The term did not come from any church council.  It is not a biblical phrase or a theological expression in historical theology. In its later version as delineated by the Aspen Institute, it was secularized, and now without any debate as to its origin or meaning, it is considered a sacred core belief in the American Church, especially in the PCA and other NAPARC churches.

In the debate over Christian Nationalism, a term that is used by most all parties in the discussion is the phrase “principled pluralism.”  Some prefer just the term “pluralism.”  It is my contention that the term “principled pluralism” (or simply pluralism) is misleading because it has never been defined. Part of my problem with the Presbyterian Church in America’s (PCA) Partial Ad-Interim Committee Report on Christian Nationalism is that a document was sent to the Church without adequate definitions.  This is especially important in any discussion about “principled pluralism.”

What is “principled pluralism” and from where did the term originate? It appears that the term was coined by a former Calvin College Professor by the name of Nicholas Wolterstorff.  Thus, the term has “a neo-Calvinistic origin.”  Dr. Wolterstorff also served as a distinguished professor at Yale University.  In his 1977 essay “The Social Responsibility of the Christian College” he argued that diverse religious communities should be allowed to flourish on principle, and not merely by political tolerance. The principle in his thesis was based on the concept of Natural Law.  After a number of years, the term “principled pluralism” became common parlance in the American dialogue, especially in the church.

Strangely, the definition of the term was further expanded in a position paper published by the Aspen Institute around the year 2013.  You can read their report on the Aspen Institute website entitled “Principled Pluralism: Report of the Inclusive America Project.” The panel responsible for the document included politicians, academic professors, and representatives from major religions including Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.  With this document, the term was altered to reflect a Marxist ideology.

The term did not come from any church council.  It is not a biblical phrase or a theological expression in historical theology. In its later version as delineated by the Aspen Institute, it was secularized, and now without any debate as to its origin or meaning, it is considered a sacred core belief in the American Church, especially in the PCA and other NAPARC churches.

Most Christians believe that to some extent America was once a Christian Nation with steeples covering our landscape and with Christian precepts embedded in all areas of life including legislative politics.  In 1892 in the case of “the Church of the Holy Trinity v. the United States,” Supreme Court Justice David Josiah Brewer stated in his opinion that the United States “is a Christian Nation.”

Although America in her beginning had no official church on the national level (like the Church of England), she did have various Christian denominations prominent on the State level. A Christian oath of office was required in nine of the thirteen State Constitutions. There were numerous Christian denominations in America free to worship according to their own conscience.

My contention in my recent article on the Aquila Report (Principled Polytheism and the PCA) is that the Presbyterian Confessional Standards of 1788 expanded the legitimacy of Christian religions in the civil sphere to include Roman Catholicism and other evangelical denominations (like Quakerism).  Presbyterian standards were never adopted for the purpose of including pagan religions like Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism under the guise of the modern term called “Principled Pluralism.” This would have been unconscionable.

The term Principled Pluralism is now in reality a diversion from what should be called Principled Polytheism.  In principle (from Marxist ideology) polytheism is now a sacred cow of American theological and political thought.  The term “Principled Pluralism” (or simply Pluralism) needs to be ditched.  The term Principled Polytheism needs to be adopted because it more accurately assumes that all the religions in the world should have the freedom to worship publicly in the United States.  Polytheism is the principle that now drives our nation.  It reflects American civic egalitarianism. I’m afraid it has also captured the Church.

Without further clarification of ideas and definition of terms, any more discussion of Christian Nationalism will be a very frustrating experience.  In the interest of real peace in the PCA, the term “Principled Pluralism” (or pluralism) should be ditched and replaced with a more appropriate term like “Principled Polytheism.” The next time you hear someone speak about pluralism, stop them and say, “No the word now is polytheism.”

Larry E. Ball is a retired minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and is now a CPA. He lives in Kingsport, Tenn.