A POSTLIBERAL APPROACH TO THEOLOGY OF RELIGIONS: GEORGE LINDBECK AND INCOMMENSURABILITY OF RELIGIONS

Abstract

Lindbeck offered his cultural-linguistic theory about how religious doctrines should be examined. In his approach, he denied the common experience/essence of different religions, thus viewing different religions as the products of different cultures and languages. One of the prominent elements of Lindbeck's cultural-linguistic theory is its absolute dependence on the idea of incommensurability of religions. By this theory, he has prevented translatability of religions. Lindbeck's theory gave rise to a new approach, namely postliberalism or particularism within theology of religions. This article describes Lindbeck's cultural-linguistic theory and analyses its place and contribution to the field of theology of religions. It is suggested that even though his theory helps to appreciate the real differences of other faiths, it raises some problems, which are addressed here. First, his theory has locked religions into certain borders in which interreligious dialogue has become meaningless. Second, he presents religions as monolithic entities, thus overlooking the diverse interpretations within a single religion and how religions have influenced one another historically. Finally, for the sake of preventing distinct features of Christianity, Lindbeck's theory also endangers the concept of universality religions.