Colleen Gannon
May 17, 2010
Christian Values
Can Non-Christians Achieve Redemption?
We live in a very diverse world. Everywhere we go we are surrounded by different
races, ethnicities, social classes, occupations, and religions. As a Christian, this has
sometime brought up concern about whether those from other religions can have the same
opportunities as me? Can they be receiving salvation? Some would say no or at least not in
the same way that Christians can. However, there is no reason to believe that all humans
cannot be saved through God’s grace in the same way as Christians. In fact, a view which
denies God’s saving grace in certain people seems like a less Christian perspective .
First and foremost it is important to understand other religions. There is much that
can be learned from the practices and values of non-Christian religions. A good example of
needing other religion to review one’s own is the changes the Protestant Reformation
brought upon the Catholic Church. Though both were Christian, it can provide insight into
the importance of seeing views of others. At a time when the Catholic Church was corrupt
and not following its own Christian teachings having the Protestants break away made
Catholics take a look at where they had gone wrong. They made their own reformations and
become a stronger religion because of this.1
To even begin to understand whether or not non-Christians can be saved, Christians
must understand non-Christians. Looking into other religions, Christians may find other
beliefs to be more like their own than they originally anticipated . Perhaps some are
completely different and others somewhat the same and somewhat different. No matter
what the results end up being, one cannot know the possibilities for something they do not
understand. In fact, upon review of other religions, Catholics found that have a lot in
common in areas like the meaning of life with religions such as Hindus, Muslims, and
Buddhists. 2
Whether or not a person is a Christian, it is unlikely anyone would reply that they
would like to be damned if asked. All religions have the same basic goal of salvation or
peace after death. Few would argue that the ideas in the Buddhist Eight Fold Path
contradict Christian churches main teachings. In fact, they seem to complement each other
quite nicely. Why, then, would someone following the same basics ideas not be granted
salvation simply because they do not believe in the same god? “The capacities to attain and
1
Dinoia, J.A. The Diversity of Religions. United States: Catholic University of America Press, 1992.
2
Dinoia, J.A. The Diversity of Religions. United States: Catholic University of America Press, 1992.
enjoy certain ends of life depend in large measure of courses of life shaped by the particular
practices, goods, and beliefs commended by religious communities in their main
teachings.3” For Christians, one of their main teachings is that God wants to save all people.
Rahner, who was influential in this inclusivity theology, reminds us that doubting
God’s ability or desire to save any person would be like doubting God’s love.4 Even the
apostle Paul shows great respect and is proud of the Athenians dedication to their religions.
He also does tell them about God, but he does not tell them their believes are wrong or that
they will be condemned if they do not convert. Instead he praises them for their faith in a
God they do not know. This is written in the Bible (Acts 17:22-23) and cannot be
overlooked.
Catholics tend to lean toward this type of understanding for the possibilities for NonChristians to be saved. They believe, “Christ is at work outside the boundaries of the
institutional Church.5” Vatican II created a document known as Nostra Aetate which further
explains that Catholic idea of this concept. In this, Catholics acknowledge that religions
which stress the same basic truths that guide its members to become good people just as
3
Dinoia, J.A. The Diversity of Religions. United States: Catholic University of America Press, 1992.
4
Knitter, Paul. No Other Name? A Critical Survey of Attitudes Toward the World Religions. MaryKnoll,
NY: Orbis Books, 1985.
5
Fredericks, James. Faith Amoung Faiths. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1999.
the Catholic Church does. This document stresses the importance of respect for all religions.
6
This would lead us to believe that those who have not yet had the opportunity to
know God can be saved. In fact, the Catholic Church even has a doctrine dealing with this
matter. This doctrine, Baptism by Desire, which explains that those who were not baptized
before death but still practice “an internal act of perfect love” can be saved by grace. This
suggests that those who live a good life but did not know about Christian beliefs or were for
some other reason unable to be baptized still can receive redemption .7 This shows a
understanding for those who do not yet know of Jesus’ saving grace; but, what of those who
are aware but do not believe?
Jesus died for the sins of the world so the ‘gates of heaven’ would be opened to all
people. “We share in one divine reality,” writes Grisez.8 This means that we are all a part of
God. Those who do not believe do not embody God’s grace any more or less than those
who do. Together, in our loving actions toward one another we become God to one
another. God does not tell us we are only his children if we want to be his children . Jesus
6
Fredericks, James. Faith Amoung Faiths. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1999.
7
Knitter, Paul. No Other Name? A Critical Survey of Attitudes Toward the World Religions. MaryKnoll,
NY: Orbis Books, 1985.
8
Grisez, Germain, and Russell Shaw. Fulfillment in Christ: A Summary of Christian Moral Principles.
Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame, 1991.
has told us that God is our shepherd and we are his sheep. If one sheep loses his way, God
still will never leave him behind.
Of course, this is not the only point of view. Some believe that God cannot save nonChristians. Those who believe this have their own evidence and logic to back up this belief
just as the inclusivists have. The doctrine of the group (the exclusivists) points out that we
are sinful and we do not have power over God. It is only through God’s revelation, in which
was given to us through Jesus that we are all saved. Religions are only human creations,
which though mean well are all wrong. Christianity is also only a human creation, but it is
the true religion because God chose to reveal himself through Christianity.9
However, there are two main themes which come out of Catholic teachings. The first
is that it is important to have faith in Jesus Christ to be saved . “I am the way, the truth, and
the light. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Exclusivist find support under
this theme Still the other theme, which I have already mentioned, is that God desires to
save all people. Exclusivism tends to ignore this second principle. It makes it seem that if
some are unlucky enough where Christianity is not presented to them or not presented to
9
Fredericks, James. Faith Amoung Faiths. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1999.
them correctly, then that is just an unfortunate fact of life. Nothing can be done to help in
this view.10
One possible explanation to solve the confusion between the two principles is the
pluralist theology. Pluralists believe, “Christ is one what to salvation, but not the only
way.11” It is possible to be redeemed through Jesus but also through all other religions, as
well. In a way, each religion has their own perspective salvations, independent of another.
This seems to better encompass the two themes.
However this still seems to fall short of bigger picture Christianity is trying to extend.
If all religions are ways to salvation, then what is grace? Is there really any reason for
religion if this is the case? Everyone is saved, no matter what. If they believe they are
saved, then they are. The means do not matter anymore. However, Christians do not teach
Jesus is not A way, they teach he is THE way. Therefore, how can pluralist theology apply as
true Christian theology? It leaves out a very important main teaching. It throws away the
uniqueness of Jesus; he becomes just one of many saviors. This is turn seems to also leave
inclusivism out as well, as it also leaves out the same important teaching…or does it?
10
Fredericks, James. Faith Amoung Faiths. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1999.
11
Dinoia, J.A. The Diversity of Religions. United States: Catholic University of America Press, 1992.
Inclusivist theology teaches that we all possess some work of understanding of what
is good. Every time we do something good we are doing so because of God’s grace . Each
time we reach out to on another “we are reaching out to an Infinite.12” In doing good
people follow Jesus, or at least they follow in the lessons which Jesus taught. Therefore,
there is no reason to believe that non-Christians who live good lives cannot be saved.
In a sense, this is something like the idea of the anonymous Christian. The
anonymous Christian is someone who is not a member of any Christian church but still
exemplifies the main teachings of a Christian. This is the idea that other religions are still
somewhat right and can help people reach salvation. As long as the member is making
choices which coincide with the main teachings of Christian Churches, then they can be
saves. Really, although the person does not identify themselves as a Christian at that time,
they are Christian by their acts. God has still chosen those other religions to help people;
those other religions are just not the “true” religion.13
The anonymous Christian theory also has its own fall backs. For one, it is not very
accepting of other religions or open to learn more about them. The theory just assumes
other religions are wrong, but they somehow benefit the member into become a Christian
12
Knitter, Paul. No Other Name? A Critical Survey of Attitudes Toward the World Religions.
MaryKnoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1985.
13
Fredericks, James. Faith Amoung Faiths. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1999.
so they are good. It also makes the concept of religion rather trivial. No matter what
religion anyone claims (or even if they do not claim one at all) if they are good then we
presume they are actually a Christian. It is rather blind to the perspectives of others and
leaves little to no room for growth for Christianity itself.14
The Catholic idea of Nostra Aetate, previously mentioned, is a more accepting view.
Like the anonymous Christian it does not deny the possibility of redemption for other
religions. However, it also does not make the religions seem less real or important. If they
work toward truth then there is something right within religions. God’s grace does not work
Christian churches but is a universal concept. People may not be Christian- knowingly and
unknowingly- and still be saved. It is all about the grace of God.15
It does not make sense to say that those who are not Christians cannot be redeemed
when one of the major Christian beliefs is God’s will to save all people. In living out the
same truths Jesus taught, they are following the same goals as Christians. Perhaps the key
to salvation is not whether a religion is right or wrong; but instead, whether all religions can
work together and make this world a better place.
14
Knitter, Paul. No Other Name? A Critical Survey of Attitudes Toward the World Religions. MaryKnoll,
NY: Orbis Books, 1985
15
Fredericks, James. Faith Amoung Faiths. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1999.
Bibliography
Dinoia, J.A. The Diversity of Religions. United States: Catholic University of America Press, 1992.
Fredericks, James. Faith Amoung Faiths. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1999.
Grisez, Germain, and Russell Shaw. Fulfillment in Christ: A Summary of Christian Moral Principles.
Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame, 1991.
Knitter, Paul. No Other Name? A Critical Survey of Attitudes Toward the World Religions. MaryKnoll,
NY: Orbis Books, 1985.