Pluralism: The Future of Religion
The theology of religions has defaulted in the last two decades to an epicyclic inclusivism that tries to undermine pluralist approaches to religious diversity with claims that it is covertly triumphalistic and that it mirrors the logic of exclusivism. With the exception of pioneers in the field such as John Hick and Paul Knitter, most major figures in this theological subfield have retreated from pluralism and promote versions of particularism and inclusivism. In Pluralism: The Future of Religion, (Bloomsbury, 2013), Kenneth Rose argues for what he calls “apophatic mystical pluralism.” This new approach to the philosophical and theological issues raised by the global reality of religious diversity is spurred by the insight that it is impossible to gain universal assent for changeable bodies of religious teachings. This insight implies the non-finality and consequent “departicularization” of all religious teachings and their inclusivistic and exclusivistic defenses. These conclusions point us inevitably toward pluralism and lead us out of the inclusivistic impasse in which the theology of religions is currently dead ended.
Pluralism: The Future of Religion rejects antipluralist views of religious truth, which block fair and evenhanded approaches to the study and practice of humanity’s diverse religious traditions and views. A handful of iconic books and articles tower above their time because they dissolved paradigms that once loomed as equivalent to common sense and seemed invulnerable to criticism. Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason awakened his contemporaries from the dogmatic slumber of metaphysics. Karl Barth’s The Epistle to the Romans projected the exploding shell of revelation onto the landscape of liberal theology. Steven Katz’s “Language, Epistemology, and Mysticism” exiled perennialism from the philosophy of mysticism. John Hick’s An Interpretation of Religion completed the Copernican revolution in theology by placing “the Real” at the center of “the universe of faiths.” And Gavin D’Costa’s “The Impossibility of a Pluralist View of Religions” singlehandedly halted the progress of religious pluralism for a generation by ironically labeling it as exclusivistic. Alongside these widely known paradigm-breakers, Kenneth Rose seeks in Pluralism: The Future of Religion to dissolve the dominant antipluralist paradigm repressing the open and fair study of global religiosity.
This well-reviewed book seeks to foster greater understanding and cooperation among adherents of diverse religious traditions and views by breaking the impasse between pluralists and antipluralists in religious studies and theology. Rose argues that pluralism is an equitable and religiously sensitive basis for the study and practice of religion because there is no consensus on whether any religious tradition is final and normative for humanity. Because pluralism, unlike the antipluralist stances of inclusivist and exclusivist theologians, does not favor one religious tradition over another, Rose sees it as the inevitable future of the study and practice of religion.
Antipluralists often charge pluralists with replacing traditional religious language with generic language about the Sacred, the Absolute, or the Divine. Pluralism so conceived is indeed no less exclusivistic than traditional exclusivism. But pluralism, as Rose practices it, turns on the insight that the cultural shaping of religious language and the processes of historical change inevitably undercut inclusivistic and exclusivistic interpretations of religious teachings. This occurs through the inevitable changes brought about by syncretism, the formation of new religious movements, and the supersession, or annulment, of older religious forms by new religious forms. The result of this process, which he names departicularization, is that no religious tradition will ever gain universal acceptance in all times and places among human beings. Affirming this undeniable point opens a door from inclusivism and exclusivism into a non-exclusivistic apophatic and mystical pluralism as the basis for an evenhanded and fair approach to the religious and spiritual heritage of humanity.
Rose takes up the following themes in this book:
- Impasse in the Theology of Religions
- The Copernican Revolution in the Theology of Religions
- The Inclusivist Counterrevolution in the Theology of Religions
- The Prisoners’ Parable
- Apophatic Mystical Pluralism in the Upaniṣads
- Apophatic Mystical Pluralism in the New Testament
- Apophatic Mystical Pluralism and the Academic Study of Religion
Pluralism: The Future of Religion has been reviewed and endorsed favorably by pluralist and nonpluralist theologians alike:
“In writing this clear and forceful volume, argued with a philosophical and religious fervor, Kenneth Rose is on a mission, marshaling support for his prophecy that pluralism is on its way to becoming the only intellectually coherent explanation of religious diversity. . . . I recommend this passionate book as worthy reading for those interested in refreshing and intensifying the debate on the significance of our many religions.” — Francis X. Clooney, The Journal of Religion
“A bold, full-throated apologia for what is called a pluralist theology of religions. . . . For those who see pluralism as ‘the future of religion,’ Rose’s book will be a solid buttress. For those who don’t, it is an argument that they will definitely have to contend with.” — Paul F. Knitter, Horizons
“Rose’s work is a welcome addition to the new life that is being poured into the pluralist position that is clearly here to stay.” — Gavin D’Costa, Religion and Theology
“I am inclined to agree with Kenneth Rose’s claim that the future is already decided, as the title of his recent book reflects: Pluralism: The Future of Religion. Rose argues persuasively, both philosophically and historically, that of the tripartite division that [Alan] Race devised more than thirty years ago, exclusivism is already passe, except for now numerically expanding but intellectually ineffectual fundamentalist groups, and inclusivism is experiencing increasing intellectual abandonment.” — Leonard Swindler, Journal of Ecumenical Studies
“Rose in this penetrating study brilliantly clarifies the dialogue among religious advocates of the now ‘classical’ exclusivist, inclusivist, pluralist understandings of religion. . . . This tour de force should be read and reflected on by everyone interested in religion.” — Leonard Swidler, Temple University
“ Pluralism: The Future of Religion is the most thorough and up-to-date study of one of the most hotly debated issues in Religious Studies today. Rose deals fairly and squarely with the large amount of recent writings . . . and convincingly argues for a pluralistic approach to world religions . . . . an ideal text for graduate seminars for advanced students of religion and is certain to generate a lively debate among scholars.” — Klaus Klostermaier, University of Manitoba
“[A] rigorous and nuanced study that is exceptionally well written, illuminating, and contains impeccable scholarship. . . . It has the special feature of drawing from the depths of the classical Hindu texts of the Upanishads in his powerful constructive vision for a genuine religious pluralism. I applaud Rose especially for engaging Eastern textual sources and conceptions for his vision of pluralism.” — Graham M. Schweig, Christopher Newport University
“The book is logically structured and readable . . . . The reader is afforded a useful overview of past and present ‘comparative theology’ discourse, and in this sense can serve as a useful introduction to the topic. [T]he discussion is engaging and interesting.” — Jonathan Cole,St Mark’s Review
“In this passionate and erudite book, Rose mounts a forceful defense of pluralism. . . . The book debunks all criticism against pluralism and asserts that it is the only viable model for our globalized world. . . . Rose has written a remarkable scholarly book on one of the most debated topics in the study of religion, which is likely to draw much scholarly attention. The pluralist position is here to stay!” — Minlib Dallh, Journal of Ecumenical Studies
“Kenneth Rose’s Pluralism: The Future of Religion is one of the most important works to appear in the theology of religions in nearly two decades. Evocatively written, rhetorically effective, deftly argued, remarkably lucid, theologically nuanced, and even spiritually discerning, the book launches a full-scale attack on exclusivistic and inclusivistic versions of ‘particularism,’ the view that one particular religion is absolute, universal, unsurpassable, and superior to all the others. . . . I cannot recommend Pluralism: The Future of Religion strongly enough.” — Demian Wheeler,American Journal of Theology and Philosophy
As this praise from pluralists and nonpluralists alike suggests, Pluralism: The Future of Religion fulfills the hope of the pluralist pioneer John Hick, who wrote to Kenneth Rose about an earlier book, which he had written on Hick’s influential pluralist hypothesis:
“I admire the quality of your writing, and also the very thorough research that lies behind it. I hope that you will continue in the future to argue for a form-even if different from my own-of the pluralistic religious outlook that may do something to save us from appalling conflicts validated by exclusivist religion.”
Originally published at https://kenrose51.substack.com.
