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pohandes
Guest
What is Catholic view about Pluralism?
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Fauken
Guest
If by Pluralism, you mean the idea that all religions head on the same equally valid path, then the Church condemns it. Catholics hold the Catholic Church to be the One, Holy, Catholic (universal), and Apostolic Church, and that Christ its head is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is God, He established the Catholic Church, and no other.
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Shakuhachi
Guest
The Church supports all religious freedom but, of course, believes it’s views are closest to the truth.
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pohandes
Guest
No. it is not Pluralism.
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pohandes
Guest
Pluralism means no thing is absolute and each religion has a share of the truth. So Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Shintoism, Bahaism, etc has a part of truth and reality.
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bob4
Guest
I don’t think “closest to the truth” is an adequate expression of how the Church views itself; as if it nearly holds the truth although not quite but is closer than any other entity. Speaking of the Catholic Church Fr. John A. Hardon, in his book: The Catholic Catechism writes: “On both counts, however, whoever is saved owes his salvation to the one Catholic Church founded by Christ. It is to this Church alone that Christ entrusted the truths (my emphasis) of revelation…” (p. 236)
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otjm
Guest
Miriam Webster:
2 : the quality or state of being plural
3a : a theory that there are more than one or more than two kinds of ultimate reality
b : a theory that reality is composed of a plurality of entities
4a : a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups maintain and develop their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common civilization
b : a concept, doctrine, or policy advocating this state
Miriam Webster:
b : a view that ethical truths depend on the individuals and groups holding them
Relativism and Pluralism are closely related but not the same.
The Church has had issues with a few priests and/or theologians in India, where Catholicism is in a minority to the majority religion of Hinduism and the minority religion of Islam.
The issue is that in teaching/preaching, a few of the priests/theologians have in essence watered down or miss-stated some doctrines in an attempt to walk a fine line with the other religions there, in particular with the Hindus. While there have been incidents with radical Hindus attacking Catholics and in some instances killing them, and moving into villages with the specific intent to “encourage” (forcing might be a more honest statement) returning to Hinduism, and have attacked religious structures, for the greater part Catholics are able to live is a form of equilibrium with others.
An additional problem is that many if not a majority of Catholics are Dalits, the untouchable caste in India, where the caste system remains very strong.
Definition of pluralism
1 : the holding of two or more offices or positions (such as benefices) at the same time2 : the quality or state of being plural
3a : a theory that there are more than one or more than two kinds of ultimate reality
b : a theory that reality is composed of a plurality of entities
4a : a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups maintain and develop their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common civilization
b : a concept, doctrine, or policy advocating this state
Miriam Webster:
Definition of relativism
1a : a theory that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of the mind and the conditions of knowingb : a view that ethical truths depend on the individuals and groups holding them
Relativism and Pluralism are closely related but not the same.
The Church has had issues with a few priests and/or theologians in India, where Catholicism is in a minority to the majority religion of Hinduism and the minority religion of Islam.
The issue is that in teaching/preaching, a few of the priests/theologians have in essence watered down or miss-stated some doctrines in an attempt to walk a fine line with the other religions there, in particular with the Hindus. While there have been incidents with radical Hindus attacking Catholics and in some instances killing them, and moving into villages with the specific intent to “encourage” (forcing might be a more honest statement) returning to Hinduism, and have attacked religious structures, for the greater part Catholics are able to live is a form of equilibrium with others.
An additional problem is that many if not a majority of Catholics are Dalits, the untouchable caste in India, where the caste system remains very strong.
Crusader13
New member
Well even by your meaning, the Catholic Church rejects that belief, at least with regards to there being no absolute truth.
Each religion having a part of the truth is a rather broad statement. One could say that because a particular religion believes there is a god, therefore they have a part of the truth. When in reality, that means very little. Even if you detailed the supposed truths that other religions profess to have, no other religion is salvific.
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Genesis315
Guest
According to Catholic doctrine, while other religions may acknowledge certain truths mixed with their many errors, God does not will anyone to profess or belong to these religions. Ultimately, diversity in religions is a result of sin. From the Catechism:
CCC
As a practical matter, because the act of faith needs to be free and many societies today are de facto pluralist, the Church generally supports giving each religion their place in society and each freedom generally as contributing to the common good in such circumstances. However, since religious error can be harmful to the common good, public authority does have the right to suppress its public expression when the common good requires (see CCC 2109).
CCC
Since saving faith must be a free assent to the truth revealed by God, some will choose not to receive the truth in faith. Likewise, God does not necessarily provide each person with the helps to come to the truth at the same time and the same way, so not all who will make an act of faith do so at the same time (some are baptized as infants, some in the last moments of life, and everything in between). God can use the truths found in other religions as preparation to receive the whole of it. While there is only one road up the mountain that leads to God, there are many “on ramps” to this one road. Because of this, we see religious diversity in the world.
As a practical matter, because the act of faith needs to be free and many societies today are de facto pluralist, the Church generally supports giving each religion their place in society and each freedom generally as contributing to the common good in such circumstances. However, since religious error can be harmful to the common good, public authority does have the right to suppress its public expression when the common good requires (see CCC 2109).
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Shakuhachi
Guest
Pluralism is simply the acknowledgement of diversity. No judgement about right or wrong.
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