The Impossibility of a Pluralist View of Religions

Bibliographic Data

ID20310751
AuthorsGavin D’costa (0000-0003-2543-1168, University of Bristol, corresponding author), Gavin D'Costa
Year1996
Volume32
Issue2
Pages223-232
Publication date1996-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligious Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0034-4125 • E-ISSN: 1469-901X
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0034412500024240
OpenAlexW2134317732
LanguageEN
Citations received23
References cited6

In the debate about Christian attitudes to other religions, a threefold typology has emerged depicting differing Christian responses: pluralism, inclusivism and exclusivism. (This typology is not restricted to the Christian debate alone.) Traditionally, pluralism is opposed to exclusivism, the former claiming that it is arrogant and untenable to make exclusive truth claims, and that all religions are potentially equal paths to salvation and truth. In contrast, I argue that pluralism must always logically be a form of exclusivism and that nothing called pluralism really exists. The main purpose of my paper is to show that there is no high-ground in the pluralist position, for in principle its logic is no different from the exclusivist position. If this is established, then the debate can proceed with more substantial issues regarding the justification and clarification of truth claims

Epistemology · Impossibility · Nothing · Pluralism (philosophy) · Political science · Religious pluralism · Sociology · Typology · American Constitutional Law and Politics · Anthropology · Law · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions · Religious Education and Schools · Religious studies

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