The Arrogance of Pluralism

Whenever the subject of Christianity comes up, at some point, some angry bloke will eventually say, "Man, Christians are so arrogant. I mean, how can you believe that there is only one way to God or heaven? How can you be so sure that you guys are right? That is so arrogant and judgmental."

The Christian, ruffled by the sudden demise of his popularity, bites his tongue and goes home discouraged. Left to his own thoughts, he ponders some potential contradictions: 

Didn't Jesus say "Judge not lest you be judged"?

Aren't Christians supposed to be loving and humble?

Maybe I don't have any right to say that Jesus is the ONLY way.

For anyone who has ever wrestled with such thoughts or suffered through such accusations, here are two simple things to consider:

• No Major Religion in the World Would Claim that All Religions Are Equally Valid

Growing up in a Malaysia, I was surrounded by friends who believed differently than I did. My classmates were Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims-- and a handful of Christians. In my younger years, there were precious few conversations that remotely resembled a discourse in comparative religions. But when friends had to miss a party to burn incense at an ancestor's grave, or skip food because it was Ramadan, or come to school with white, ashy powder on their foreheads, we all understood. We had different beliefs. Moreover, these beliefs were deeply held, and a significant part of our heritage.

As I got older, I found the courage to occasionally try to witness to a cab driver. I remember one occasion when a Buddhist man argued that his religion was far older than mine and therefore more superior. These conversations were friendly-- for the most part-- and all ended the same way: each leaving the other completely unconvinced.

But to my best recollection, not once in a conversation with a devout follower of another religion did a person ever say that all religions are the same.

There are fundamental differences that neither party are willing to ignore. A Muslim's god is not characterized by love and could not have come to earth. A Buddhist god is not personal. A Hindu's god...well, there are millions to choose from.

The claim of exclusivity is not unique to Christianity; it is common among the major religions of the world.

So, the belief that all religions are the same is itself a new kind of religion. A religion, after all, is a belief system that provides a framework for life and its meaning or lack of. From what source does this person derive his belief that all religions are the same? Certainly not from the religions themselves. On what basis can he defend it? None, except that it is the popular worldview of his day. (Let's see, we're standing on a long-held, historic belief, and he on a modern one...hmmm.) Unless, of course, he thinks that he sees more than you do. Read on.

• The Belief That All Religions Have Some Truth But Not the Whole Truth Means That You Think You Have the Whole Truth 

People like to say that there are good things to glean from every religion, that each contains a morsel of truth, but is inaccurate on its own. Their favorite analogy is the blind men grasping different parts of an elephant, each describing his experience as the ultimate truth. The one who has the tail says an elephant is like a snake; the one who has the trunk says that an elephant is sturdy as a pipe; the one who has the tusk says an elephant is like a smooth horn with a sharp point, etc. The problem-- as Timothy Keller in The Reason For God so eloquently points out-- is that this story is told from the perception of one who is not blind, one who sees what an elephant really looks like.

In other words, to say that all religions are only partially right, that truth unfolds progressively through the eras of each religion's birth, is to say that you are the apex of religious history. You are now more enlightened than Confucious, Buddha, Mohammed, or Jesus. What they saw in part, you see in totality. Now, no peace-loving, Oprah-watching, politically-correct hipster is going to admit to that, but that is essentially what they are saying.

So, the question is not how arrogant Christianity is to make exclusive claims-- and, by the way, it does (read John 14 for a refresher course). The question is really how arrogant is Eckhart Tolle or Oprah or anyone else who tries to say that all religions are the same and taken together give us the full spiritual truth?

After all, isn't it arrogant to look at thousands of years of belief and practice by the major religions of the world, and dismissively say they are all the same? Isn't it arrogant to show up in 21st Century America and claim something none of these ancient, non-Western religions have ever claimed?

As it turns out, pluralism is the arrogant belief system-- not to mention one full of horse crap.

Comments

[Jeremy]

Hi Glenn, I have been reading your blog when I can, and I just wanted to thank you. Aside from the weekly sermons I attend, it's nice to hear someone speak powerfully and confidently. In my experience, it has been difficult to find talented individuals speak the word of God. My main concern throughout my life is that Christians are actually losing their confidence to speak out, and say "Yes I believe in God". I live near and work near Boulder, and I sure have my share of Oprah devine liberals preaching every day. I just hope Christians will stand up more, be confident, and not concerned what others may think of their belief. My younger sister turned me on to your blog from her experience at the Mill. Just know that people are reading, and loving the effort you put forth.

Thanks again :).

[Lee Cummings]

Great blog Glen. This is what what American culture thinks it does better than anything else: we take something from another culture and we re-make it, bigger and better. We Americanize it. This is exactly what Roman culture did a couple millennia ago. They adapted the arts, religions, and politics of the cultures they dominated, and gave them new Roman names and rewrote portions of their stories. This is what is going on in America in the throes of a post-modern revolution. The interesting thing to watch over the next several years will be how the church responds. Enjoyed our discussion while you were here in Kalamazoo too.

[Glenn]

to jeremy: glad you're enjoying the blogs...i'm sure life in boulder can be tough...the challenge is to be loving, gracious, humble...knowing that we are in as much need of grace as anyone...yet firm in what we believe. what Christians often forget is that the beauty of what we believe is not first about morality or behavior modification, but about a God how has made a way for us to come to him...for him to live in us...grace is the miracle...and our faith in the amazing power of the Gospel should never waver. by the way, the book i cited, "The Reason for God" is the warmest, most accessible, and maybe the most helpful resources for courage and humility in the dialogue with skeptics...

to Pastor Lee: dude, you're a rock star and a scholar...i respect you greatly and always value your insights...brilliant as always. i look forward to chatting more in the future...by the way, the link to your blog is up. peace.

[Jaime]

Glenn, thanks for speaking so clearly and fervently...because a danger of Tolle's and Oprah's arguments is that they seem so inclusive, so full of love and acceptance--but really they're arrogant complacency (if there is such a thing!).

[Joe Kirkendall]

Glenn,
Great spin on a conversation that happens so often. Thank you!

[Mary]

Thank you for this blog entry. My old pastor has fallen for Eckhart Tolle's lies. It breaks my heart and has caused a lot of confusion for me; especially when he has preached the lies to me. This was a person that I looked up to, had been used of God in a powerful way in my life, and who I have witnessed cast out demons from my childhood home. I just can't believe that someone who has experienced God's power can turn to this garbage. The fact that he has done so, will I am sure, cause those who have heard his sermons to be deceived, as well. It is hard to not want to listen to someone that God has used in your life so powerfully. I am happy that I have the discernment, with God's help, to listen to God's word, and not man.

Please pray for my old pastor. If you ever want to debate him, he is on Facebook. I can give you his information. I am not wise enough to debate him myself...but I would really like to see his life turned around.