Exclusivism is the only coherent position which Christian Theology can hold.

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10/05/2007                Will Forbes

Exclusivism is the only coherent position which Christian Theology can hold.

Exclusivism holds that those who do not believe in Christianity will not be assured salvation, and they will be condemned to hell.  This view is held by fundamentalist evangelical Christians in Exclusivism’s strongest form and Catholicism in a weaker form.  If Christianity were not exclusive in any way, then what would be the point of following it and not another religion which claimed to be exclusive?  Other religions do hold certain similarities to Christianity, indeed there are even many discrepancies between Christian denominations.  However, other religions have certain beliefs which are necessary for salvation, but they do not have sufficient beliefs for salvation.  Exclusivism realises that there are many paths to the same salvation, but the other paths are not sufficient.

Christianity is made distinct by its following of Jesus Christ.  By coming down to earth, Jesus Christ offered himself to a death he freely accepted to take away our sins.  This emphasis on atonement through satisfaction (paying off the debt of our rebellion in order to satisfy God) and substitution (Jesus Christ paying off the debt by offering himself to sacrifice) is not present in other religions which do not follow Christ.  Salvation is only available for those who are “born again” into the New Age through the spirit, i.e. actively believe in the Holy Trinity.  This not only rejects other religion’s values, but also nominal Christianity.  Extreme exclusivists emphasise the uniqueness of Christ and that is the only belief sufficient to experience God.  In John 14:6, it states, “no one comes to the Father except through” Jesus and Acts 4:12 reiterates this point, saying that “there is salvation in no one else [but Christ]”.  Given these biblical teachings, it is difficult to refute exclusivist Christian Theologies.

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However, many people are divinely enlightened, or experience revelatory moments in their lives.  If they have a direct experience of God, but happen to follow another religion at the time, then they are unlikely to change to Christianity, rather think that it is the God of their own religion revealing Him to them.  Therefore it is difficult condemn such people, especially if they live lives of virtuous paragon.  The authority of the Bible is not essential to all who can achieve salvation.  Furthermore, what about those who for whatever circumstances never knew about Christ and Christianity (e.g. those who lived ...

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