Monday, March 08, 2004
Pluralism
What is Pluralism?
We live in a "pluralistic" society. In essence, this means that people view the different cultures, races and especially religions in our society all contribute in some way to the sum of spiritual truth. Whatever someone believes, that belief is a valid contribution to our understanding of life. Apparently, "exclusivism" is'nt allowed because all views are valid. Ultimately, it boils down to the fact that people believe that whatever people believe, that happens to themselves but isn’t relevant to someone who hasn't accepted it. i.e Christians go to heaven, Buddhists are reincarnated. Or, pluralism asserts that every religion is heading the same way but they just call it all different names and get there in different ways.
What does Christianity say?
Christianity is in stark contrast to this. Throughout the bible it teaches that Christianity is the only way into a right relationship with God. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5, Isaiah 43:11)
In answer to pluralism we can bring a few points to notice.
If everything is true, then nothing is false. This is completely ludicrous if you look at the views of the major world religions. They aren't just different. They contradict. Christianity says Jesus is God and saviour while Islam leaves Jesus as a mere prophet. Both of these can't be true. That's ridiculous. All other religions say we are good enough to get into heaven on our own merit. Christianity says nothing of the sort (Ephesians 2:8-9). How can both ideas be true? Yet pluralism teaches this. Pluralism logically destroys itself.
Pluralism leaves questions with no answers. Is there one death and one judgement? OR are we reincarnated? Who am I? What am I? Where am I going? How do I get to where I am going? If you believe every religion is right then what are the answers to those questions? You do not get a definitive answer do you? For pluralism, the questions are more important than the answers.
Pluralism says that evangelism is irrelevant. What is the point in telling people about Jesus if everyone is going in the same direction (in different ways) and will ultimately end up in the same place? So, why are many Christians passionate evangelists? Are they mad? Of course not! It is the pluralistic view that is.
Pluralism has a small view of God. The Bible clearly teaches the altogether amazingness and incomprehensibility of God and yet pluralism belittles God. God gave the 10 commandments not to Jews or now Christians but for the whole world to obey (Deuteronomy 4:7-8). Our God is great (Acts 17:22-32, Deuteronomy 7:21, Deuteronomy 10:17, Luke 9:43) and pluralism takes that away from him.
Christian Exclusivism. Christianity, in being exclusive is right. It is different in so many ways to every other religion and makes the most sense even to Atheists. That's why they hate the Christian religion so much. They know its true. The only people who go to heaven are those who have savingly put their faith in Christ. Everyone else goes to hell. It isn't a nice concept to grasp but does anyone really deserve to go to Heaven?
We live in a "pluralistic" society. In essence, this means that people view the different cultures, races and especially religions in our society all contribute in some way to the sum of spiritual truth. Whatever someone believes, that belief is a valid contribution to our understanding of life. Apparently, "exclusivism" is'nt allowed because all views are valid. Ultimately, it boils down to the fact that people believe that whatever people believe, that happens to themselves but isn’t relevant to someone who hasn't accepted it. i.e Christians go to heaven, Buddhists are reincarnated. Or, pluralism asserts that every religion is heading the same way but they just call it all different names and get there in different ways.
What does Christianity say?
Christianity is in stark contrast to this. Throughout the bible it teaches that Christianity is the only way into a right relationship with God. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5, Isaiah 43:11)
In answer to pluralism we can bring a few points to notice.
If everything is true, then nothing is false. This is completely ludicrous if you look at the views of the major world religions. They aren't just different. They contradict. Christianity says Jesus is God and saviour while Islam leaves Jesus as a mere prophet. Both of these can't be true. That's ridiculous. All other religions say we are good enough to get into heaven on our own merit. Christianity says nothing of the sort (Ephesians 2:8-9). How can both ideas be true? Yet pluralism teaches this. Pluralism logically destroys itself.
Pluralism leaves questions with no answers. Is there one death and one judgement? OR are we reincarnated? Who am I? What am I? Where am I going? How do I get to where I am going? If you believe every religion is right then what are the answers to those questions? You do not get a definitive answer do you? For pluralism, the questions are more important than the answers.
Pluralism says that evangelism is irrelevant. What is the point in telling people about Jesus if everyone is going in the same direction (in different ways) and will ultimately end up in the same place? So, why are many Christians passionate evangelists? Are they mad? Of course not! It is the pluralistic view that is.
Pluralism has a small view of God. The Bible clearly teaches the altogether amazingness and incomprehensibility of God and yet pluralism belittles God. God gave the 10 commandments not to Jews or now Christians but for the whole world to obey (Deuteronomy 4:7-8). Our God is great (Acts 17:22-32, Deuteronomy 7:21, Deuteronomy 10:17, Luke 9:43) and pluralism takes that away from him.
Christian Exclusivism. Christianity, in being exclusive is right. It is different in so many ways to every other religion and makes the most sense even to Atheists. That's why they hate the Christian religion so much. They know its true. The only people who go to heaven are those who have savingly put their faith in Christ. Everyone else goes to hell. It isn't a nice concept to grasp but does anyone really deserve to go to Heaven?
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