Religious Pluralism, Diversity, and Inclusivity in the Context of Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

Religious pluralism is one of the central topics in contemporary philosophy of religion, addressing how to formulate an epistemic and theological stance toward the truth claims of diverse religious traditions. Fundamentally, it argues that different religions offer various, partially overlapping yet independently developed symbolic and doctrinal narratives concerning the same ultimate reality. Compared with alternative approaches such as religious exclusivism and religious inclusivism, pluralism advocates a more radical form of epistemic equality. Exclusivism asserts that only one religion leads to salvation, whereas inclusivism maintains that other religions contain partial truths but that ultimate truth resides in a particular tradition. Pluralism, however, holds that all religions possess truth claims that should not be dismissed and that each contributes uniquely to humanity’s understanding of religious experience. This approach has generated significant debates on theological, ethical, and sociological levels. Theologically, it suggests that concepts such as revelation, prophecy, and salvation require reinterpretation. Ethically, religious pluralism provides a theoretical foundation for more inclusive, dialogue-oriented, and peaceful relations between different faith communities. In this article, religious pluralism will be examined as a doctrine that emerged in response to the currents of religious inclusivism and exclusivism.