Pluralism and Abrahamic Faiths

satyameva jayate nānṛtaṁ, satyena panthā vitato devayānaḥ, yenākramantyṛṣayo hyāptakāmā, yatra tat satyasya paramaṁ nidhānam - Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.6

Truth alone triumphs; not falsehood. Through truth the divine path is spread out by which the sages whose desires have been completely fulfilled, reach where that supreme treasure of Truth resides.

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Pluralism is a fashionable claim today, and a center piece of political correctness. But are most claims of pluralism genuine? If they were genuine, why would so much religious tension continue? My talk will peel this onion and explain the necessary conditions required for a faith to be pluralistic. My argument is as follows: (1) Religious exclusivity is counter to pluralism, especially when exclusivity gets combined with expansionist mandates from God to convert others. (2) History Centrism (a construct I have developed and a term I have coined) leads to exclusivity, and hence cannot support genuine pluralism. (3) Certain metaphysical principles inherent in the Abrahamic faiths require History Centrism in order for their very survival. I will then contrast this with the metaphysics from the dharma traditions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism) and show that these faiths satisfy this necessary condition for pluralism. I will conclude by explaining that until the Abrahamic religions undergo major revolutions in their premises, the best they will be able to offer is "tolerance", which is patronizing and falls short of the mutual respect that is required for harmonious diversity. - Rajiv Malhotra

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