Pluralism: Anonymous Christianity and D'Costa
Karl Rahner proposes 'anonymous Christianity': those outside the Church who respond to God's offer of grace are implicitly Christian. Gavin D'Costa develops a trinitarian particularism as alternative to Hick's pluralism.
Real World
Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu, drew extensively on the Sermon on the Mount and Christian non-violence principles — Rahner would classify Gandhi as an 'anonymous Christian' responding to God's grace, while D'Costa would argue the Trinity's universal action was present in Gandhi's life without collapsing all traditions into equivalence.
Exam Focus
Contrast Rahner and D'Costa sharply: Rahner expands Christianity's boundary; D'Costa defends particularity — examiners reward this distinction.
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