Dissonant voices: Religious pluralism and the question of truth

by Harold A. Netland

Dissonant Religious Pluralism & the Question of Truth

Genres: Philosophy, Theology, Religion

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Harold A. Netland (PhD, Claremont Graduate University) is director of the PhD in Intercultural Studies program and professor of philosophy of religion and intercultural studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He is the author of Encountering Religious Pluralism and Dissonant Voices.

Reviews

[Jen Dalton · Rating 3 out of 5]

He took a really long time to say what could have been said a lot faster and more efficiently, but clearly he knows how to write a really long and soporific research paper. And at no point did he actually address the question of truth, as in what is actually true, but rather how people define truth. Sadly, it’s philosophy and epistemology, not doctrine. And unless the Christian has a firm grasp of biblical doctrine, he or she will inevitable fall into the changing tides of worldly pluralistic philosophy.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indispensable on the subject of religious pluralism. Netland demonstrates a solid grasp of the epistemological underpinnings of religion, and how to properly evaluate them.

[Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

We live in a society that values individual choice - the rightness or wrongness of a particular choice is determined by the individual and ought not be based upon an external standard. Particularly in the realm of religion, absolutes and exclusivity are regarded as antiquated, anachronistic and restrictive. What makes one tradition (particularly Christianity) right over all others? The goal of studies in religious pluralism is to discover the commonalities within all religious traditions and extol the value of each tradition based on cultural norms, societal development and corporate morality. Each religion is equally valuable for each speaks of the same reality though phrased from differing perspectives. No one tradition is superior to another - they are speaking the same lanugage from a different point of view.
Out of this desire to homoginize and therefore sterilize individual traditions, Netland presents a simple, yet logical against religious pluralism. Religion seeks to answer ultimate questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Is there more to this life? What is the nature of the universe? Where are we going? The answers to those questions, as given by the major traditions differ significantly. For example, is God personal (Judeo-Christian) or impersonal (Buddhist)? Is the human problem sin against God or is it a misunderstanding of our nature? Opposite answers to ultimate questions - logically both cannot be correct. Netland makes an excellent case for Christian exclusivity - in that salvation is found through faith in Jesus Christ alone and not through any other tradition.

[Joseph Sverker]

I must say that I thought this book was almost too conservative to begin with, but particularly after reading the whole book in its entirerity it is clear that Netland has a point. The question of truth is a really sore one when it comes to pluralistic views on religions. Netland shows clearly how one must take in to account the different truth claim and ontologies that different religions have. He also shows how evangelicals must be more sensitive and read up in their meeting with other religions. The discussion on tolerance is something really everyone should read, Christian or not - interesting and very challenging for a relativistic culture. He argues successfully that tolerance in itself implies disagreement.

[Todd Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Netland’s first book on the subject of religious pluralism and it does not rate as high as his second book, but lays critical foundations for what he does in Encountering Religious Pluralism. In DV, Netland surveys four major religions and points out how their core beliefs are absolutely in conflict with the other’s. His chapters on tolerance and inclusivism are helpful. Although dated now, his surveys of the material are helpful.