Attitudes Towards Religious Plurality: Exclusivism, Inclusivism & Religious Pluralism

1. Attitudes Towards Religious Plurality: Exclusivism, Inclusivism & Religious Pluralism

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3. Some Basic Research Resources in Textbook • Nancy S. Jecker, Joseph A. Carrese, and Robert A. Pearlman, "Caring for Patients in Cross-Cultural Settings," from Readings in Health Care Ethics. • Elisabeth Boetzkes, "Integrity in Cross-Cultural Clinical Encounters," from Readings in Health Care Ethics.

4. Two Conflicting Obligations for Health Care Providers • The medical provider “cannot be required to violate fundamental personal values” (90) • “The means [of healthcare] employed should be compatible with the patient’s values” (90) • “Provider should take the initiative in identifying alternative mutually agreeable strategies to meet [healthcare] goals” (89)

5. Resolving Conflicts • Case 1: Request for female circumcision—Doctor’s goal: No—Patient’s family: Yes—Resolution: None • Case 2: Mr Begay’s Hypertension—Doctor’s goal: Communicate frankly about risks of morbid events—Mr Begay’s goal: Help me but don’t “witch” me—Resolution: Doctor can adopt a less negative form of communication

6. Case 3: Mrs Tsosie • Admitted with history of Rheumatic heart disease • Allowed certain tests, but refused lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis • Distrusted invasive procedures and wanted to be discharged to attend healing ceremony • Medical providers felt it would be negligent to discharge given the risks of death and the potential to treat meningitis

7. Intractable Conflicts? • At times “no practical measure may be available that is consistent with the values espoused by both parties.” (95) • How should one draw the line between between case 1 and case 2? • What is the extent and limits of the practice of tolerance?

8. Foundations for Hope and the Ability to Cope • Studies indicate that in times of crisis the ability to cope corresponds with the “individuals’ ability to have a religious or spiritual dimension in their lives” • “respondents [typically] noted the importance of the central people in their life at this time of crisis, namely family, friends and medical people” (Meier, St. James O’Connor, VanKatwyk, 2005)

9. Exclusivism • The view that holds that one’s religion alone is right and other religions that differ from it are excluded from being right • Roman Catholic position pre-1979: “outside the Church there is no salvation”, but then John Paul II stated “every man without any exception whatever—has been redeemed by Christ, and . . . with each man without any exception whatever—Christ is in a way united even when man is unaware of it”

10. Inclusivism • The view that one’s religion alone can be right, but that other religions may participate in its rightness and so are included • Thomas Aquinas argued that salvation was not just premised on explicit beliefs but also “implicit” beliefs (beliefs expressed tacitly through practice) • Karl Rahner is a Catholic Theologian of the 20th c. who has expanded on this view with his concept of “anonymous Christianity” • Some Protestant & many Hindu and Buddhist groups endorse inclusivism

11. Religious Pluralism • The view that conflicting religions of the world can all be right • John Hick is the foremost 20th c. proponent of this view • Has roots going back in all the world religions • Most famous expression is the Indian parable of the blind men and the elephant

12. Hick’s Religious Pluralism