Christianity, tolerance, and pluralism : a theological engagement with Isaiah Berlin's social theory

264 Pages·2004·3.157 MB·English

by  Michael Jinkins

Christianity, Tolerance
and Pluralism
This book provides a sustained, critical and theological engagement with
arguably the most crucial aspect of contemporary society – its diversity. A
variety of questions are addressed:
(cid:127) Is diversity a curse or a blessing?
(cid:127) Can Christians, and people of other faiths, be true to their convictions
and also practice pluralism?
(cid:127) Is tolerance a virtue?
(cid:127) Are there situations in which conflicts over values and beliefs can
strengthen rather than weaken communities?
(cid:127) Is conflict inevitably a threat to the common good?
The author finds in the social theory of Isaiah Berlin a number of fruitful
ways to reframe the debate over these questions, and to contribute to a more
positive conversation regarding our fundamental differences.
The book focuses particularly on Berlin’s critiques of monism and ideal-
istic utopianism, arguing that pluralism does not represent a failure in the
nature of human society, but a superabundance of possibilities in a created
world grounded in the character of God. Bringing Berlin’s thought into
conversation with other social theorists, philosophers and Christian theolo-
gians, the book provides leaders and members of faith communities with a
viable model to move beyond tolerance as mere forbearance, to a grace
which consists of respect and radical acceptance of others.
Michael Jinkinsis Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Pastoral Theology,
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He is the author of several
books, including The Church Faces Death (1999), Invitation to Theology
(2001) and The Character of Leadership (1998). Research for Christianity,
Tolerance and Pluralism was funded by the Lilly Endowment through the
Association of Theological Schools Faculty Grants program.
Routledge Studies in Religion
1 Judaism and Collective Life
Self and community in the religious kibbutz
Aryei Fishman
2 Foucault, Christianity and Interfaith Dialogue
Henrique Pinto
3 Religious Conversion and Identity
The semiotic analysis of texts
Massimo Leone
4 Language, Desire, and Theology
A genealogy of the will to speak
Noëlle Vahanian
5 Metaphysics and Transcendence
Arthur Gibson
6 Sufism and Deconstruction
A comparative study of Derrida and Ibn ’Arabi
Ian Almond
7 Christianity, Tolerance and Pluralism
A theological engagement with Isaiah Berlin’s social theory
Michael Jinkins
8 Negative Theology and Modern French Philosophy
Arthur Bradley
Christianity, Tolerance
and Pluralism
A theological engagement with
Isaiah Berlin’s social theory
Michael Jinkins
First published 2004
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2004.
© 2004 Michael Jinkins
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or
other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Jinkins, Michael, 1953–
Christianity, tolerance, and pluralism: a theological engagement with
Isaiah Berlin’s social theory/Michael Jinkins.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Berlin, Isaiah, Sir. 2. Christianity and other religions. 3. Religious
pluralism–Christianity. 4. Religious tolerance–Christianity. I. Title
BR127.J55 2004
261.2–dc22 2003025772
ISBN 0-203-39121-7 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-67214-3 (Adobe eReader Format)
ISBN 0–415–32908–6(Print Edition)
For the faculty of Austin Presbyterian Theological
Seminary
Whenever you would delight your heart, think of the gifts and talents of
your colleagues – the energy of one, the modesty of another, the
generosity of a third, and so forth. Nothing lifts one’s spirits quite so
wonderfully as to see the virtues reflected in the lives of one’s friends,
and to see them together marshaled as a strong company. Keep these
images always before you.
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, VI, 48

Contents
Preface x
Acknowledgements xiii
Introduction 1
1 Isaiah Berlin: a critical description of his thought from
a theological perspective 15
2 Can Christians be pluralists? Value pluralism and the
gift of diversity 73
3 The application of Isaiah Berlin’s understanding of
social conflict to communities of faith 122
4 Is toleration a Christian virtue? Beyond the disrespect
of Enlightenment forbearance 166
Epilogue in an ecclesiological key 201
Notes 205
Index 245