Pluralism + Mathematics = Plurathematics!

Imagine with me a new trend in pop philosophy called "Plurathematics". Combining the idea of religious pluralism and mathematics, the resulting philosophy would teach that all answers are the correct ones regarding any math problem. For example,

2+2=0
2+2=1,000,000
2+2=4
2+2=3.14

According to Plurathematics, all of the above answers would be correct. Never mind the fact that rationality and critical thinking is thrown out the window (or experience, for that matter: $2 plus another $2 sure hasn't gotten me $1,000,000), this new pop philosophical trend is sweeping the nation.

Now, the above was mere sarcasm to convey the absurdity of the idea of all mathematical answers being correct. Any sane person would know that is silly and irrational (although the struggling math student would be attracted to the idea, no doubt). Yet why is it that such an equally crazy idea concerning religious truth claims is so prevalent in today's society? No school system would teach Plurathematics, yet society as a whole seems to have no problem with religious pluralism.

Without going back to my sarcasm, let's consider a new set of examples, involving religious truth claims. As I was typing this part out, I remembered that Greg Koukl in his book, "Tactics", said what I was going to say, and he did a much better job at it. I will just shamelessly (and with a dose of laziness) cut and paste the passage I am referring to:

"The notion of religious pluralism, that all religions are equally true or valid, is also self-refuting. There are two different ways to demonstrate this. First, if all religions are true, then Christianity is true. Yet a central claim of classical Christianity is that other religions are false when taken as a whole. Clearly, Jesus was not a pluralist. Either Christianity is correct that Jesus is God’s Messiah for the world and other religions are deceptions, as Scripture teaches, or Christianity is false and some other view is true. In no case, though, can all religions be true and valid. Second, when you think about it, religions have very diverse pictures of what the spiritual realm is like. Most forms of Hinduism teach that God is an impersonal force. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity teach that God is a personal being. In Buddhism, the question of God is irrelevant. In classical theism, death is final, followed by either eternal reward or eternal punishment. In Eastern religions, death is a door the soul passes through many times as it works out its karma in reincarnation. Some religions teach that reprobates are destroyed while the righteous live on. Can you see the problem? When someone dies, they might go to Heaven or Hell, or they might be reincarnated, or they might simply turn to dust, but they can’t do them all at the same time."

Koukl, Gregory (2009). Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions (pp. 118-119). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

I'll expound a bit on Greg's first example. If all religions are true, than Christianity is true along with Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and more. If Christianity is true, then Jesus' claim in John 14:6, "“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.", is also true. Yet notice, the contents of the truth claim entails that Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other religions are false. If Christianity is true, then these other religions cannot be true. However, according to religious pluralism, Christianity is true alongside Islam and other religions in spite of this crucial contradiction of one of Christianity's truth claims; there are no wrong answers, and every answer is right. It is just as irrational as saying that 2+2= can have a variety of answers and none of them being false.

I don't expect Plurathematics to become a pop philosophy trend. There is no denying, however, that religious pluralism is relevant to today's society and it's results are a destructive. It is illogical, it is irrational, and it just makes no sense.