Mowlana's and John Hick's Perspective on Religious Pluralism

Due to its focus on salvation and co-existence of the followers of different religions, religious pluralism, as an issue related to the philosophy of religion, has attracted the attention of thinkers and includes different approaches and interpretations. Mawlana’s intensive concentration on the ‘unity of being’, as one of the pillars of his belief system and the induction of tolerance among the readers of his poems, has given the impression to many people that he is a pluralist figure. However, whether Mawlana was truly a pluralist, and if he were so, what the concept of pluralism meant to him are among the question raised about him. The present study is an attempt to find answers to these questions based on Masnavi. As such, after defining religious pluralism and its approaches, the pluralists’ viewpoints on the truth of religions and their reflections in Mawlana’s thought are presented. Re-reading of Mawlana’s thought reveals the footprints of religious pluralism in his poems; however, he rejects pluralism in its modern sense, ultimately recognizing one religion as the true one. The present study concludes with the idea that the readers of Masnavi should follow his methodology with regard to cognitive and religious issues paving the way for the proximity of religions and the creation of an atmosphere which would prevent the occurrence of religious differences and conflicts.