘Greatness’: Human Subjectivity as an Ordinary Impossibility.” 2 IMW Journal of Religious Studies Vol. 3:1 Brock Bahler Kierkegaard’s View of Religious Pluralism in Concluding Unscientific Postscript INTRODUCTION While the issue of religious pluralism, or inclusivism, seems implicit throughout the Postscript,1 perhaps even constantly lingering on the fringes, it is not the central question of Kierkegaard’s pseudonymous author, Johannes Cli- macus.2 This should make us pause in raising the issue. Before asking whether one can insert any other religion in Climacus’s account of subjectivity, or point- ing to Climacus’s existentialist structure as a metatheory that can be found in any way of being or God-relation,3 it is critical to consider what Climacus him- self writes on the subject.
    [Show full text]
  • SPIRIT A. the Definition of 'Inclusive' and Inclusivism
    CHAPTER II GENERAL INTRODUCTION OF ‘INCLUSIVE’ SPIRIT A. The Definition of ‘Inclusive’ and Inclusivism Etymologically, inclusive means “include”. For example: that vehicle has 40 people, inclusive driver, assistant, and passengers. 1 While thesaurus gives a brief that inclusive means “global, comprehensive, complete, and include”. 2 “including much or everything; especially including stated limits”; “an inclusive art form” ; “an inclusive fee” ; “his concept of history is modern and inclusive” ; “from Monday to Friday inclusive” [ant: exclusive]. Inclusive means “inclosing, encircling, and surrounding. It means “comprehending the stated limit or extremes”; as, “from Monday to Saturday inclusive”, that is, taking in both Monday and Saturday—opposed to exclusive. 3 Another meaning of inclusive, can be found in many dictionaries. Term inclusive as adjective means “including all costs”, for example: a three weeks inclusive holiday in the south of France. + of: the rent is $500, inclusive of heating and electricity. It also means “including the specific limits that have been mentioned and everything in between”, for example: these rates are available Monday to Thursday inclusive. “Deliberately aiming to involve all types of people”, for example: a new era of inclusive and accountable government. 4 In Cambridge dictionary, Inclusive as adj has some meanings: 1 Departemen Pendidikan Nasional, Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia , Gramedia, Jakarta, 2008, p.589 2 Eko Endarmoko, Tesaurus Bahasa Indonesia, Gramedia, Jakarta, 2006, p.250 3 http://kamus.landak.com/cari/inclusive 9/5/2012 4Macmillan Education, Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners , Macmillan, London, 2002, p.726 1) An inclusive price or amount includes everything; my rent is $700 a month inclusive (of bills).
    [Show full text]
  • Inclusivism and Religious Plurality: a Quranic Perspective
    www.rsis.edu.sg No. 039 – 9 March 2018 RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due recognition to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Mr Yang Razali Kassim, Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected]. Inclusivism and Religious Plurality: A Quranic Perspective By Mohamed Bin Ali Synopsis Inclusivism and living within a religiously plural context are not alien to Islam. Rather, many parts of the Quran speak about them and extoll their virtues. Commentary MUSLIM INDIVIDUALS who have extremist orientation claim that their interpretation of Islam is the only correct one that can lead to salvation. Furthermore, they claim that adherents of other faiths must be disavowed. The most extreme of them will even justify killing them. These hostile positions and perceptions of non-Muslims are formulated through perverted interpretation of Quranic verses. In reality, one will discover that the Quran speaks volumes about embracing religious plurality and exhort Muslims towards inclusivism. The Quran speaks positively about diversity of religions and ethnicities by regarding them as signs of God's mercy and glory exhibited through His creations. It also appreciates plurality as a natural phenomenon. Essentially, the Quran has laid down the principles that govern positive interreligious relations. All this is evidence that Islam values diversity and human dignity.
    [Show full text]
  • Theology Without Walls: Sic Et Non
    Open Theology 2016; 2: 223–228 Is Transreligious Theology Possible? Open Access Peter Feldmeier* Theology Without Walls: Sic et Non DOI 10.1515/opth-2016-0016 Received January 19, 2016; accepted March 4, 2016 Abstract: The emerging project, Theology Without Walls, is fascinating and potentially highly fruitful, particularly given the recognized imperative for doing theology in light of a religiously plural world. But it is also a project with daunting methodological and philosophical problems. In the first part of the paper, the author describes why he is attracted to the project and how it might bear theological insight. He also frames the project along the lines of multiple religious belonging, comparative theology, and the current cultural zeitgeist. In the second part of the paper, he challenges how such a project would actually work, given various religions’ diverse and competing metaphysical claims which undergird their theological principles. Finally, he questions whether such a project would undermine the very purpose of theology for the kind of public most inclined to being influenced by it. His title’s Sic et Non (Yes and No) refers to both his commending Theology Without Walls and challenging its viability. He concludes that the collective weight leads him to challenge the project, at least until it provides a method that satisfactorily addresses his fundamental concerns. Keywords: comparative theology, religious pluralism, interreligious dialogue, transreligious theology Theology Without Walls: Sic—Yes I have a fascination for the Theology Without Walls (TWW) project and its possibilities. Frankly, however, and am also in a quandary about its viability. So, perhaps like many investigating TWW, my thought about whether doing theology fully inter-religiously is wise or even possible is both sic et non: yes and no.
    [Show full text]
  • Conversion, Sanskritization and the Dissolution of the Multiple in Advaita Missionary Movements
    Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies Volume 28 Article 9 2015 Non-Dual Belonging: Conversion, Sanskritization and the Dissolution of the Multiple in Advaita Missionary Movements Reid B. Locklin St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/jhcs Recommended Citation Locklin, Reid B. (2015) "Non-Dual Belonging: Conversion, Sanskritization and the Dissolution of the Multiple in Advaita Missionary Movements," Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies: Vol. 28, Article 9. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7825/2164-6279.1608 The Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies is a publication of the Society for Hindu-Christian Studies. The digital version is made available by Digital Commons @ Butler University. For questions about the Journal or the Society, please contact [email protected]. For more information about Digital Commons @ Butler University, please contact [email protected]. Non-Dual Belonging: Conversion, Sanskritization and the Dissolution of the Multiple in Advaita Missionary Movements Reid B. Locklin St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto IN a series of articles from 1957 until his death both styles of argument, among others, can be in 1979, the influential Indologist Paul Hacker adduced in Hindu, Christian and Muslim advanced the claim that those Indian traditions traditions; the harder and more important task generally classified as open and tolerant should is, in his telling, to attend to the distinctive in fact be labeled “inclusivist.”1 Rather than strategies of engagement with religious others engaging religious or philosophical opponents in any particular text or tradition. in their integrity, he suggested, such traditions Such critiques notwithstanding, it remains subordinated such others and assumed them true that some type of inclusivist into their own doctrinal systems.
    [Show full text]
  • A Hermeneutics of Contemplative Silence: Paul Ricoeur and the Heart of Meaning Michele Therese Kueter Petersen University of Iowa
    University of Iowa Iowa Research Online Theses and Dissertations 2011 A hermeneutics of contemplative silence: Paul Ricoeur and the heart of meaning Michele Therese Kueter Petersen University of Iowa Copyright 2011 Michele Therese Kueter Petersen This dissertation is available at Iowa Research Online: http://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/1494 Recommended Citation Petersen, Michele Therese Kueter. "A hermeneutics of contemplative silence: Paul Ricoeur and the heart of meaning." PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) thesis, University of Iowa, 2011. http://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/1494. Follow this and additional works at: http://ir.uiowa.edu/etd Part of the Religion Commons A HERMENEUTICS OF CONTEMPLATIVE SILENCE: PAUL RICOEUR AND THE HEART OF MEANING by Michele Therese Kueter Petersen An Abstract Of a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Religious Studies in the Graduate College of The University of Iowa 1 December 2011 Thesis Supervisor: Professor David E. Klemm 1 ABSTRACT The practice of contemplative silence, in its manifestation as a mode of capable being, is a self-consciously spiritual and ethical activity that aims at a transformation of reflexive consciousness. I assert that contemplative silence manifests a mode of capable being in which we have an awareness of the awareness of the awareness of being with being whereby we can constitute and create a shared world of meaning(s) through poetically presencing our being as being with others. The doubling and tripling of the term "awareness" refers to five contextual levels of awareness, which are analyzed, including immediate self-awareness, immediate objective awareness, reflective awareness, reflexive awareness, and contemplative awareness.
    [Show full text]
  • A Critical Evaluation of John Hick's Religious Pluralism in Light of His Eschatological Model
    Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2009 A Critical Evaluation of John Hick's Religious Pluralism in Light of His Eschatological Model Haejong Je Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Philosophy Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Je, Haejong, "A Critical Evaluation of John Hick's Religious Pluralism in Light of His Eschatological Model" (2009). Dissertations. 70. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/70 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF JOHN HICK’S RELIGIOUS PLURALISM IN LIGHT OF HIS ESCHATOLOGICAL MODEL by Haejong Je Adviser: John T. Baldwin ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF JOHN HICK’S RELIGIOUS PLURALISM IN LIGHT OF HIS ESCHATOLOGICAL MODEL Name of researcher: Haejong Je Name and degree of faculty adviser: John T. Baldwin, Ph.D. Date approved: April 2009 Introduction to the Problem The philosophy of John Hick, who is famous for his religious pluralism, has received vigorous study in terms of its epistemology, authority, the concept of God, and Christology. However, less attention has been given to his pareschatology. As explained below, initial investigation shows that there is a need for in-depth study of Hick’s religious philosophy in this area.
    [Show full text]