Coercion, Consequence and Salvation

Abstract

Salvific exclusivists believe that there are necessary conditions that must be met before salvation can be attained. Different salvific exclusivists believe in different necessary conditions. Common necessary conditions include: belief in the cardinal tenets of a particular religion, membership of a particular religious organization, conduct of particular religious practices and the avoidance of other practices. Salvific exclusivism stands in contrast with salvific pluralism. Salvific pluralists such as Himma (2002) hold that there is no set of conditions necessary for salvation. On this view, members of many religions are eligible for salvation, and their actual salvation depends on God’s consideration of their individual merits. A middle position between these two extremes is one that might be referred to as ‘salvific preferentialism’. This is the view that, although God favours those who hold certain religious beliefs, conduct certain religious practices, or are members of particular religious organizations; when deciding whom to grant salvation to, God does not apply hard and fast rules, and will consider the individual merits of those who lack the beliefs, practices and/or organizational membership required for preferential consideration.

Thus Augustine says to the Count Boniface: ‘What do these people mean by crying out continually: “We may believe or not believe just as we choose.” Whom did Christ compel? They should remember that Christ at first compelled Paul and afterwards taught him.’

— Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, 2nd part of the 2nd part, Question 10, Article 8