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Critical Analysis of Dalai Lama
Introduction
Humans have long been looking for the purpose of their life. They have been plunging into the depths of the logic and spirituality to look for their reality. Religion and philosophy, both have proven to be great guiding lights for researchers in the search of God and the reality of life. Religion cannot be separated from spirituality and philosophy. There are various concepts and ideas that are presented by a number of philosophers, regarding the right path, the reality of life, the purpose of creation of mankind and ways to reach God.
The following paper will look into the details of various aspects of religious pluralism and the concept that John Hick has presented about it. In addition to this, this paper will look into the details that how the position presented by John Hick is correct regarding religious pluralism and it holds true in many areas with reference to reality. Moreover, the following piece of writing will also discuss the viewpoint presented by Buddhist Monk, Dalai Lama regarding the concept of religious pluralism or religious diversity and how it is in line with the idea presented by John Hick.
Discussion
The concept of religious pluralism or religious diversity presents the idea that more or less, all the contemporary religions, are loosely equal and lead towards the same destination. This idea was presented by one of the most famous and influential British philosopher, theologian and law student, John Hick. Although the concept of religious pluralism had started long ago in the 16th century, John Hick formally presented this idea in the second half of the twentieth century, 1989 (Hick). Hick considers his concepts and ideas as the fundamental and divine ultimate reality and has given the name “the Real” to them.
It’s a big world, and belief systems are quite diverse. There are many religions that are based upon strict exclusivism and believe in the finality of their own beliefs. They tend to believe that the concepts being followed by their own religions are the only way to believe and salvation. Most of these religions are followed in western cultures or are Abrahamic religions, like Christianity, Islam, and Jewish. However, the concept of religious diversity is becoming more and more popular and many people are now becoming religiously diverse.
Religious pluralism has also become common and widespread due to various factors like multiculturalism. The presence of multiculturalism in the twenty-first century has brought people from different areas, countries, religions, and cultures together. It has also reduced the differences and distances between people of different races, castes, colors, creeds, and nations and brought them together in order to achieve a common goal. This goal could be in the area of professionalism at the workplace or in the case of residence by living in the same area. Globalization also plays a vital role in this respect. Hence the religious values and concepts of the other faiths are widely accepted and the people religious diversity is promoted (Banchoff).
Buddhism, being a large belief or one of the largest religions of the world, present many views about religious acceptance of the religious practices that should be followed. There is a common tradition or custom followed in Buddhism, especially by the Buddhists of Tibetan region that a religious leader or a scholar leads the whole community. It is a practice followed by many Buddhists living all over the world, but the religious leader or scholar that leads the whole Buddhist community is mostly selected from the country of Tibet. That specific religious leader is known as ”Dalai Lama”. The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, happens to be the 14th Buddhist religious scholar or Dalai Lama in a row. He has been in the news due to his revolutionary statements and views.
Recently, the 14th Dalai Lama gave a statement in an interview that he is a great supporter of religious pluralism and wants the whole world to follow it. This raised a huge amount of rage and controversy from a large number of people especially the Buddhist community. The reasons behind this outrage were multiple. Not only Buddhists but people belonging to almost every faith objected to these views and raised their voice against this statement. Dalai Lama, not only being a religious figure but also a political and international figure is famous all over the world. He has admirer from every religion and faith, which is why the level of this outrage was so huge.
Buddhism has many sects, as many large religions do, primarily Theravada and Mahayana, but regardless of the sect, the religion is not particularly exclusive. Parikalpita is, the idea that we live in a world of opposites, of false manifestations that keep us from truly seeing. So one of the aims of Buddhism, then, is to improve the inner sight of the people. Doing so may require detachment from false manifestations, but that includes nearly everything, not just other religions. So it’s an inside job, and as such, forays into various ventures in the world of manifested opposites are not disallowed, though perhaps not encouraged for those wishing to follow a path of detachment. This idea may not be prevalent across all sects.
Regardless, there are other religions that are not mutually exclusive. Many Native Americans adapted Christianity without dismantling their beliefs, not seeing the variant forms of worship as exclusive. Much the same took place in Haiti, where Christianity was incorporated into the practice of Voodoo that came to Haitian people from West Africa. Some Christians may view the religions as incompatible, as Christianity tends to be mutually exclusive, but Voodoo practitioners do not see it that way (Chaves). The Bahai faith has around five million adherents, and that faith is founded on the idea that all religions are correct, that they are tapping into one source. As a result, practitioners look to the truth of all religions. Hence, it can be established that Bahai faithy is based upon the idea of religious pluralism. Bahais completely or partially follow the concept presented by John hick, with respect to the religious pluralism.
In addition to this, many other religions or faiths follow the concept of religious pluralism. Some esoteric religions, as with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the many splinters it has spawned, such as Thelema, draw on multiple religious cultures, including heavy influence from Egyptian mythology. In Thelema, “Do as thou wilt is the whole of the law” allows incorporating other belief systems if one wishes, and the godheads are seen as literary conveniences that allow communing with a higher source.
Conclusion
Hence, in a nutshell, it can be concluded that religious pluralism or religious diversity is a concept that promotes peace harmony and positivity among the followers of different faiths. There are certainly many religions and religious beliefs that are based upon the core ideas of religious pluralism or John Hick’s ideas. The Western Cultures or the Abrahamic religions mostly rely upon the concept of exclusivism and believe in the finality of their own religious beliefs, the factors of globalization and multiculturism are playing their roles and obscuring the lines of this exclusivism and extremism. One of the major examples of this practice can be seen in the form of the current and 14th Dalai Lama of Buddhism who not only believes in religious diversity but also practices it on a huge level.
Works Cited
Banchoff, Thomas, ed. Religious pluralism, globalization, and world politics. Oxford University Press, 2008.
Chaves, Mark, and Philip S. Gorski. "Religious pluralism and religious participation." Annual review of sociology 27.1 (2001): 261-281.
Hick, John. John Hick: an autobiography. Oneworld Publications, 2014.
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