Modern Pluralism Essay

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Modern Pluralism

If you get on a bus and go to the city of Chicago, chances are you are going to meet a lot of people you have never seen before. These people probably grew up different than you did, went to different schools, have their own family traditions, even have their own favorite coffee shop and standard order. We are all made differently, through the concept of nurture over nature, and thus we are all going to be raised and influence by the people around us, and the environments we are placed in. Therefore, we can deduct that people will not only have different routines, but also different worldviews and religious beliefs. This is modern pluralism, the combination of different points of view and interpretation of life and truths.[1]

This on its own is simply a fact; people have differing views, but modern pluralism in the West has started to become a religion within itself, theological pluralism. Theological pluralism, as described in Joshua D. Chatraw’s book Apologetics at the Cross is “Seeing all major religions as different paths up one mountain: each way is different, but each offers a valid way to the heavens.”[2] This thought is pleasant to a lot of people, because it appears non-confrontational and respectful, however, this goes directly against how God calls us to worship. We are told to believe in one God and abstain from idolatry[3], and as Christians, we are told in scripture that the only way to the Heavenly Father is through Jesus Christ.[4] By saying that there are multiple ways to heaven, we are no longer believing as God called us to, we are not Christians, we are theological pluralists. Which brings me to my final point, by saying that there are multiple ways to heaven you are really saying there is only one way to heaven because many religions believe in a one-way route. By saying that route is not the only route, you are deeming them wrong, contradicting the entire foundation of theological pluralism.

As Christians, we can be opposed by people saying that our frame of view is too small and that we are being judgmental of others’ beliefs when we say there is only one path to God, but these moments are to be cherished because it gives us an opening to explain why theological pluralism doesn’t work and why we believe in a single path to a loving and righteous God.

Work Cited

[1]Allen, J.C.M. D. (2018). Apologetics at the Cross. [MBS Direct]. Retrieved from https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/#/books/97803105…

[2]Allen, J.C.M. D. (2018). Apologetics at the Cross. [MBS Direct]. Retrieved from https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/#/books/97803105…

[3] Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1971). Cleveland, OH: William Collin + Word Publishing Co., Inc. Acts 15:20

[4] John 14:6 NRSV