Islam and Religious Pluralism

This article aims to present a clear horizon of religious pluralism and its relation with different religions including Christianity and Islam in particular.To this end, first exclusivisim and inclusivism are discussed. Reviewing inclusivism and exclusivisim John Hick, the founder of contemporary theory of religious pluralism, defends religious pluralism and maintains that it is the only justification for religious diversity. In his view, the rightfulness and the salvation in life is not a monopoly of a single religion. Every religion shares an equal degree of rightfulness and salvation. He believes that there will be no peace among world religions as far as every religion believes itself to be the superior. A sustainable and peace and true dialogue can occur only when we accept that different religions are different but equally valid interpretations of the ultimate reality and God. He also believes that pluralistic thoughts stems from the eastern and Islamic thought. In other words, the east not the west is the origin of religious pluralism. As cases in point, he cites from Khajah Abdullah Ansari, Mwlana and Ibn Arabi.