Evaluation of the Hypothesis of W. C. Smith and J. Hick's Religious Pluralism

Abstract

In this study, Wilfred Cantwell Smith and John Hick's understanding of religious pluralism has been examined that they are the basic two figures of religious pluralism which is revealed against exclusionary and inclusionary approaches. There are a lot of points that Smith and Hick agreed such as religions were emerged without transcendental interventions, religious truth are relative, the issue of salvation and the most important one, the necessity of religious pluralism at the basis of criticism of exclusivism. However, it is seen that they have difference of opinion on some issues in particular to theological results of their hypothesis. Therefore, criticism of these hypothesis have been discussed after pluralistic hypothesis of two thinkers were evaluated comparatively. Our fundamental problem is to examine whether religious pluralism hypothesis created by these two thinkers are successful or not and the position stated for two hypothesis.