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Moreover, the diversity in religious beliefs, in reality, is much system.
more diverse than we can imagine. Two individuals may believe in
the same belief system or sub-system, yet their beliefs are not likely Pluralist approach – This approach claims that not only no one
to be the same. For example, all of us may claim that we believe in specific religious system is superior (as a non-exclusivist does) but
god, yet when we are asked to pen down our beliefs or understanding also makes the positive claim that more than one basic belief system
of god, some will write “god has form”, some will write “god has is equally close to the truth.
no form”. Some will write “god is light”, some will write “god is
love”. Some will write “god is everywhere” while some will write The Pluralist approach is widely practiced by Chinese, Japanese
“god is in heaven”, and so on. This is epistemological diversity. and South Americans. Many Chinese believe in Buddhism, Taoism,
Confucianism and traditional Chinese beliefs at the same time.
Then we have diversity in practice. People professing the same Many Japanese follow both Buddhism and Shintoism, while many
belief system, or sub-system, may differ in their practice of prayers, South Americans practice a mixture of Catholicism and indigenous
religious obligations, clothing, food, etc. beliefs.
Apart from that, we also see cultural diversity: people professing For those of us who are brought up to follow the exclusivist
the same belief system or sub-system, are seen to be performing approach, we may find it hard to believe that people can actually
rites, festivals, customs and traditions in many different ways. adopt the pluralistic approach. However, if we examine in greater
detail, we can find the rationale for adopting it.
Dealing with Diversity
First of all, the pluralists rationalise that all established
How do followers of belief systems deal with the diverse forms religions or belief systems are offered in total packages. What they
of belief systems? Philosophers have identified and generally agreed do is to pick and choose that part of the package that suit them,
that there are three approaches adopted by human beings. regardless of whether that part of the package is labeled under a
particular religion, and in this way they get the best of everything.
The three approaches are: This custom-made approach is, at least to them, much better that
the exclusivist approach of adopting the lock, stock and barrel of a
Exclusivist approach – this approach believes that the religious particular religion - the lock may be good but the stock and barrel
perspective of only one basic belief system to be the truth. may be out of order.
Non-exclusivist approach – this approach denies that the They also believe that all roads lead to Rome, so to stick to a
religious perspective of any belief system is superior to other belief particular religious label is really not important, and may in fact
be foolish. It is much “safer’ and “wiser” to believe in all religions
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