A May 8 letter alluded to Pluralism Sunday as the downfall of Christianity.
I am a Christian who respectfully disagrees. Frustration occurs when one group tends to speak for all in a certain religion.
Example, Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist church, an independent Baptist church in Kansas, frequently pickets military funerals, gay pride gatherings, university commencements, etc. His Christian church is considered a hate group and is monitored by the Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center.
Therefore, it’s helpful to understand the belief continuum below:
Extreme Particularism: This is the belief that one’s own faith group possesses all of the truth, as revealed by God. Other faith groups and religions worship demons and are led by Satan. Few if any of them will be saved.
Exclusivism: One’s own group possesses the truth as God revealed it to them. Other religious groups are in serious error, and place the latter’s members in grave peril regarding salvation.
Inclusivism: One’s own group possesses the truth; other religious groups contain parts of the truth. The latter’s believers are less likely to be saved.
Pluralism: All groups’ beliefs and practices are valid, when interpreted within their own culture. Salvation is for all.
I am thankful for churches that celebrate pluralism. Pluralism is the only position that can be genuinely defended by the Constitution. I am grateful for our military, which represents pluralism at its finest.
I have endless appreciation for military personnel and their families, past, present, and future for my freedom of speech and freedom to practice any religion.
At the very least, all of us can agree on the principle that is found in every major religious tradition: The Golden Rule. Can we respect one another the way we want to be respected?
Source: David Barrett., “World Christian Encyclopedia.”
