Religious Pluralism

Philosophy stands for the ‘love of wisdom’. In other words, philosophy can be seen as an exercise that people undertake to understand fundamental truths and beliefs about human existence. Religious pluralism is one of the essential aspects of philosophy. Over the years, philosophers from all around the globe have investigated and pondered over some of the most complex philosophical questions to give us the knowledge we have today. 

Overview 

Philosophy is the branch of education and research that deals with human existence, information, truth, and ethics. Through this subject, fundamental questions have been raised that examine thought processes. Philosophy is divided into various branches of its own, one of which is religious pluralism. 

Philosophical approaches are essential to sustain and maintain a society that supports multiple religions. In today’s time, diversified religion is a norm, and many strategies support this diversification. 

In a very comprehensive manner, religious pluralism consists of the words that explain the diversity and spiritual culture, asserting that all forms of religion are equally respectable. As per Diana Eck, ‘Pluralism is not the sheer fact of this plurality alone but is active engagement with a plurality’. 

According to religious pluralism, all religions are equal. There are four meanings through which various people explain religious pluralism. 

• Theological meaning: according to this, all religious journeys follow truth and reality.
  
• Sociological: this explains pluralism, which means variety.
  
• Philosophical school: also known as value pluralism, which considers the valuing variation of religions.
  
• Political pursuit allows peaceable interaction between individuals and groups from various religions.

Meaning 

All the four meanings of religious pluralism are explained below in detail;

Theological pluralism 

It is the very first definition of religious pluralism. From the Christian point of view, every religion is equally truthful. It explains pluralism in two different forms, named exclusivity and inclusivity. 

Exclusivists consider that faith has only one end, that is, redemption. In Latin, it translates to ‘outside the church, there is no salvation’. 

They believed that Jesus Christ was their only redeemer. Redemption, in this sense, can be achieved by the Christian church or faith in Christianity. However, inclusivity challenged exclusivity. 

Conversely, inclusivity holds the belief that non-Christians can achieve salvation through the Christian pathway as well. 

Sociological pluralism/ plurality 

Here, pluralism is considered as a social phenomenon of diversified religions. This is a logical meaning that argues that the dynamics of pluralism should be explained and understood. For avoiding any kind of turmoil, it is referred to as plurality. 

In the viewpoint of supervision between religion and political entities, ” non-conformity” was regarded as a violation of political structure, which led to a violent struggle against the dissidents. Throughout the years, newer religions have formed alongside older ones, for example, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism. There has also been an increase in the number of non-believers. 

Globalisation and migration have played a significant role in the process of pluralisation. 

Philosophical pluralism 

This represents the third meaning of religious pluralism. In liberal political theory, diversity is celebrated as a fact or an instrumental form. However, it should not affect the stability of the societal framework. John Rawl has given the term ‘the fact of pluralism’ and considers it a sociological phenomenon. He defined philosophical pluralism in the reasonable pluralism form, which states that morals, values, and religions are incompatible and reasonable. 

Political ideal 

Apart from theological, sociological, and philosophical meanings of pluralism. It is also understood in terms of political standpoints. It is defined as the active involvement of individuals and groups from diversified cultures and religions without harming societal peace and harmony. It portrays a world with meaningful interactions and positive communications.

Conclusion

Philosophy is a set of beliefs and ideas that elucidate the meaning and definition of life and its complexities. In history, several philosophers have provided diverse definitions and explanations related to philosophy. Philosophers have always tried to understand the dynamics of human behaviour. Religious pluralism is one of the most important aspects of philosophy. It is defined by four schools of thought: theological, sociological, political, and philosophical.