What is the difference between Religious Diversity and Religious Pluralism?
What do you as global citizens think distinguishes Religious Diversity and Religious Pluralism? What is the framework that global citizens need to work from to support and encourage either?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Connor Coyne on
-
Hi Zabrina,
I'm not familiar with the semantic background between those two terms (I do perceive that the distinction is important), but I really liked Judith Simmer-Brown's article on religious pluralism and the Parliament.
I agree with the CPWR mission that the diversity of faiths and outlooks is something to be cherished and protected. I am also concerned that attempts to "unite" religions is hazardous territory because there isn't a culturally neutral position in such debates. Does that somewhat address your question?
-
Permalink Reply by Brenda Bos on -
One of the earliest challenges to interreligious dialogue was the acknowledgment each of us had to have about our social location, and how that colors the lens through which we see other people. Now, a new challenge is emerging, which Connor eludes to: who gets to determine what "unity" is, or "the norm" or even "the ideal"? Once again we have to realize even our dreams for a positive future must be viewed with caution. "A perfect world" in my view will be different from your view of "a perfect world." Sometimes this sensitivity seems exhausting, but as long as we acknowledge it is part of the framework, we will be in a better place.
-
Permalink Reply by Alisa Roadcup on -
Religious pluralism is sometimes used as a synonym for interfaith dialogue, though this is not my understanding of the term. Interfaith dialogue refers to dialogue between members of different religions for the goal of reducing conflicts between religions and to achieve agreed upon mutually desirable goals. Inter-religious dialogue is difficult if the partners adopt a position of particularism, i.e. if they only care about the concerns of their own group, but is favored by the opposite attitude of universalism, where care is taken for the concerns of others. Religious pluralism at its essence is the worldview according to which one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus that at least some truths and true values exist in other religions.
Religious diversity to me is merely the number of different religious adherents, groups, organizations, etc. available to join in a society, however this is to be measured.
-
Permalink Reply by Kathleen Hurty on -
Alisa's definition of Religious Diversity is helpful. It is a picture of what exists. Religious Diversity acknowledges differences -- perhaps even celebrates them. But it simply is a recognition of what is. Religious Pluralism is far more dynamic. It means that my 'particularity', my religious beliefs and practices, are laid along side yours as 'gift', and yours are laid along side mine as 'gift'. Then, in the sharing of gifts we each bring to the table or the community (through actions, conversations, celebrations) comes deeper understanding. Particular'ism', as Alisa notes, is a danger -- that is, if I think my 'particularity' is better than yours, or I care only about my own. But 'particularities', thoughtfully honored, can be joined in a generous and generative mode, where respect constantly resides, and where mutual learning abounds. That is, I believe, the joy of a dynamic Religious Pluralism.
Alisa Roadcup said:Religious pluralism is sometimes used as a synonym for interfaith dialogue, though this is not my understanding of the term. Interfaith dialogue refers to dialogue between members of different religions for the goal of reducing conflicts between religions and to achieve agreed upon mutually desirable goals. Inter-religious dialogue is difficult if the partners adopt a position of particularism, i.e. if they only care about the concerns of their own group, but is favored by the opposite attitude of universalism, where care is taken for the concerns of others. Religious pluralism at its essence is the worldview according to which one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus that at least some truths and true values exist in other religions.
Religious diversity to me is merely the number of different religious adherents, groups, organizations, etc. available to join in a society, however this is to be measured.
-
Permalink Reply by Anand Krishna on -
Zabrina, thanks foe bringing up this issue. And, thank you Connor, Brenda, Alisa, Kathleen for your views.
Allow me to share the challenges we face living in country where religious radicalism is on the rise.:
1. Diversity, as Alisa righty defines it, is an undeniable fact. Whether one agrees or not, it is there. Yet, some of us are nit even ready to accept this. Of-course we have scriptural texts to support our view. In such cases, we even argue that "diversity is a test imposed by the Almighty to test our faith." Funny to many of us, but not so with some. And, these some happen to be very vocal in expressing their views.
2. Pluralism is purely an acceptance of other faiths, "that they are there". I, once again, agree with Alisa, that such acceptance is not really meeting-meeting of hearts. The "holier than thou" and "better than thou" mindset is still there. Pluralism gives birth to tolerance. I merely tolerate you. It can imply, "you are not better than me, but i can tolerate you."
3. There is another popular word in this part of the word: "inclusivism" perhaps no such word in the English language, but this is a step ahead than pluralism. However, among the semitic religions, it may only mean "including" the peoples of the recognized books, meaning the Jews, Christians, and Muslims. A big step, a leap.... and very much disliked by the extremists, fanatics, and radicals.
Solution.... i am working on my power point. Hopefully in a day or two i shall be able to send it over :-)
Until then, cheers... Love n blessings
-
Permalink Reply by Robert Tulip on -
May the grace and peace and love of God be with the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne.
Religious diversity is a human right, the freedom of belief. Freedom of belief rests on cultural identity and security of language, land and custom. Anthropologist Wade Davis said “a language … is a flash of the human spirit, the means by which the soul of each particular culture reaches into the material world. Every language is an old growth forest of the mind, a watershed of thought, an entire ecosystem of spiritual possibilities.”
Diversity of language is at the core of diversity of religion, and both are under pressure from monolithic modern societies. By protecting religious diversity, we nurture the old growth forests of the mind that are embedded in indigenous language.
Religious pluralism is the doctrine that religious diversity is good. However, pluralism suffers from the logical traps of postmodernism: cultural relativism, the theory that all values are morally equal, and epistemological relativism, the theory that conflict over questions of fact cannot be resolved. The limits to religious pluralism arise where society views a religious claim as repugnant. The old practice of human sacrifice obviously falls into this category as morally repugnant, sitting at one end of a continuum which also contains sexual practices, circumcision, abortion, cannibalism and all the moral dilemmas of faith. It is harder to be pluralistic when we feel strong moral revulsion towards a practice or belief that is defended on religious grounds.
The dilemma of pluralism can be seen in the debate over missionary evangelism. For example, in Papua New Guinea many communities welcomed Christianity as superior to the beliefs they held before contact with the modern world. However, many missionaries have been criticised for their dogmatic view that all traditional belief should be abandoned as a form of superstition. A pluralistic approach to faith can combine Christian beliefs with ideas from other sources. An example is the new preamble to the Constitution of the Uniting Church in Australia, which recognises that the spirit of God was present in Australia before the British arrived.
-
Permalink Reply by Mike Ghouse on -
Religious diversity is like stating the fact - that there are many a belief systems,
it is an acknolwedgment of different religions, whereas;
Religious Pluralism is influenced by the idea of co-existence,
all of us have a space and we have to figure out how to create harmony with the given diversity of beliefs.
Pluralism is an attitude of respecting the otherness of other, and accepting the God given uniqueness of each one of the 6.6 Billion of us, further, it is sincerely believing that each path is divine. Pluralism includes atheistic system of belief as well, in which case the phrase "God Given" is replaced with "Genetic", and replacing the phrase, "that each path is divine" with " that each system works for the believer".
unbeknown to this, I have started another thread called What is Pluralism, where I have written a few more thoughts.
thanks
Mike Ghouse
www.FoundationforPluralism.com
-
Permalink Reply by Rev.Kastrata Almohnd Maeve on
-
I do not claim to be the most knowledgeable when it comes to the difference between the two, though I do intend to go and study them both and gain more knowledge as to the two. But I do know this much, while it is important to know them both, it is also not the most important aspect of it. Why worry so much as to the differences, as opposed to concerning yourselves with the benefits they both have to offer us. As I have learned over the years, to burden your mind with such concerns of differences, you lose site of the path you need to be on.
Religious Diversity and religious Pluralism should be used hand in hand, feeding off one another to help further us all on the path of life. Accepting all yet embracing the diversity of each, for each has its on place in life and its own unique benefits to give us. Some help to teach us devotion, some teach us how to be at one with ourselves, some help us to learn to harmonize our minds and bodies with the earth and spirits at our sides. For each we have learned, the more knowledge we gain, for each we embrace, the more harmonic our lives can be.
What is the difference? I don't know, but I can tell you this, I would much prefere to never learn the difference then to spend my life debating about it. Embrace both, and you shall embrace harmony.
With up most respect
Rev.Grand Priest Kastrata Almohnd Maeve
-
Permalink Reply by Robert Tulip on
-
Pluralism and diversity - we celebrate human heritage - blessed are the meek! - and yet the acknowledgement of pluralism brings with it the problem of deciding for yourself between different faiths. Is our personal decision based on reason or revelation or tradition? What happens to pluralism when a religious ethic comes into conflict with another religious ethic?
Robert Tulip
-
Permalink Reply by Mike Ghouse on
-
Robert,
Acknowledgement of Pluralism does not present one with deciding between faiths, it is simply an acknowledgment of the otherness of other faith.
Our personal decisions are always based on emotion and tradition, reason justifies our emotional decisions. There is no rhyme, reason or logic in choosing a faith, it is simply what suits one’s feeling. Religions are about faith and not reason.
More on my blog, what is pluralism?
Mike Ghouse
www.FoundationforPluralism.com
Robert Tulip said:Pluralism and diversity - we celebrate human heritage - blessed are the meek! - and yet the acknowledgement of pluralism brings with it the problem of deciding for yourself between different faiths. Is our personal decision based on reason or revelation or tradition? What happens to pluralism when a religious ethic comes into conflict with another religious ethic?
Robert Tulip
-
Permalink Reply by Robert Tulip on
-
Mike
Thank you for your reply. The idea that we choose faith with "no rhyme, reason or logic" is disturbing. Surely the redemptive power of faith comes from its basis in an eternal logos which is ultimately rational?
Robert
-
Permalink Reply by kathryn julyan on -
Pluralism is the opposite of exclusivism. However, it is not some abstract theory, suggesting all religions or faith traditions are one and lead to the same goal. There are meaningful distinctions to be made between all of these profound traditions. Yet, we can say that all people’s relationship with the sacred or Truth is valid, and that “all prayers are valid” and that our shared values are valid. We need to grown in our understanding of each other’s faith so we can learn to celebrate our “neighbors” engagement of the sacred and Truth. Pluralism in this sense is a living idea of celebrating and engaging each other’s faith and spiritual traditions.
© 2012 Created by The Parliament of Religions.
