On Religious Diversity

McKim's monograph presents a systematic philosophical examination of religious diversity and its epistemic implications for religious belief. The work addresses a fundamental challenge in philosophy of religion: if equally sincere, intelligent, and well-informed individuals arrive at incompatible religious conclusions, what attitude should one adopt toward one's own religious beliefs?

The book develops a sophisticated argument for what McKim terms "critical stance" or "tentative belief" in response to religious diversity. This position occupies a middle ground between dogmatic certainty and complete skepticism. McKim contends that awareness of deep religious disagreement among epistemic peers should lead reflective individuals to hold their religious beliefs with reduced confidence, though not necessarily to abandon them entirely. His approach draws on recent developments in social epistemology, particularly debates about peer disagreement and higher-order evidence.

McKim systematically examines and rejects several alternative responses to religious diversity. He argues against exclusivism, which maintains full confidence despite awareness of disagreement, on grounds that it fails to take seriously the epistemic credentials of those who disagree. Similarly, he critiques pluralistic approaches that attempt to reconcile diverse religious claims by positing their fundamental compatibility, arguing these fail to respect the genuine incompatibilities between religious traditions. His analysis also challenges skeptical conclusions that religious diversity mandates suspension of all religious belief.

The work engages critically with major figures in contemporary philosophy of religion, including Alvin Plantinga's reformed epistemology and William Alston's religious experience arguments. McKim demonstrates how standard defenses of religious belief face particular difficulties when confronted with the fact of pervasive religious disagreement. He pays special attention to how religious diversity differs from disagreement in other domains, noting the role of cultural conditioning and the difficulty of achieving epistemic independence in religious matters.

McKim's contribution lies in developing a philosophically rigorous position that acknowledges the epistemic challenge of religious diversity without capitulating to skepticism. His "critical stance" offers a model for maintaining religious commitment while recognizing its fallibility. The work has influenced subsequent discussions about the rationality of religious belief in pluralistic contexts and the proper epistemic response to peer disagreement in matters where empirical resolution seems impossible. His careful argumentation provides resources for those seeking to navigate between religious dogmatism and complete relativism in contemporary pluralistic societies.