Religious pluralism and their impact to Islamic worldview

The Definition of religious pluralism

Religious Plural Ism pluralism system of belief that is based on a belief in a god variety ideology an ideology which belief in varieties

religious pluralism = acceptance of various religions that exist on the face of the earth. religious pluralism, according to Syamsuddin Arif, is a belief that those varieties religions have similarities in the aspects of ontology, soteriology and epistemology.

 By recognizing all of the other religion, there are no religions that consider being superior among all the religion. The idea try to say that all the religions in this world are same, and there is no true sources of the religion. Those who adhere to the idea of religious pluralism may interact with people from other religion in order to understand and grasp not only their tradition but also their belief. For instance, Muslims believe in the Oneness of God and the authority of the sole creator which is Allah, while the Christians believe in Jesus Christ as their God. However, people who live based on the path of religious pluralism might believe in both.

The emergence of religious pluralism

During 18th and 19th Century, the issues of liberalism and pluralism was raise in the west with the occurrence of liberal Christian movement, the Liberal Protestantism led by Fridrich Schleimacher and also the liberal Jewish movement led by Mosses Mindon Isshon. Among the issues which they struggle are, the political issues such as claiming for democracy and freedom of speech, social agenda like women emancipation, and the last one is the faith and belief agenda such as claim for religious pluralism or struggle for equality for all religions(Farhana Nur,2010)

The characteristics of religious pluralism

1. Equality : the are no best religions as well as no worst religion. But all the religions are same : freedom to choose in the sense of embrace-leave a religion. : There is no Absolute truth

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Liberalism

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Relativism

Reductionism : reduce the religions uniqueness & identity, to become narrow. Exclusivism :

5.

The islamic worldview on religious pluralism

ISLAMIC VIEWS ON PLURALISM

Muslims respect other religions tolerance but did not consider all religions are equal. With other words, Islam does not consider God worshiped by Muslims is the same God who is worshiped by the other religions. Completion of Islam on religious pluralism is to recognize the distinction and religious identity respectively.

(lakum diinukum wali ya diin or for you your religion and to me my religion). [Al-Kaafiruun: 6]

Islamic (Quranic) views on religious pluralism

-Surah Al-Ma'idah verse 48 states: If Allah so willed, he would have made you a single People, but his plan is to test each of you separately, in what He has given to each of you: so strive in all virtues as in you are in a race. The goal of all of you is to Allah. It is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute. (Quran 5:48)

-Surah Al-Ankabut verse 46 states: And dispute not with the People of the Book, except with means better than mere disputation, unless I be with those of them who inflict wrong and injury, but say to them: "We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our God and your God is one; and it is to Him that we bow." (Quran 29:46)

Islamic views on religious pluralism

-Surah Al-Baqara verse 113 states: The Jews say: "The Christians have nothing to stand upon"; and the Christians say: "The Jews have nothing to stand upon." Yet they both have something to stand upon, they both recite the Book. Like unto their word is what those say who know not; but Allah will judge between them in their quarrel on the Day of Judgment. (Quran 2:113)

Religious pluralism & the principle of tawhid

1. The plural phenomenon should not be interpreted as a conflict, but it is supposed to be celebrated in the spirit of recognition and co-operation between mankind.

Say: O People of the Book! Come to what is common between us and you: That we worship none but God, that we associate no partners with Him, that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords other than Allah. If then they turn back, say: 'Bear witness that we are bowing to Allahs will.'" (Quran 3:64 [Al-Imran]).

Religious pluralism & the principle of tawhid

2. Man by his nature submits to same God, therefore, the Quran has recognized other religions under this primordial nature. The Quran is explicit that who possessed faith in Allah and perform good deeds will gain salvation. This promise is addressed not only to the Muslims, but to adherents of other religions who fulfill the two guiding-principles. The Quran allowed muslims to tolerate with other religions.

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The effects of religious pluralism in the Islamic worldview

Effects on the individual level

Riddah False understanding about the essential belief of Islam Acceptance of values from other religions/belief that contradict with human nature

Effects
The most dangerous effect

RIDDAH

Effects on the societal level

There will be arguments among Muslim because of their differences of thought in term of belief and values It is not impossible that Muslim may get into agreements with non-Muslim in order to raise up their opinions and condemning other Muslims.

Socio-political implication
Nowadays, religion is among the reasons of our stabilization in socio-political situation Without a stable religious support, wonder what will happen to our socio-political situation?

Interfaith Conference (IFC)

- Every newborn babies from the Islamic family will not necessarily becoming Muslim - The word ISLAM in ones identification card (IC) must be removed - Those whom converted to Islam will lost his/her right of taking care of their child - The money of Zakat can be used for nonmuslim as well