Perennialism is a philosophical and theological perspective that sees all religions as sharing common mystical experiences and truths. The word “perennial” means everlasting or eternal. Perennialism believes that at the core of every religion is a universal and eternal truth that transcends time, culture, and language. This universal truth is often described as the “Divine Reality,” the ultimate origin, ground, and goal of all things.
According to perennialism, all the great world religions, underneath their outward differences and forms, share a single, common divine source and essence. The various religions are seen as different cultural manifestations or interpretations of this one universal truth. Therefore, perennialism emphasizes the commonality and unity among religions, rather than their diversity. The Perennial Philosophy sees the exoteric religious doctrines and practices as meaningful expressions of the universal truth, even while acknowledging their limitations.
Perennialism has roots in the Renaissance interest in ancient Greek philosophy, especially Platonism, with its theory of archetypal forms and the ultimate Form of the Good. It was formulated in the early 20th century by thinkers like Aldous Huxley and Frithjof Schuon. They were inspired by the Transcendentalist movement, Asian religions like Hindu Vedanta philosophy, and Western esoteric traditions. Perennialism was popularized in the 1960s counterculture through writers like Alan Watts and movements like the New Age.
Some key principles of Perennialism include:
- There is a single universal truth or Divine Reality that is the origin and essence of all religions.
- This Divine Reality is eternal, infinite, ineffable and transcendent.
- The Divine can never be fully known or comprehended by the human intellect.
- The Divine manifests in the world through a hierarchy of emanations, unfolding from the One to the many.
- The human soul contains a trace of the Divine spark and has the potential to realize its divine essence.
- Through spiritual practice and ethical living, individuals can overcome egotism and realize their deeper identity with the Divine Unity.
- Mystical and spiritual experience of the Divine is the heart and origin of all religions.
- Exoteric religious forms point to an inner experiential dimension that transcends form.
- Beneath surface differences, religions share essential similarities in their mysticism and ethics.
- Dogmatic claims to exclusivity, authority or finality are to be softened in favor of universality.
Perennialism sees profound parallels between the teachings of the great religions. For example, it sees Advaita Vedanta Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism as portraying a nondual view of reality similar to that of Christian mysticism. It sees Islam and Judaism as focused on the absolute oneness and unity of God, comparable to the Upanishadic conception of Brahman. It finds resemblances between concepts like the Tao, Brahman, God, Buddha Nature, etc. as various expressions of the Divine Unity behind all things.
The Perennial Philosophy interprets religious doctrines and stories as expressions of a universal truth. Their specifics are seen as less fundamentally real than their mystical import pointing to the Divine Reality. Perennialists approach religions sympathetically but critically, affirming and valorizing their spiritual and ethical teachings while contextualizing their problematic and contradictory aspects.
Perennialism has been critiqued on a number of grounds. Critics argue it tends to downplay the differences between religions, glossing over very real disagreements in doctrine, ethics, and practices. They say it risks projecting its own modern Western assumptions and priorities onto diverse religions and cultures. Critics also argue perennialism tends toward a relativistic divinization of all religions while dodging critical evaluation and analysis. Additionally, exclusivist religions that claim a monopoly on truth, like Christianity, fundamentally reject perennialism’s pluralistic perspective.
Proponents respond that perennialism seeks unity but not uniformity between religions. It acknowledges diversity but finds an underlying thread of unity. Perennialists say they take religious differences seriously but do not see them as negating deeper commonalities. They argue that their perspective encourages interfaith dialogue, tolerance, and appreciation of other cultures.
Some forms of perennialism have been accused of being universalistic and essentialistic. That is, of imagining that beneath surface differences, all religions share the exact same divine essence perceived by all mystics in the same way. However, many perennialists avoid hard essentialism and allow for pluralism in the manifestations of the Divine Reality. Still, critics argue this leads perennialism to a reductionistic position unable to account for real and significant differences.
Overall, perennialism remains a highly contested perspective. Some find its hopeful vision of interreligious harmony inspiring. But others argue it dissolves religious identities, papers over disagreements, and imposes an artificial philosophical lens upon complex traditions.
Regarding a Christian perspective, perennialism’s openness to truth and value in non-Christian religions clashes with the doctrinal exclusivity of historical and conservative Christianity. Most forms of perennialism would be rejected as relativistic from an orthodox Christian standpoint staunchly upholding the unique truth of the Gospel message and the centrality of Christ.
However, some Christian thinkers have sought to integrate insights from perennialism, such as the possibility of “anonymous Christians” who unconsciously participate in Christ despite lacking explicit Christian faith. Themes of cosmic Christology, Logos theology, and the incarnation of Divine Wisdom throughout cultures have been proposed as Christian frameworks that can positively engage perennialist perspectives. But strong Christian critiques of perennialism generally prevail.
In summary, perennialism highlights commonalities across religions but risks minimizing profound differences. It pursues an ethically and spiritually positive vision of interfaith harmony but may impose faulty interpretations upon complex traditions. Perennialism’s openness toward non-Christian religions conflicts with conservative Christian views upholding Biblical teachings as uniquely true. Ongoing theological debate continues around perennialism’s merits and difficulties as a philosophy of religion.