# The Pluralism Project ## What is Pluralism? Pluralism is an ethic for living together in a diverse society: not mere tolerance or relativism, but the real encounter of commitments. [ Read more about pluralism arrow\_circle\_right ](/about) ![dome interior](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-08/homepage-hero.jpg?h=71df1c8e&itok=6mDUqlYN) ## Rivers of Faith The religious traditions of humankind are shown here as squares, each containing a commonly used symbol of that tradition. But this visual image of separate boundaried squares—graphically convenient as it is—is highly misleading, for every religious tradition has grown through the ages in dialogue and historical interaction with others. [ Read Rivers of Faith Essay arrow\_circle\_right ](/rivers-of-faith) ![Afro-Caribbean icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/afro-caribbean.png?itok=A4CRsXdY) [### Afro-Caribbean ](/afro-caribbean-traditions) ![Bahai icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/bahai.png?itok=8MbZl6vX) [### The Baha'i Faith ](/bahai) ![Buddhism icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/buddhism.png?itok=KTcuIIDR) [### Buddhism ](/buddhism) ![Christianity icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/christianity.png?itok=NgbgkVob) [### Christianity ](/christianity) ![Confucianism icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/confucianism.png?itok=carYdCZ1) [### Confucianism ](/confucianism) ![Daoism icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/daoism.png?itok=lgXyMiac) [### Daoism ](/daoism) ![hinduism icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/hinduism.png?itok=f2X2-zlW) [### Hinduism ](/hinduism) ![Humanism icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/humanism.png?itok=QpNvH9hw) [### Humanism ](/humanism) ![Islam icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/islam.png?itok=ft09x7lL) [### Islam ](/islam) ![Jainism icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/jainism.png?itok=Pp1NHNGF) [### Jainism ](/jainism) ![Judaism icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/judaism.png?itok=DKDGvBQy) [### Judaism ](/judaism) ![native icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/native.png?itok=SHjgu5l5) [### Native American Traditions ](/native-american-traditions) ![Paganism icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/paganism.png?itok=xJX5GmRl) [### Paganism ](/paganism) ![Shinto icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/shinto.png?itok=TvQVrpqA) [### Shintō ](/shint%C5%8D) ![Sikhism icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/sikh.png?itok=0jTQQNR2) [### Sikhism ](/sikhism) ![Unitarian-Universalist icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/unitarian.png?itok=z7EnSZAA) [### Unitarian Universalism ](/unitarian-universalism) ![Zoroastrianism icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-06/zoroastrian.png?itok=JzJmVxpX) [### Zoroastrianism ](/zoroastrianism) ## Encounter [### Historical Perspectives ](/historical-perspectives) ![Historical Perspectives](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/pluralism/files/v1p01_4008667671_o_0.jpg?itok=m-uNIalN) [### Today's Challenges ](/todays-challenges) ![Today's Challenges](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/pluralism/files/img_9712.jpg?h=6721de4a&itok=eZZBMzgG) [### Interfaith Infrastructure ](/interfaith-infrastructure) ![Interfaith Images Tiles](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/pluralism/files/homepage_interfaith_tiles.jpg?h=b3f3f097&itok=I7-G1wR1) ### Landscape The religious landscape of America is changing. In the past fifty years, new immigrants have arrived from all over the world seeking political freedom and economic prosperity. They have come with their cultural and religious traditions, their Qur’ans and Bhagavad Gitas, their rituals, prayers, and forms of mediation, their songs, dances, and arts. They have put down roots in American soil and created community centers and sacred spaces. [Explore the Landscape Section chevron\_right](/landscape) ![Boston map with religious traditions icon markers](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/pluralism/files/boston-map.png?itok=p-Uo0CCL) ### The Case Initiative With the dilemmas and disputes of our multi-religious society as our primary texts, the Pluralism Project integrates the case method into teaching and learning about religion. How might this participant-centered, discussion-based pedagogy change the way we teach—and how students learn? [Read more about the Case Initiative chevron\_right](/case-initiative) ![students learning with cases](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/pluralism/files/img_5544.jpg?itok=4mgcI2oB) ### Media A vivid portrait of American religious diversity through images, videos, voices, and selected news articles [See All Media chevron\_right](/news-and-media) ![Pluralism Project](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-08/10857056005_058a9cb680_o%20%281%29.jpg?itok=bYxoBujG) ## Spotlight ## Related Publications ![With the Best of Intentions Book Cover](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/pluralism/files/withthebestofintentions_1296x.jpg?itok=tDxXw-GO) ![Pluralism in Practice Book Cover](/sites/g/files/omnuum10836/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/pluralism/files/pluralisminpractice_1296x.jpg?itok=YUwE9HTX) [*Pluralism in Practice*](https://orbisbooks.com/products/9781626985483)*:* "A dozen thought-provoking case histories from the first two decades of the 21st century \[including the\] site of the “Ground Zero Mosque” firestorm of 2010, concerning a proposed Muslim interfaith center that was never built. . . . Students of leadership and religious studies will find this instructive and enlightening." —*Publishers Weekly* --- [*With the Best of Intentions:*](https://orbisbooks.com/products/9781626985452?_pos=1&_sid=8a76d3949&_ss=r) "Presents readers with illuminating examples of when practice does not match theory. It should be required reading for scholars, educators, administrators, and community organizers engaging religiously diverse contexts, as well as leaders working toward multireligious coalition building.” —*Axel M. Oaks Takacs, editor-in-chief Journal of Interreligious Studies* ## Glossary [ Search Glossary arrow\_circle\_right ](/glossary) ### Featured Term [Mitzvah](/mitzvah "Mitzvah") Mitzvah means “commandment” and refers to the 613 commandments that Jews are obligated to observe. It can also refer to any Jewish religious obligation, or colloquially, to any good deed. ### Other Glossary Terms - [Adhan](/adhan "adhan") - [Hajj](/hajj "hajj") - [Ahimsa](/ahimsa "ahimsa") - [Lucumi](/lucumi "Lucumi") - [Bodhisattva](/bodhisattva "bodhisattva") - [Puja](/puja "puja") - [Covenant](/covenant "covenant") - [Samhain](/samhain "Samhain") - [Dao](/dao "Dao") - [Tantra](/tantra "Tantra") - [Dharma](/dharma "Dharma") - [Yeshiva](/yeshiva "yeshiva") - [Eucharist](/eucharist "Eucharist") - [Zarathushtra](/zarathushtra "Zarathushtra")