Exploring Modern Beliefs and Biblical Assumptions

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About Aletheia

The Aletheia Forum is a web blog and monthly discussion group for those seeking an open inquiry about faith and values. Aletheia is the Greek word for truth. That’s the easy part. The hard part is, “What is Truth?” The Aletheia Forum is a dialogue into the assumptions of our religious understandings, our cultural values or identity narratives, and how we work out faith in our daily life. This blog is for those looking to participate in an open discussion on life, values, and community.

An Inquiry Into Christianity, Religon and Cultural Values

A troubling starting point may be the question of pluralism in our modern world because pluralism challenges our ideas of truth, even for the relativist. Modernity, communication, and globalization did not lead to the extinction of religion, as predicted by the social scientists of the mid 2oth century, but rather to an explosion of worldwide religious energies. Today, in the 21th century, the world has never been more religious as Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Atheist interact on the global economic stage.

A Conversation about Truth, Culture and Toleration

To begin the discussion, lets hear your thoughts on what the foundations of pluralism are for us in the western world. What were the historic catalysts for our pluralistic societies today? What role did Christianity play in getting us to where we are? Does the “Sermon on the Mount” inform our understanding? What does it means to be a Christian in a pluralistic world where democratic ideals and capitalism are conventional wisdom? Where are we going?

Defining Pluralism 

Broadly speaking, pluralism is “the affirmation and acceptance of diversity in society” (political, religious, and scientific).

If you’re looking for a definition of pluralism, start here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluralism

Web Links on Truth and Pluralism

If you’re looking for good content in the discussion of pluralism, check out the blogroll sites listed on left side of this page.  Additional websites are listed below.

Veritas:

Veritas on Pluralism
Veritas on Relativism
Exclusive Religion in a Pluralistic Society

Speaking of Faith:

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/religiousyouth/index.shtml
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/otheramerica/index.shtml
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/globalization/index.shtml
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/godsofbusiness/index.shtml

Want to participate in the discussion? 

Write a comment in this open forum.  Go to the topics section and click on any an area of interest.  You can post your comments there.  Or, check out the events page to look for our monthly meeting schedule on various topics.