Beyond Pluralism: Esoteric Unity of Religions and the Ontological Reframing of Comparative Theology

Abstract

This article examines the epistemological limitations of modern religious pluralism in comparative theology and proposes perennial philosophy as a metaphysical alternative. While pluralism has contributed to reducing interreligious conflict through ethical convergence and epistemic egalitarianism, it often suspends ontological questions concerning the nature of ultimate reality. This study argues that such an approach risks reducing religious diversity to symbolic or moral variations, thereby neglecting the metaphysical depth of religious traditions. By employing a qualitative conceptual analysis, this research engages the perennial framework articulated by Frithjof Schuon and Seyyed Hossein Nasr, particularly the distinction between esoteric unity and exoteric diversity. It demonstrates that religious plurality can be understood not as epistemic relativism, but as a differentiated manifestation of a single transcendent reality. In this view, doctrinal, ritual, and symbolic differences reflect necessary expressions of the same metaphysical principle rather than contradictions in ultimate truth. The findings suggest that perennial philosophy offers a critical intervention in contemporary comparative theology by reintroducing metaphysical reflection into the study of religious diversity. It provides a conceptual framework that transcends both exclusivism and relativistic pluralism, enabling a more integrative understanding of religious plurality while preserving theological distinctiveness.