What is Pluralism?

Pluralism is a worldview that promotes respectful and constructive engagement with those who are different from us or who hold different viewpoints. It supports peaceful coexistence with others, regardless of faith, race, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, gender identity, documented status, or age. This approach works to create an inclusive, compassionate, and socially equitable society and holds that diversity benefits us all. It advocates commitment to the well-being of others in our communities and identifies practices and skills that work towards helping us engage positively with these communities, such conflict resolution, peace-building, and mediation. Pluralism actively counteracts social divisiveness and polarization. In sum, pluralism creates pathways to value religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity, and to navigate interfaith and cross-community relationships.  

Pluralism is related to interfaith. Our Interfaith Center at CSULB defines interfaith in the university context as supporting the religious, spiritual and ethical identities of students, the diversity of religions that exist on campus, and positive engagement with them.