Let’s start with the easy term, religious plurality. It clearly refers to a demographic fact, namely, that in a particular area or country there are multiple religious bodies. For example, this is very much the case with the United States of America, among other countries—and it is becoming increasingly true of countries which formerly were largely mono-religious, for example many European countries.
Religious pluralism, building upon religious plurality, goes further by recognizing this religious plurality as potentially adding several positive values. For one, having multiple religions in a country helps its citizens to experience in their own country the pluralistic reality of the world, rather than live in a less reality-reflecting religious cocoon, which does not adequately mirror the rest of the world’s religious multiplicity.
Beyond that, religious pluralism tends to lead, first to toleration of the religious other, then to positive tolerance and mutual respect, and finally to dialogue and cooperation—in order to mutually make the world more peaceful and flourishing.
