Anonymous Christian is the controversial notion introduced by the Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner (1904–1984) that declares that people who have never heard the Christian Gospel might be saved through Christ. Non-Christians could have "in basic orientation and fundamental decision," Rahner wrote, "accepted the salvific grace of God, through Christ, although may never have heard of the Christian revelation."
Traditionally, Christians engaged interreligious dialogue with the concern that open dialogue was a betrayal of Christian principles. The notion of inclusivism, for which Rahner's Anonymous Christian is the principal Christian model, is "the most popular of interreligious postures."
Read more about Anonymous Christian: Karl Rahner, Vatican II and Catholicism, Pope Benedict XVI, Criticism
Famous quotes containing the word christian:
“I’ve almost gained my heav’nly home; My spirit loudly sings;
The holy ones behold they come, I hear the noise of wings.
O come, angel band, Come and around me stand.
O bear me away on your snowy wings, To my immortal home.”
—T. Haskell, minister and hymn-writer. Published in Christian Harmony. “Angel Band,” l. 5-8.