Pluralism may, in fact, be considered more dangerous than atheism or agnosticism. It is also philosophically self-defeating- saying that all religions are both right and wrong at the same time. This contradiction alone is enough to discredit this theory. Perhaps it will be better to expand and explain this contradiction.

• Pluralism says that all religions are right.
• Christianity says that only it is right.
• Therefore, Pluralism is wrong or Christianity is wrong.
• But since Pluralism says that Christianity (along with other religions) are right, then Pluralism is wrong since Christianity says that it alone is right.

A common explanation put forward in support of pluralism is the "Elephant Body Parts" illustration. It basically states that all religions have a "feel" at different body parts of the elephant. Obviously the experiences are all different, but what they feel is actually one thing.

But there is a big problem with this illustration. First of all, the pluralist will have to completely see the big picture. That is, they have to see the whole "elephant" and know that all religions are touching a part of it, and not touching something else altogether. And to claim to know the "full" truth (rather than the "half" truth of other religions) is the same arrogance of knowing the whole truth that the pluralist condemns!

So here's a quick refutation of pluralism for you.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 at 12:27 PM. |