www.ijpub.org © 2018 IJCRT | Volume 6, Issue 1 March 2018 | ISSN: 2320-2882 IJPUB1801292 International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT) www.ijpub.org 1832 Reason, Authority and Consciousness: An Analytical Approach to Religious Pluralism Mudasir Ahmad Tantray Department of post graduate studies and research in philosophy, Rdvv Jabalpur Abstract: Present world is the victim of conflicts on the basis of misunderstanding of religious dogmas of different religions, irrationality, ignorance and intolerance. People are moving away from knowledge, truth and reason. Indeed people accept false beliefs, hallucinations and myths. The role of religious plurality in philosophy is not to integrate and harmonize religions, especially religions cannot, and rather it is the business of religious pluralism to learn, think and acquire knowledge about the variety of religious beliefs, statements and injunctions. This paper determines the function of intelligence/intellect to understand religious pluralism. How and where we make mistake in the plurality of religions. In this paper there is no issue to describe the conflict between faith and reason however reason is only to think and clear the ambiguities which we are using either to integrate one religion with another or to refute the religious dogmas of other religions. That is why authority places a significant part which teaches humans how to use their reason to bring peace, tranquility and acceptance in the plurality of religions. Mostly the scholar who practicing their religions and without having the authority and knowledge of other religions they are vehemently criticizing other religions. This paper shows that what is authority and where to use it. Who are authoritative persons? If authority in one religion is transferred to another what would happen. What would happen if authority is misrepresented? This paper further illuminates the concept of rational outlook to modify and learn from different religious; furthermore we can discuss the nature of consciousness or awareness in exploring religious pluralism. Is it necessary for a person who believes in one religion to learn another religion in order to resolve the controversies and evils in different religions conditional to authority? The more we mixing up religions into each other, the more religious conflicts arise. Therefore this paper tries to furnish people's mind with consciousness about religions realities and state of affair, inculcate world with rational outlook to ponder, analyze, understand and evaluate as well tolerate and accept the truth and authenticity in the domain of religions. This study analyzes and stress on the exertion of relative vision in accordance and intimation with reason, authority and moral consciousness to resolve the conflicts, diversities and issues in the field of religious pluralism. Keywords: rationality, religious pluralism, consciousness, authority, beliefs Introduction Today the world is governed with religious diversity and religious belief systems. Man is regarded as the centre of the globe with religious realm and issues on one side and rationality, and apprehension on the other side. However we are abided with authority, beliefs and superstitions from the view of social connections with religious dogmatism. Next to this we are exploring and proving these beliefs and religious statements within the criteria which fit to reason and experience. Humans are in dilemma, where to go which belief system and tradition is authentic and valid to follow. Scholar from different religions and sects often attack the belief and faith of their opponents as well they hurt the religious sentiments of others whose beliefs and religion differs from them. Everyone treats his religion and religious convictions certain and correct and refute others religious theories. We can live in harmony and global brotherhood only if we could make our rational vision vast, authority authentic and clear, consciousness relational and simple. Society is indulged in their own religions and have concern with others. Furthermore these society compare their beliefs and doctrine with others in order to assume that they could conceive their beliefs reliable and authentic when they could get universality of their beliefs in other religions. In religious pluralism, the people have different and definite thoughts and connections towards the multidimensional belief systems and religious deeds. On the basis of freedom of will, people of one faith and religion can study and investigate the faith and religion of others. This is what we can say interfaith dialogue or religious dialogue. Although there are some ill effects of interfaith conversation because authority of the religion differ and also their consciousness towards other beliefs as well as religions. Religion pluralism has two planes; one is pessimistic and other is optimistic. Pessimistic plane is attacking and criticizes co-existing religions in the world. while optimistic plan considers religions as a divine law as well as educate the people of the world with morality, universal codes of conduct, religious harmony with their own sects and with other belief systems of the society, peace, and respect for religions via beliefs. The world is extremely affected with the issues of religious plurality. The issue which are palpable in the world related to pluralism of religious are as: religious discrimination, sectarian conflicts in religions, inferiority and superiority of belief systems, rational diffusions on faith, religious authority issue, religious inequality, mythological conflicts, interfaith or interruption from opposite religions and sects, role of competent authority, argumentations and ignorant claims about resolution of religious questions, modesty issue, traditionalistic, religious verbalism, documentation, religious testimony and hedonistic along with utilitarian issues of religious beliefs and faiths. These issues can be analyzed and resolved with wisdom, religious consciousness, philosophical examinations along with religious epistemology and religious axiology. Humans can live in harmony and peace only if we could understand the tenets and principles of religious ideology. www.ijpub.org © 2018 IJCRT | Volume 6, Issue 1 March 2018 | ISSN: 2320-2882 IJPUB1801292 International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT) www.ijpub.org 1833 As far as the plurality of religion is concerned, there are three approaches to describe religious pluralism; rational approach/intellectual approach, authoritative approach or traditional approach and third is perspective from consciousness or religious understanding. Reason Reason or rationality exercised an important part in the world harmony, universalization and rationalization of human ideas and deeds. The deficiencies in the society as well as in different religions and religious sects are created and evolved due to the diverse attitudes of the people towards belief systems. From the religious aspect, most of the people have misconception about reason that it is the element of cognitive faculty which is employed to verify the concepts of religious dogmas in accordance with the rationality or judgments. When we judge re4ligious concepts or beliefs on the basis of reason or rationality we commit various errors i.e. the error of apprehension of religious terminology, as the field of religion is different from the field of rational inquiry. Religions differ from community to community, sect to sect and from people to people. Some religions provide full authority to reason where other religion restrict its claim and make it subservient to revelation. In religious pluralism, religions differ on the basis of faith, belief systems, rituals and act of worship. The department of religion differs from the department of intellect on the criteria of principles and language. Neither religious concepts can be resolved on the basis of rationality nor can reason supersede religious inquiry. In addition there are many limitations to reason. Reason can provide legitimate source of knowledge only when judgments are a-priori or innate and cannot be put in practice, observation and experimentation. Reason resolves the conflicts in the plurality of religious beliefs. The major and sectarian religions in the world could be understood only if we rationalize ourselves. It supposes to me that the objective of the reason is to perceive and interpret the dogmas and facets of the diverse religions. Reason can be explained in two ways to analyze the religious plurality; one Authority Religious authority in religious pluralism whether personal or impersonal determines the criteria for beliefs, rituals, convictions, and ideologies. In the world matter religions, sectarian religious and tribal religion there is some kind of valid authority and this authority is divine or sometimes it could be in the form of competent person. In Hinduism the authority is Vedas and person of the Vedas, in Islam authority is Quran and Sunnah and competent persons of Islam, in Christianity, authority is bible and persons of the bible. In other religious and religious sects authority differs. We are living in a global knot with various kinds of people who have accepted different religious and belief system. The policies, objectives, attitudes, way to look at different religious and their faith considers their value and understanding their belief system so that we can treat every religion equal and should respect religious belief systems as well as religious places. Actually the corruption and deficiencies regarding in humans and not in authority , it is the responsibility of the human beings to understanding and respect religious all thought their responsibility towards their particular faith is to accept his own religious and obey his authority. Personal authorities of religious are violating the principles and attitudes of religions. The chaos in the society or in the world is only due to the personal authority because they are misguiding the people and followers. Impersonal authority (scripture, religion text, jurisprudence) can never be wrong. No scripture or religion text is against interfaith dialogue and intellectual debates can solve many problems in the diversity of religious fields. But the authoritative person could be a competent person having worthy knowledge about world religious or opposite religious or belief system which is Augmenting. Consciousness In addition to reason and authority, consciousness is the significant element which facilitates people in understanding and reflecting the religious issues related to religious pluralism. It is only conscious attitudes which develops toleration, cooperation and acceptance in case of ideas of beliefs among humans. the reason and authority can be known through consciousness. It can make ourselves aware about the integration and togetherness in religion pluralism satre said that every consciousness is consciousness of itself. We are conscious of our attitudes and attitudes towards others religious consciousness make us aware about the conflicts when people are making faith with rationality. The integrity literature and cooperation in the world could be achieved only when we are conscious beings even when we are not using consciousness or of having conscious efforts towards religious belief system religious intolerance could arise , religious crises and arguments arise. It seems to me that consciousness does not correspond one religious belief into another but it can understand the diversity of religions, its merits and demerits when we could explore correctly or incorrectly consciousness provide the legitimate grounds to judge the different religious beliefs and religious ideologies. The way of living a good life in a society in connection to multiple belief systems ought to be judged on the principles of religious consciousness religious understanding /consciousness is examined in two grades. one is inner consciousness :conscious to judge inner policies , attitudes & methods to look at religious plurality and second is external consciousness : conscious to judge external mode of policies , attitudes and methods to look at religious plurality whether the formal is rule or axiom based principles to perceive set of beliefs within a community or religion and the former is experience based principles to perceive and acquire at different ideologies as well as set of beliefs within diverse type religious. Conclusion Reason, authority and consciousness are assumed as the fundamental tools to develop integrity, humanity, rationality, interfaith relationship, world brotherhood, religious tolerance, respect, humility, acceptance, world welfare, good will, freedom of expression, democracy, togetherness, understanding, religious reflection, self realization, unity and Ecumenism. All the major www.ijpub.org © 2018 IJCRT | Volume 6, Issue 1 March 2018 | ISSN: 2320-2882 IJPUB1801292 International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT) www.ijpub.org 1834 religions of the world like Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Jainism, could provide authentic grounds to understand religious pluralism in context to reason, authority and consciousness. The challenges and issues of religious pluralism ought to be rectified and resolved on the principles and products of reason, authority and consciousness. Every religion has Every religion has Every religion has Every religion has Every religion has Every religion has Every religion has Every religion has its own goals to achieve but those goals can be reflect and judged either on the modes of belief system or through act of worship. In this piece of writing I have shown the importance of rational outlook, authority and consciousness in order to maintain peace and kindness towards world religions. If we philosophize our activities and thoughts, rationalize our ways, methods, and attitudes and understand the choices, desires, world welfare, development and responsibility for ourselves as well as for others, then we could definitely realize the benevolent consequences of religious plurality and its ill effects could vanish and modified. References [1] Giordan, G. (2014), Introduction: pluralism as legitimization of diversity, In Ed., G. Giordan & E. 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