The Notebooks of Schubert Ogden

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Niebuhr speaks at one point of "the dilemma of the Christian faith itself, which is bound ultimately to ask for a personal commitment but must always be aware that the grace of God is not bound by any of our formulas of salvation, that the Lord has 'other sheep which are not of this fold'" (Essays in Applied Christianity: 130).

It seems clear from this that Niebuhr is neither an exclusivist nor a pluralist, but an inclusivist. But is his inclusivism monistic or rather pluralistic?

My guess is that it is monistic. For he can call attention to "the fact [sic!] that the answer to the human predicament is more adequately given in the Christ revelation, because in that revelation the freedom of man is given its final norm and the guilt of man is given the final salve and healing" (132).

28 May 2003

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