Guest guest Posted October 24, 2005 Report Share Posted October 24, 2005 The Role of Religious Pluralism Many people have yet to understand what religious pluralism involves and how this concept will play a central role in diffusing the issue of strife in the name of religion. In its most comprehensive form, this concept offers equal spiritual dignity to people of various faiths and of no-faith persuasion. It recognises the validity of the monotheistic religions as well as the non-theistic religions like Buddhism and Jainism. It grants full spiritual dignity to people of no-faith background who prefer the idea of spirituality not confined to religious expression. The undersigned has been actively promoting this concept at various universities. Last week this theme were presented to a large number of PGCE students at Lincoln, Sheffield Hallam, Canterbury Christ Church University College and today at the Muslim College in Ealing. The concept is received with a great deal of warmth and appreciation by almost every student. As the co-ordinators at these colleges will bear out, this concept is generating real enthusiasm and acceptance for 'many pathways to God'. The time has come for us to move on from the idea of "tolerating other religions" to giving "educated acceptance of many pathways for spiritual progress." This is what religious pluralism invokes. It is certainly not relativism, (which advocates that 'anything goes as there is no absolute'). So if the idea is so good why is it not being advocated more robustly? The reason is that it makes some theologians feel threatened. Religious pluralism allows their God to appear in other religion(s) and even under non-religious garb! How can their God escape from the confines of their doctrines and dogmas? How dare He? This is called 'exclusivism.' It is time to abandon this idea in favour of the more inclusivist idea promoted by religious pluralism. What religious pluralism forces on us is to recognise that at best every religion has a 'perception' of the Absolute but never the Absolute. If any religion ever manages to contain the Absolute within its finite walls it will have destroyed the potency of the Absolute. I have advocated a simpler version of this idea on 'Pause for Thought' Radio 2 programme due for broadcast on Wednesday 26th October at 6.15am. jay lakhani Vivekananda Centre London Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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