John Hicks Pluralist Philosophy of World Religions

According to John Hicks model of religious pluralism, all the worlds great religions present equally valid ways of understanding and responding to the same ultimate Reality. This book offers an exposition of, and critical response to, Hicks model. Following an introductory chapter that surveys dominant approaches to religious diversity, the rise and development of Hicks pluralist interpretation of religions is traced. Finally, a critical assessment of Hicks mature pluralist model is offered. The conclusion: Hicks model is ultimately unsuccessful in overcoming the pluralists most difficult conceptual problem, namely providing an adequate account of the fact that the worlds religions understand the divine Reality in often contradictory ways. Ultimately, Hicks own solution threatens two of his long-cherished goals: a robust religious realism and a tradition-neutral religious pluralism.