Showing posts with label Apologetics-Pluralism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Apologetics-Pluralism. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Are Religious Pluralists Particularists? (William Lane Craig)

Are Religious Pluralists Particularists? Watch to hear what Dr. William Lane Craig has to say and grab a copy of Dr. Craig's new book "On Guard" to learn more about this and other arguments on how to defend your faith with reason and precision.

Recommended Book: http://www.amazon.com/Guard-Defending-Faith-Reason-Precision/dp/1434764885

One Minute Apologist Interview with William Lane Craig (playlist):
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4BA3DD694EE87E80

Related:

Is One True Religion Possible?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynLFH7hVbm4

Friday, June 06, 2008

Not Letting Jesus Be Jesus: Some Responses to Religious Pluralism

Paul Copan @ http://www.reclaimingthemind.org discusses the nature of religious pluralism. He notes:

First, religious pluralism eliminates the possibility of specific, historical divine revelation.

"According to orthodox Christianity, God begins with particular persons and events—Abraham or the Incarnation. He does have the universal in mind, seeking to bless all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:1–3). Like ripples from a stone tossed into a pond, the Christian mission to the world flows from the Incarnation; the gospel offers salvation to all through God’s enabling Spirit. Pluralism, however, leaves us with a property-less, content-less Ultimate Reality. How then do we need to respond to It? Do we need to love It, or pray to It, or just live ethically? Can we know It even exists?"

Second, religious pluralism is logically just as exclusivistic as the Christian — or any other faith.

Third, despite its claims, religious pluralism is geographically-limited—which is the very charge made by pluralists against religions like Christianity (“If you were born in Saudi Arabia, you’d be a Muslim”—a view known as the “geography objection”).

Fourth, a religion’s moral fruitfulness is not necessarily the ultimate test of its legitimacy.

Fifth, the Christian’s motivation to live humbly, gratefully, graciously, and self-sacrificially is connected to Jesus’ authority as God’s Son. "According to the New Testament, Jesus does not have authority just because we find ourselves agreeing with his moral teaching. Rather, it is Jesus’ unique status as God’s Son that serves as the source and locus of his authority—regardless of whether we happen to agree with his teaching! (Thus we should reject the bumper sticker theology that affirms, “God said it. I believe it. That settles it.” No, God/Jesus said it. That settles it whether I believe it or not!). If Jesus is not the unique Son of God but a mere man, then the Christian’s motivation will lose much of its force. If Jesus is not God incarnate, this undercuts historic Christianity’s claims and seriously undermines our devotion to Christ. This is a pragmatic consideration, yes, but the Christian faith is bound up with historical events such as Jesus’ death and resurrection. If these never occurred, then Paul urges us to consider hedonism since a merely earthly hope in Christ is delusional (1 Corinthians 15:32)".

Sixth, if Jesus is God’s Son, this effectively undermines religious pluralism. Consider the following subpoints:

(a) Jesus was different from the founders of other great religions.

(b) The earliest Christians — fiercely monotheistic Jews — bore witness to an exalted Jesus who shared in the divine identity.

(c) Jesus rose from the dead in confirmation of his claims.

"In the end, religious pluralism will not let Jesus be Jesus. If it did, it would undermine itself".

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Jesus Among Other Gods--Ravi Zacharias



In a world with so many religions - why Jesus? In his most important work to date, apologetics scholar and popular speaker Ravi Zacharias shows how the blueprint for life and death itself is found in a true understanding of Jesus. With a simple yet penetrating style, Zacharias uses rich illustrations to celebrate the power of Jesus Christ to transform lives. Jesus Among Other Gods contrasts the truth of Jesus with founders of Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, strengthening believers and compelling them to share their faith with our post-modern world. Taken from the book of John.