3.8.4

Discussion Points: Social Cohesion & Scripture

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Has Inter-Faith Dialogue Affected Social Cohesion?

Social cohesion is very difficult to measure. Crime statistics and social surveys can give indicators, but it's hard to determine what causes social issues and what efforts lead to social cohesion.

Not all believers agree

Not all believers agree

  • Inter-faith dialogue does not lead to social cohesion as not all religious believers agree with inter-faith dialogue.
    • For example, some religious believers may feel that inter-faith dialogue undermines the uniqueness and truth of their own religion.
Social divides > religious divides

Social divides > religious divides

  • Social cohesion does not arise from inter-faith dialogue because the problems that divide society are bigger than differences in religious belief.
    • Inequalities in areas of life such as employment, education and income need to be resolved to see greater social cohesion.
British Social Attitudes Survey

British Social Attitudes Survey

  • The British Social Attitudes Survey of 2018 shows that 52% of Britons identify as non-religious.
    • Therefore, religion and inter-faith dialogue have little power to achieve social cohesion.
Not aiming for cohesion

Not aiming for cohesion

  • Inter-faith dialogue is not aiming for social cohesion.
    • Inter-faith dialogue aims to help believers seek truth and develop their own sense of their religious identity.
Communal acts bring cohesion

Communal acts bring cohesion

  • Inter-faith dialogue involves believers worshipping, praying and working together. This leads to a flourishing society where differences are acknowledged and embraced in an effort to build a cohesive society.
Growth of inter-faith forums

Growth of inter-faith forums

  • As the UK has become a more multi-faith society, inter-faith forums have grown in popularity.
    • These dialogues promote understanding and tolerance.

Does Scriptural Reasoning Cause Relativism of Beliefs?

Religion is a flawed human construct. No religion offers absolute truths about reality.

Pluralist view

Pluralist view

  • For pluralists such as John Hick, scriptural reasoning enables religious believers to recognise that different religious beliefs and practices are all relative.
  • Their differences are merely born out of different cultures.
Exclusivist view

Exclusivist view

  • Exclusivists may argue that scriptural reasoning undermines the uniqueness of the Christian message.
    • Christians have an important duty to spread the message that salvation is only possible through Jesus Christ and that other religions are false.
Supporters - no conclusions

Supporters - no conclusions

  • Supporters of scriptural reasoning may argue that participants are not told what conclusions to reach about other religions.
  • The goal is for participants to reach a greater understanding of their own faith after discussion with those of different beliefs.
Critics - are all religions equal?

Critics - are all religions equal?

  • However, some critics of scriptural reasoning may argue that the movement encourages participants to recognise all contributions as equally valid points of view.
  • If all holy scriptures and interpretations offer a valid perspective on reality, how does any religion offers the ultimate truth?
Jump to other topics
1

Philosophy of Religion

1.1

Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato

1.1.1Plato's Understanding of Reality1.1.2Plato's Theory of Forms1.1.3Plato's Analogy of the Cave1.1.4The Purpose of Plato's Analogy of the Cave1.1.5Evaluation of Plato's Theories
1.2

Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle

1.2.1Aristotle's Understanding of Reality1.2.2Aristotle's Four Causes1.2.3Aristotle's Prime Mover
1.3

Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body

1.3.1Plato & Aristotle's Views of the Soul1.3.2Metaphysics of Consciousness1.3.3Materialism - Ryle’s Philosophical Behaviourism1.3.4Materialism - Identity Theory
1.4

The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation

1.4.1The Teleological Argument - Aquinas' Fifth Way1.4.2The Teleological Argument - Paley & Evolution1.4.3The Cosmological Argument1.4.4Hume's Criticisms: Teleological & Cosmological
1.5

The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason

1.5.1The Ontological Argument1.5.2Criticisms of the Ontological Argument
1.6

Religious Experience

1.6.1Introduction to Religious Experience1.6.2Mystical Experience1.6.3Conversion Experience1.6.4Understanding Religious Experience1.6.5Issues Relating to Religious Experience - Validity1.6.6Issues Relating to Religious Experiences - People
1.7

The Problem of Evil

1.7.1Presentations of the Problems of Evil1.7.2Discussion Points -
1.8

The Nature & Attributes of God

1.8.1Omnipotence1.8.2Omniscience1.8.3Boethius - Divine Knowledge, Free Will & Eternity1.8.4(Omni)benevolence1.8.5Eternity & Free Will
1.9

Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic

1.9.1Apophatic & Cataphatic Way1.9.2Symbol1.9.3Discussion Points: Religious Language
1.10

Religious Language: 20th Century Perspective

1.10.1Logical Positivism & Verification Principle1.10.2Wittgenstein1.10.3Falsification Symposium: Flew & Hare1.10.4Falsification Symposium: Mitchell1.10.5Discussion Points: Verification & Falsification1.10.6Discussion Points: Aquinas vs Wittgenstein
2

Religion & Ethics

2.1

Natural Law

2.1.1St Thomas Aquinas - Telos & Four Tiers of Law2.1.2St Thomas Aquinas - Precepts2.1.3St Thomas Aquinas - Real & Apparent Goods2.1.4Discussion Points - Natural Law & Doing Good2.1.5Discussion Points - Telos & Double Effect Doctrine
2.2

Situation Ethics

2.2.1Fletcher's Situation Ethics2.2.2Fletcher's Concept of Conscience2.2.3Discussion Points: Moral Decision-Making2.2.4Discussion Points - Agape
2.3

Kantian Ethics

2.3.1Introduction to Kantian Ethics & Duty2.3.2Hypothetical & Categorical Imperative2.3.3Summum Bonum & Three Postulates2.3.4Discussion Points: Kantian Ethics
2.4

Utilitarianism

2.4.1The Utility Principle2.4.2Act & Rule Utilitarianism2.4.3Discussion Points: Utilitarianism
2.5

Euthanasia

2.5.1Key Concepts for Euthanasia Debates2.5.2Discussion Points: Natural Law & Situation Ethics2.5.3Discussion Points: Sanctity of Life2.5.4Discussion Points: Autonomy & Medical Intervention
2.6

Business Ethics

2.6.1Corporate Social Responsibility & Whistle-Blowing2.6.2Good Ethics & Globalisation2.6.3Discussion Points: Utilitarianism & Kantian Ethics2.6.4Discussion Points: CSR, Globalisation & Capitalism
2.7

Meta-Ethical Theories

2.7.1Naturalism2.7.2Intuitionism2.7.3Emotivism2.7.4Meta-Ethics
2.8

Conscience

2.8.1Aquinas' Theological Approach2.8.2Freud's Psychological Approach2.8.3Comparing Aquinas & Freud
2.9

Sexual Ethics

2.9.1Sexual Ethics2.9.2Development of Religious Beliefs on Sexual Ethics2.9.3Application of Sexual Ethics2.9.4Examining Sexual Ethics
3

Developments in Christian Thought

3.1

Saint Augustine's Teachings

3.1.1Human Nature3.1.2Original Sin & God's Grace
3.2

Death & the Afterlife

3.2.1Heaven, Hell, & Purgatory3.2.2Different Interpretations of the Afterlife3.2.3Election3.2.4The Final Judgement3.2.5Discussion Points: Heaven, Hell & Purgatory
3.3

Knowledge of God's Existence

3.3.1Natural Knowledge3.3.2Revealed Knowledge in Faith, Grace, & Jesus Christ3.3.3Revealed Knowledge in the Bible & Church3.3.4Discussion Points: Reason & Belief in God3.3.5Discussion Points: The Fall & Trust in God
3.4

The Person of Jesus Christ

3.4.1Jesus Christ’s Authority as the Son of God3.4.2Jesus Christ’s Authority as a Teacher of Wisdom3.4.3Jesus Christ’s Authority as a Liberator
3.5

Christian Moral Principles

3.5.1The Bible & Love3.5.2Bible, Church & Reason3.5.3Discussion Points: Christian Ethics3.5.4Discussion Points: Love & the Bible
3.6

Christian Moral Action

3.6.1Dietrich Bonhoeffer & the Confessing Church3.6.2Bonhoeffer & Civil Disobedience3.6.3Bonhoeffer's Teaching on Ethics as Action3.6.4Discussion Points: Civil Disobedience & Bonhoeffer
3.7

Development - Pluralism & Theology

3.7.1Pluralism & Theology: Exclusivism & Inclusivism3.7.2Pluralism & Theology: Pluralism3.7.3Discussion Points: Salvation3.7.4Discussion Points: Pluralism Undermining Beliefs
3.8

Development - Pluralism & Society

3.8.1Development of Multi-Faith Societies3.8.2Responses to Inter-Faith Dialogue3.8.3The Scriptural Reasoning Movement3.8.4Discussion Points: Social Cohesion & Scripture3.8.5Discussion Points: Conversion
3.9

Gender & Society

3.9.1Waves of Feminism3.9.2Traditional Christian Views on Gender Roles3.9.3Christian Views on Gender Roles & Family3.9.4Discussion Points: Secular Views of Gender3.9.5Discussion Points: Motherhood & Family
3.10

Gender & Theology

3.10.1Rosemary Radford Ruether3.10.2Mary Daly3.10.3Discussion Points: Ruether & Daly3.10.4Discussion Points: Male Saviour & Female God
3.11

Challenges

3.11.1Secularism - Sigmund Freud3.11.2Secularism - Richard Dawkins3.11.3Christianity & Public Life3.11.4Discussion Points: Spiritual Values3.11.5Discussion Points: Social Values & Opportunities3.11.6Karl Marx3.11.7Liberation Theology

Practice questions on Discussion Points: Social Cohesion & Scripture

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  1. 1
    Why do some believers NOT agree with inter-faith dialogue? Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Which theorists are likely to argue that scriptural reasoning undermines the uniqueness of the Christian message? Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What might supporters of scriptural reasoning say its purpose is?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Which theorist might argue that scriptural reasoning enables religious believers to recognise that different religious beliefs/practices are all relative? Multiple choice
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The Scriptural Reasoning Movement

Discussion Points: Conversion