The Secular World ...Pluralism

By Eric Hoffman

Today a widely common belief is held that says "All religious faiths are basically the same." It’s nonsense will carry to the tune of, "They may have different books, different kinds of worship, and varying views on the nature of God, but other than that it’s all the same thing."
So let me get this straight. If I am to set aside the fact that even though my concept of God, scripture, and way of worship is very different when compared to a Buddhist, I am still basically the same?
This idea has become so deeply rooted in the minds of many that it’s considered to be common knowledge. It is obvious in our world's sight that if anyone claims absolute truth concerning their theological views, is considered extremely close-minded and intolerant. Now, if we examine this worldly and popular way of thinking we can see that at it’s core it is seldom formed by people who are sincerely trying to consider facts or understanding.
If one is honest, it’s clear enough that the various religions of the world are different. Theists believe in one personal God; Hindus believe in many gods; atheists deny any God exists. Just on that issue alone, the differences are obvious. But the pluralist thinker would whitewash those particulars by summing it all up by claiming all religions believe in a power greater than themselves. This is true when viewing “religions” at a surface value only. On the surface we see prayers, rituals, holy books, etc. It’s when we dig down to the essential beliefs that we find contradictory differences!
For example, Islam is theistic but is unitarian while Christianity is trinitarian. Hindus believe we are not true individual selves but are parts of the All, while orthodox Jews believe we are individuals created in the image of God. Muslims believe salvation comes through obedience to Allah, while Buddhists believe “salvation” consists of spinning out of the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth into nirvana. It is apparent that religions are not essentially the same and only superficially different.
This is where pluralism comes in. The idea of pluralism is not compatible with biblical Christianity. The idea that all religions should just merge and decide to coexist with each other is purely calling a truce and setting aside the important theological teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus made the claim that he was way, the truth, and the light and that nobody came to the father except through him(John 14:6). This statement made by Christ is so categorically against pluralism that it is not even open for debate.
So why does society want to merge all religions into one big happy family? Humans by nature do not desire any type of conflict. And if we are truly honest with ourselves we would rather be told what we want to hear rather than what is true and what needs to be heard.
Christianity is a faith of confession. It’s a theological, fundamental basis for the Christian to confess that Jesus is Lord over all. So by it’s nature it confesses to be the only way to glory in the after life. What little people are aware of is that just about all religions claim a similar concept. The difference is the confession is absent and the absolutes that surround those faiths are silent. Lets face it, Muslims have the Koran; Christians have the Bible; Jews have the Torah; Hindus have the Bhagavad Gita. Muslims pray five times a day; Christians pray at church on Sundays and most anytime they want during the week. Buddhists have their shrines; Jews their synagogues; Hindus their temples; Muslims their mosques; and Christians their churches. All these religions at their core claim ultimate truth.
There is a more general truth that separates Christianity and pluralism, namely, that Christianity is grounded in specific historical events, not abstract religious ideas. Pluralists, as it were, line up all the major, enduring religions in front of them and look for similarities such as those we have already noted: prayers, rituals, holy books, and so on. They abstract these characteristics and say, “Look. They’re all really the same because they do and have the same kinds of things.” But that won’t do for Christianity. It is not just some set of abstract “religious” beliefs and practices. It is grounded in specific historical events.
It is interesting that Jesus’ claimed that He was and is the only way to the Father, but few people will criticize Him for making the claim. It is a strange thing, isn’t it? Christians who say Jesus is the only way are condemned as self-righteous bigots, while the One who boldly declared not His religion but Himself as the only way is considered a good man!