At Union seminary, I saw the power of religious pluralism. It offers the US a better path.
(RNS) — As I prepare to step down from the presidency, I see a blueprint for a flourishing, interreligious America. But when I turn to the headlines, I see our nation barreling toward a far more dest…
(RNS) — As I prepare to step down from the presidency, I see a blueprint for a flourishing, interreligious America. But when I turn to the headlines,
Read Full Story at Religion News Service →Why This Matters
The enduring vision of religious pluralism—once a radical experiment in diversity—now stands as one of the few remaining pillars capable of holding together America’s fraying social fabric. At a moment when political tribalism and cultural polarization threaten to fracture the nation along ideological and religious lines, institutions like Union Theological Seminary demonstrate that interfaith dialogue isn’t just an academic ideal but a survival strategy for democracy itself.
Background Context
Founded in the 19th century as a bastion of progressive Christian thought, Union has long served as a crucible for rethinking theology in response to social upheaval—from abolition to civil rights. Its embrace of pluralism reflects a broader historical arc: America’s religious landscape has shifted from Protestant dominance to a kaleidoscopic array of faiths, spiritualities, and none-isms, challenging old hierarchies while demanding new frameworks for coexistence.
What Happens Next
As Union’s leadership transitions, the question isn’t whether pluralism will endure, but whether its lessons can scale beyond elite seminaries into grassroots movements. The seminary’s model of interfaith engagement—rooted in mutual learning rather than proselytization—may inspire similar initiatives in higher education and civic institutions, but only if it can resist the gravitational pull of partisan identity politics.
Bigger Picture
This moment echoes the early 20th century’s interfaith experiments, when figures like John Dewey and Rabbi Stephen Wise sought common ground amid rising nationalism. Today, as secularism expands and religious extremism intensifies, pluralism is no longer optional—it’s a hedge against the centrifugal forces tearing at the social contract. The challenge now is whether America can nurture such spaces before the centrifugal forces win.
