Christian Sociology and Christian Pluralism

QUESTION: Christian Sociology – Christian Pluralism

ANSWER:

The sociological concept that the individual is more important than institutions in society and that society is important because God created us as social beings is called pluralism. In this view, neither society nor the individual is the only true reality; both must be valued in order to correctly understand reality. This perspective ensures that we “can never be reduced to either a mere atomistic individual or a mere integer in some social whole.”¹

Christian Sociology – Individuals and Institutions
Christian pluralism holds that both the individual and societal groups are accountable to God (2 Kings 17:7–23 and Acts 17:31). If each member of society acts responsibly, then each societal institution can focus on governing its realm of interest properly and allow other institutions the same freedom.

Notes:

Rendered with permission from the book,Understanding the Times: The Collision of Today’s Competing Worldviews(Rev. 2^nd ed), David Noebel, Summit Press, 2006. Compliments of John Stonestreet, David Noebel, and the Christian Worldview Ministry at Summit Ministries. All rights reserved in the original.

¹ Rockne McCarthy, Donald Oppewal, Walfred Peterson, and Gordon Spykman, Society, State, and Schools (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1982), 151.