The Comparison of Hick's Religious Pluralism With Plantinga's Exclusivism

The purpose of this paper is to compare Hick’s pluralism with Plntinga’s exclusivism concerning religious diversity. In explaning his pluralistic approach، Hick introduces problems of Christian exclusivism and inclusivism and contends that the only way to get rid of these challenges، is the theological revolution of the «Christ-centered» to «God-centered» by means of a religious pluralism. He holds that the apparent differences between religions and their claims arising of negligence from the symbolic language of religion. Plantinga contrary to Hick، differs between religions as a reason for the contradictory stance of pluralism، and sees the legitimacy of religious exclusivism. In explaining and defending his exclusivistic position، he rejects both moral and epistemological criticisms. Finally through his «proper function theory» and through borrowing from the «Aquinas- Calvin Model» Plantinga tried to justify the validity of their religious exclusivism. By comparing these two views and their principles and arguments، it seems that، both views on major issues، particularly in terms of epistemological justification، are confronted with some problem. However، it seems that Hick''s theory، for the emphasis on the aspect of the tolerance between faiths، is more attractive than Plantinga’s religious exclusivism.