Holy Quran and religious pluralism
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Abstract :
Objective (s): According to John Hick (1922), a prominent exponent of Religious Pluralism, truth and salvation are not unique to any particular religion and every religion can lead its followers to salvation. Religious, conceptual, and social factors play a vital role in shaping this theory. The present research with a descriptive – analytical method seeks to examine Hick’s view about religions and also study the view point of Quran about revelation and the issue of other religions. In view of this research, the foundations of religious pluralism are disputed. From the view point of Quran, legislate (Tashri’ i) revelation is a special form of understanding which God has endowed on special people under particular conditions and its secret is not open to ordinary people but there are sings and evidence which can prove it. The Quran rejects religious pluralism and its approach to other religions has different facets. As for the truth, only Islam is the absolute truth and other religions are a mixture of the truth and untruth. With regards to salvation, those who do not follow Islam will be chastised. However, Muslims are supposed to treat followers of other divine religions as well as non- confrontational disbelievers with respect and observe their rights. Method: This research was carried out through descriptive-analytical method. Results: Through learning about Hick’s cultural-intellectual background and examining the philosophical and theological bases of his theory, we can see that the theory of religious pluralism has its special background and is rejected scientifically (philosophically and theologically). Unlike in Hick’s ideas, there are no contradictions in Quranic teachings, so there is no need to revise them. Right from the beginning, the Quran has a cohesive approach to other religions. Muslims should respect and observe the rights of followers of other monotheistic faiths as well as disbelievers who are not confrontational. With respect to salvation, those who knowingly and defiantly refuse to flow Islam will be chastised. With regard to the truth, based on Quranic principles, other religions are a mixture of truth and untruth and it is only Islam which is the absolute truth.
