Answering Religious Pluralism

7. Can Pluralism Work?

· Are the contradictions among world religions only apparent and not real?

· Are all religions experiencing the same divine reality but in different ways?

· A Pluralists Analogy

Several blind men encounter an elephant for the first time. Each feels a different part of the animal, then attempts to determine truth about the essence of its being. One man pats a leg and “sees” the elephant as a ”living pillar.” Another grasps the trunk and “beholds” a snake. The man who rubs the tusk “believes” the elephant to be a “sharp plough-share.”

8. Biblical Revelation

· The flawed analogy.

· In Biblical Christian it is not man reaching out to God but God reaching out to man. John 1:1, 14, 18.

· The Elephant analogy in historic Christianity.

9. Summary

· All religions cannot be true.

· Only in Christianity has God reveled himself to mankind.

· Only Christianity can be demonstrated to be the only true religion.

-Most people think there is an equal playing field when considering which religion id true.

-Compare Christ to all the founders of the world religions.

- Christ

o his miracles

o his life- sinless

o his resurrection

- Mohammad- no miracles, only the Koran

-Hinduism- philosophy of life

-Buddha- rejected Hinduism, teaches a way of life.

-Judaism- failed to recognize their Messiah, Jesus.