Religion and Theology

Critique
Osburns (1989) article, Those who have never heard Have they no hope is a discussion on whether or not people need to believe in the Gospel of the Christ in order to be saved from eternal damnation that God has prepared for sinners.  The author contends that people can be saved even if they have not heard the Gospel.  Even so, it is most essential to believe in the right God before attaining eternal salvation (Osburn, 372).  The author explains that knowledge about the Creator of the universe may reach people through Scriptures if not the Gospel of the Christ (Osburn, 369).  But, even those who have had contact with believers must have learned about the one true God (Osburn, 371).  What is more, as the God of mercy works in the hearts of mankind by way of His Spirit, knowledge about Him may reach people through visions as well (Osburn, 368).
   
Thus, the author makes a strong argument in favor of God.  All the same, Osburns biased approach to her subject is bound to make her non-Christian readers uncomfortable about the idea that only the Christian faith may lead mankind to salvation.  The author states, The ultimate basis for salvation for OT saints was faith in God (Gen 156 Rom 43, 22 Gal 36), who knew what he was going to do through the cross (Osburn, 368).  But, there is no evidence that the OT saints were aware of Jesus Christ on the cross.  If Osburn or another theologian were to show evidence from the OT that the OT saints did, indeed, possess this knowledge, it would most likely be through symbolic interpretation.  In fact, this is the only weakness of Osburns article  the fact that the author can create an argument corresponding with her faith, without evidence supporting the same.      

Personal Conclusion
Osburn should have taken an objective, academic approach to her subject.  The author surmises that it may be possible for the Yoruba people to be saved through their worship of God (Osburn, 367).  At the same time, however, the article Those who have never heard reads that Jews and Muslims may or may not be saved, even though they believe in the same God who revealed the Gospel of the Christ.  Hence, I opine that the author is somewhat confused about her subject.  As Christ is the Spirit of God, and God is merciful enough to reveal His knowledge through Scriptures, dreams or visions, allowing the heart of man to believe through His Spirit, which all human beings essentially contain  Osburn could have explained belief in God by referring to Jesus Christ as the Spirit of God (Osburn, 369).
 
In other words, when the New Testament refers to the Christ as the sole means of attaining salvation, the writers are mainly referring to the Christ as the Spirit of God.  So, while it is true that belief comes through the Christ, it does not necessarily mean that all people who have been saved from eternal damnation must have heard about Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Moreover, I believe that it is blasphemous to try to judge the intentions of God from the time He created mankind until now.  As God is merciful and desires to save people through correct knowledge and beliefs, it is not for a religious author to claim that certain groups of people are more likely to be saved than others.  After all, God is too immense to be judged.  It is lack of understanding alone that confuses human beings about the meanings of the Scriptures, including the Gospel.