| Nor does it say it is wrong
for people to have such ideas. Pluralism allows different religious views to exist
including those that are synthetic and those that are not. It allows religions to come
together if they wish but to stay apart if that is their inclination as well. It
recognizes that differences in religion can contribute to the beautiful diversity of life
and don't have to be a problem. Pluralism
therefore does not mean that a person cannot be strong in their particular path. Pluralism
does not mean that a Hindu cannot be a staunch Hindu but has to be a Christian and Muslim
as well in order to be tolerant. Similarly it does not mean that a Christian or Muslim
should not be allowed to regard his faith as the highest. A pluralist view says that a
person has the right to worship a stick or a hole in the wall, if that is his inclination.
And, no matter how evolved a person may think that he is, he has no
right to interfere with the religious practices of another, which is itself the most
unevolved of all religious practices. It means that however much we may think our path is
the best for us that we must allow other people a similar dedication to their own path,
even if it is contrary to ours, including the freedom not to follow any path at all. |
