THE CHALLENGES OF RELIGIOUS PLURALISM AND THE UNIVERSALIST OPTION

Awareness of religious pluralism presents believers not only with theological options but also with potential theological problems. How is it possible for a person to commit to one religious tradition while other traditions seem to offer equally valid accounts of “the truth” and paths to a meaningful afterlife?  This presentation explores the challenges of religious pluralism and proposes theological universalism as a possible direction forward.

Mara Brecht attended Oberlin College (Oberlin, Ohio) where she studied religion and history. She received her master’s in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School (Cambridge, Massachusetts) and her doctorate in systematic theology from Fordham University (New York, New York).  Mara is an assistant professor of religious studies at St. Norbert College, where she teaches both theology courses and courses that comparatively explore diverse religious traditions. She researches and publishes in the area of the Christian self-understanding in relationship to religious others as well as interreligious dialogue.

Music: Gerri Friedberg
Service Leader: Holly Nickerson