ABSTRACT
Pluralism is a sine qua non for a dialogue of partners who are to be treated as equals. But, as Bernstein is careful to stress, there may be unhelpful pluralisms. This critique of certain sorts of pluralism and relativism is especially relevant to any intercultural project. He is also concerned to stress that a postmodern commitment to fragments does not automatically exclude learning from modern and premodern paradigms, as though our most recent thoughts effectively disable the historical tradition of critique and reflection. Very similar suggestions are made in a number of works by Isaiah Berlin, through his notion of an 'agonistic liberalism', a liberalism which struggles with constructive tensions. God in Christian faith is traditionally understood as creator and sustainer of all that is. Culture is a multifaceted concept. This complexity applies equally to theology and religion. Religion is also concerned with truth and values, which are not separable from but are distinguishable from culture.