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Historicizing the Elephant in the Room
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This chapter retraces the genealogy of the well-known parable of the “blind men and the elephants,” which is often cited by scholars who want to champion religious pluralism or inclusivism. While this parable is allegedly based on an ancient Indian text, this chapter shows persuasively that it is in fact a relatively modern invention used to promote a particular brand of multiculturalism and rather uncritical scholarship. As an alternative, the chapter suggests that a critical study of religions would follow Bruce Lincoln’s approach by interrogating such truth claims and situating them in their specific historical and political contexts.
Title: Historicizing the Elephant in the Room
Description:
This chapter retraces the genealogy of the well-known parable of the “blind men and the elephants,” which is often cited by scholars who want to champion religious pluralism or inclusivism.
While this parable is allegedly based on an ancient Indian text, this chapter shows persuasively that it is in fact a relatively modern invention used to promote a particular brand of multiculturalism and rather uncritical scholarship.
As an alternative, the chapter suggests that a critical study of religions would follow Bruce Lincoln’s approach by interrogating such truth claims and situating them in their specific historical and political contexts.
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