IX. Christ's Epistle to Philadelphia

The Development of Pluralism

By the late 1600's, liberal theological thought began a steady slide into apostasy when a reductionist philosophical notion known as Pluralism came into religious circles. Pluralism is the teaching that says it really does not matter what you believe about God, as long as you believe in God or a god in some form.
Pluralism denotes any metaphysical theory claiming that reality consists of a multiplicity of distinct, fundamental entities. The term was first used by Christian Wolff (1679-1754), and later popularized by William James in The Will to Believe (1896). As a theological term, it refers to the belief that "god" exists with many different names and within all religions. Pluralism believes these religions worship the same "god," only using different names and belief systems. These belief systems are commonly called different faiths.

"2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:2-6).

"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3) is to what Christ refers in Revelation 3:11 by the words "hold fast." As typical of all forms of theological reductionisms, Pluralism taught that doctrine (the teachings of various religions) is secondary (sometimes totally irrelevant) to "belief" in a god, whatever the form or practice that belief system takes.