Interfaith, Pluralism and Organized Religion

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Interesting and hotly debated topic! Let's take a CLOSER look through discussion, definitions and exmaples.

RESPONSE:

1. What effect do you think religious pluralism and the interfaith movement will have on the future of organized religion? Explain your answer.

Let's use Christianity as one example of organized religion. However, these principles may apply to other religions as well as seen in the example below. Overall, religious pluralism, by definition, strengthens organized religion through dialogue, acceptance of diversity and tolerance of difference, to name a few. See definitions and discussion of principles in pluralism below. It act to strengthens individual religious traditions. However, it depends on the definition one holds about pluralism (see example 2 below, for the various definitions and implications for organized religion. . If it is about accepting diversity and tolerance of other faiths, it does not challenge the foundations of organized religion. However, others argue that it means moral relativism and that all faith are equally valid, which clearly challenged the orthodox beliefs of many organized religions, including Christianity.

Pluralism and interfaith dialogue could result in the process of decentralization of Christianity, for example, which continues increase the diversity of Christian groups. The lack of a hierarchical center with authority to impose orthodoxy on all has led to increased diversity and competition among churches. Competition is not always unhealthy, and we need to remember that vibrant Christianity has flourished in places, like the US, where freedom of religion has protected this competition and prevented any one religious group from institutionalizing a monopoly on God. One might predict that competition will confine the forces of pluralism among Christian groups as Christians vote with their feet for that religious tradition which best represents their own beliefs. From a Christian perspective, the more the Bible informs those beliefs, the happier the churches and their Lord will be (http://en.allexperts.com/q/Christianity-Christian-Living-1401/interfaith-movement.htm).

When religious pluralism is defined as Interfaith dialogue linked to the interfaith movement, it could act to strengthened organized religion in their beliefs and convictions through increased dialogue, debates and understanding, as there is often debates between and across different faiths on various religious topics and themes, as illustrated in the example below.

EXAMPLE:

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Panel discussions at the "World's Religions after 9/11 Conference" held in Montreal, Canada, from September 12-15, 2006
The NCCCUSA Interfaith Relations Commission organized two panels entitled "Forgiveness and Reconciliation" at the World's Religions after 9/11 conference. The first panel was an evaluation of ...