Pluralism Revisited

Abstract

John Hick is justly renowned for his clear and carefully articulated statement of what he called the ‘pluralist hypothesis’. This is the hypothesis that all the great world faiths are different ways of stating the nature of ultimate reality and that they form different paths towards that reality. The hypothesis offers a way of overcoming the imperialistic ambitions of many religions, and of adopting the humbler role of presenting one path to the ultimate spiritual goal among others. It also opposes the claim often made by Christians that there is only one path to salvation, and that those who do not explicitly confess Jesus as their Lord and Salvation are precluded from eternal life.