AN ANALYSIS ON JOHN HICKS PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION

AN ANALYSIS ON JOHN HICKS PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION

 

      John Hicks is a British Philosopher of religion he became famous because of this theory of religious pluralism, this theory is probably one of the most influential theory of religion of all time whether we knew it consciously or subconsciously. This theory highly recognize and respect the practice of religious individual although they are different in belief, John Hicks allow people to demonstrate their faith share it to other or even believe in them without prejudice or feeling of guilt and betrayal against  your own faith.

      He demonstrated a mature acceptance that people can live harmoniously even if they are different and that people may exercise their freedom to choose what they want to believe. His Philosophy proves that a person or individual can accept other religions without conflicts. He has created no barrier or wall to divide religion that such religion is the only one that is right and people can only be saved if they will join their religion but John Hicks has crossed boundaries to show that religious differences can be overcome. John Hicks does not intend people to believe in God without conviction but what he wants to exercise is that people have the rights to be right without telling people that they are wrong.

      One of his another critical theory is the Iranian “Soul Making” theodicy Where John believes that there are literal and non literal meaning in the interpretation of history as written in the bible for example is in the life of Adam and Eve who live with God. According to Hicks that they may not be able to turn away to God because they are perfect creatures and living with god alone is restricted and impossible to fall or create a rebellious thinking but god allows us the free will and the devil may exist but not literal since it is our decision that makes us choose and not the devil.

      He believes that sufferings is a part of Gods plan in order to mold us to be in his likeness and this has been the reason why he send Adam and Eve to the wild.  Another theory of John is the Christology that Jesus Christ do not represent himself as God but he represent himself as the child of God who has the authority to forgive and heal but not necessarily being God. Hicks does not believe in the “Death and after life of Christ” but he believe in replica theory that a person may look the same although they are not the same person.

      In my personal analysis and stand about John Hicks theory of Religious Pluralism it can do well to openness and unity and this will bind people no matter what they believe in. Respecting the faith of others and listening to their opinion and giving them the rights to choose freely is another universal belief that should be practice around the world. This will create a peaceful world ahead of us believing that we can respect each other beyond culture. I believe in the same theory and it should be practiced and implemented. As it is written in the bible “I in them and you in me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23).  

      The manifestation and division of people created a world of mirage that brought in the threat of war, and this is largely evident in the recent September 11bombing of World Trade Center because of battle in philosophy and religion and this is manifested around the world that we can see signs of civil war that is always on the news almost every day. John may have given his opinion because he desire cooperation among people like most of us have long dreamed of. It is evident that John Hicks wants to bridge the gap between people to prevent all these negative things.    

      But some of his belief like the Death and Afterlife of Christ and the Iranian “Soul Making” theodicy theory comes from his own findings and not purely biblical although he has the rights to believe and he may be right but it is clear in the bible that the story about Adam and Eve really suffered the consequence of their own disobedience that brought them to suffer such consequence given by God and it is not that God himself has brought them to suffer.

       The story in Genesis really prove that they have sinned and violated the word of God that is why they where cursed. “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you shall it the plants of the field” (Genesis 3:19). In his theory of replica is again not true, that Jesus Christ really rose from the dead to prove his worth and power as written in the bible, “For as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rose again from the dead” (John 20:9). We can exercise our own rights to what we believe in like the theory of pluralism but if we are Christians the most reliable truth is the word of God the bible itself and not the theory of men.   

     

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