Jewish Pluralism and John Hick

Abstract

Within Jewish circles little attention has been paid to the issue of religious pluralism. On the whole Jewish theologians have not explored the relationship between Judaism and other faiths. A notable exception, however, has been the work of Alan Brill. In Judaism and World Religions: Encountering Christianity, Islam and Eastern Religions published in 2012, Brill provided the first extensive collection of traditional and academic Jewish approaches to the religions of the world. As a consequence of this general lack of interest in the subject, John Hick’s writings have had little impact on Jewish theologians. The aim of this chapter is to correct this deficiency. Throughout history Judaism has adopted a largely liberal attitude toward other religions. What is now needed is an even more tolerant stance toward the world’s faiths. This will involve a Copernican shift away from Inclusivism to a new vision in which the Divine, rather than Judaism itself, is at the centre of the universe of religions. In making such a theological transition, the writings of John Hick point the way.