True pluralism does not reside in an easy-going, indifferent, toleration, which does not care what other people think or do. Secular pluralism is an unspoken ideology in our society. Consequently, we must examine its hidden assumptions.
Steve Latham
There are two meanings of the term ‘secular’. It may mean, for example, simply a neutral space for the interplay of ideas, free from religious domination.
On the other hand, it has also come to denote a vigorous imposition of atheist views, and the excluding of religious voices from the public square. Similarly, pluralism has two interpretations. It may mean simply the fact that there are many viewpoints. It may also mean, however, that this is a good thing, and that there is in actuality no truth, but only a relativistic coexistence of mutually contradictory perspectives.
This would, of course, leave us with no ability to speak of absolutes, like justice, equality or freedom, as well as truth, morality, or holiness.
We need to be able to talk about such things, not merely as an expression of our personal preferences, but as assertions of absolute, objective values.
Otherwise, we are left with no rhetoric to oppose torture, rape and murder. These would become simply random occurrences with no vulnerability to moral discourse.
We may certainly disagree on what the actual content of these abstract concepts may be. But this is the essence of democratic debate.
True pluralism does not reside in an easy-going, indifferent, toleration, which does not care what other people think or do. Instead, pluralism involves passionate interaction, disagreement and dialogue, discussion and debate, about key issues which participants disagree about.
That is the exact opposite of polite conversation between liberal, urbane, postmodern, cosmopolitans, who claim to tolerate differences.
This is possible, however, only because either they already agree, or because the differences exist within a certain range of toleration, a circle of acceptability.
Silence falls in the fashionable, west-end, hipster, bar whenever someone utters an opinion that departs from the newly established norm.
Born-again Muslim radicals advocate a return to the values of conviviencia.. This was the ideology of the Muslim state of Andalucia in southern Spain, before the Catholic Reconquista.
The practice of Muslim Caliphates towards minorities was certainly more enlightened that that of Christian Europe, with its pogroms against the Jews. Nevertheless, it was far from what we now consider necessary in fully pluralistic culture. Islam was the official belief system. Minority religions were only tolerated under conditions of subservience.
They were defined as Millets, made to pay a special tax, to retain their position; forbidden to promulgate their faiths, but forced to accept Muslim pressure to convert.
Such pressure and persecution is still visited upon religious minorities in Muslim societies today.
While Muslims complain about the imposition of worldly, secular, values on them in the West.
The point is that we have not been this way before, in any society. We need to build societies which fully embrace diversity.
At the same time, we must find a way to allow and encourage the free play of ideas and beliefs, including those we do not consider fully acceptable.
(Photos: Pixabay)
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