Typologies Of Pluralism In Diana Eck's Encountering God

In Diana Eck´s piece, Encountering God, she identifies the three main typologies used to categorize beliefs on how religious adherents view religions other than their own, highlighting specifically the advantages of pluralism. When approaching these religious typologies from a real world standpoint, it is clear to see that prominent leaders within the Twin Cities´ religious communities do filter into these categories but, as suggested by Daniel Migliore in his piece Faith Seeking Understanding, may not be specific enough. Although broad, the typologies of exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism are a first step toward further understanding how individuals view religious traditions other than their own. I chose to interview Reverend Mariah Furness Tollgaard, the senior pastor at Hamline United Methodist church. She told me the story of growing up within the Methodist tradition, pointing out that, although she was baptised United Methodist as a baby, she did not begin practicing the faith until her early teenage years. She grew up in Owatonna, Minnesota, a city that I am relatively familiar with, and stressed the lack of religious diversity, or any sort of diversity at all,

Everyone is looking for purpose and meaning, and religion is one way to accomplish that. And within religion, there are many different paths for people to find that truth, because there is sacredness in all of us. There is sacredness in life. For me, Christianity is the faith I chose to follow and that I connect with. It’s the way that I figured out how I contribute in the world. But I think equally relevant are other people’s beliefs, and I learn from other people’s religious traditions. That impacts me and how I view my own religion and religious