Document Type : Research Paper
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Abstract
The question of “authenticity” of religions and “salvation” of their respective adherents is a long-standing one. However, it was only in the 20th century that it was formulated into a discipline by John Hick and his predecessors. The question has been addressed with a number of different approaches, and this paper intends to have a look on them. Advocates of pluralism argue that all religions of the world, despite their different and conflicting claims about a single Reality, are capable of leading their adherents to salvation and to the Real, and bringing them happiness and virtue. This is the view of John Hick on epistemological religious pluralism, and is explained and criticized in this paper. This paper then discusses the views of the Qur'an and Mutahhari on authenticity of religions. Mutahhari believes there is a unity in all divine religions and that “Islam” [lit. surrender to the truth] is the only religion sent by God to his prophets, from Adam to Muhammad. He further believes that “Islam” has had different manifestations throughout history and in different periods of time, and that the last and most perfect manifestation of it was sent down to Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam and the last prophet of God.
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