Where does theological pluralism lead?
September saw a first-of-its-kind international summit of theologians committed to the pluralist view of religions, according to a Sept. 19 report in NCRonline. Their aim: “smashing what these thinkers regard as the “idol” of claims to superiority by one religion over others. “Roughly, pluralism is the claim that all the world’s great religions are valid paths of salvation. In theological debate it’s contrasted to “exclusivism,” the view that only one religion saves and followers of others are excluded, and “inclusivism,” the view that only one religion saves and followers of others can be included. “Over four days, Sept. 6-9, 40 leading pluralist theologians gathered in Birmingham, England, the home of English philosopher John Hick, who at 81 is the acknowledged father of the movement. In books such as 1986’s God Has Many Names, Hick argues that since Christianity does not produce more kindness and goodness than other religions, it’s untenable to regard it as a superior revelation.” P
