Evidence · Case 05 · Relativism
Religious pluralism, the view of John Hick (competing explanation)
One exhibit from the free evidence repository at apologetics.pro.
The strongest form of the opposing view comes from philosopher John Hick, who argued that the great religions are different human responses to one ultimate reality, often illustrated with the parable of blind men each touching part of an elephant. On this view the contradictions are surface level, and each tradition perceives the same reality in a limited way.
Sources
Objections & responses
- The elephant parable is Buddhist and Jain in origin and is used there to teach humility, not to claim a God’s-eye view. Isn’t “the pluralist claims the God’s-eye view” a Christian talking point those traditions wouldn’t recognize?
The parable’s origin should be credited, and the reply, which comes from Lesslie Newbigin, should be too. The reply has force against Hick’s use of the parable, which does claim to know that all the religions are responses to one Real. It has less force against a Jain who uses the parable to say that all views, including his own, are partial. The two uses are different, and the honest move is to ask which one the person in front of you is making before answering.