In metaphysical view, the phenomena of reality (including life) must have multiple explanation. For example, the body is physical matter, the soul or spirit is non-material, the spirit body is composed of matter not yet fully analyzed.

the doctrine that the world is not a unit in law and structure, but the scene of contrary forces and processes.

the doctrine that reality consists of several basic substances or elements

The false belief that all religions are equally valid. (This can be extended to worldviews and lifestyles.) See the law of non-contradiction for an example why pluralism is wrong, or for more information read the article The Flaws of Relativism by Dr Steve Kumar. Kenneth R Samples puts it well in his article The Challenge of Religious Pluralism: Most people who believe the "all religions lead to God" are unaware of the insurmountable intellectual difficulties with this view. Therefore, the claim that one religion is exclusively true is often met with the charge that one is dogmatic, narrow-minded, or just plain arrogant. While people can act arrogantly and often do, to claim that one religion is exclusively true is not provincial or narrow-minded. As noted earlier, the only logical conclusion, in view of the multiple contradictions among the world's religions, is that one religious world view is true and the rest false, or that all the respective religions are false. As one philosopher put it, a world where all religions are simultaneously true would be a "cosmic madhouse."

A state in which numerous ethnic, religious or cultural groups coexist within one nation or where numerous points of view exist within one movement. The understanding that no one point of view can account for all of the things that happen in this life.

government carried out by a process of bargaining and compromise between a variety of competing leadership groups (business, labor, government, etc.). Advocates of pluralism claim that it best serves the democratic ideal in a complex modern society, in which individual participation in every act of decision-making is impractical. According to pluralism, individual rights and interests are protected by a sort of extra-constitutional checks and balances: No single group holds the dominant power position, power is always shifting, and individuals can have influence on policy-making through being active in one of these power groups. Some claim that America is such a pluralistic society; other theories say that pluralism is in fact a myth and American society is elitist.

The state of a pluralist; the holding of more than one ecclesiastical living at a time.

The holding by one person of more than one church office or benefice at the same time; it was a favourite way for secular and church officials to support their bureaucrats; in the later Middle Ages it was a widespread abuse. (Lynch, Joseph H. The Medieval Church: A Brief History, 364) The practice of holding more than one benefice at a time, often leading to absenteeism. (Waugh, Scott. England in the Reign of Edward III, 238) The holding of two or more benefices simultaneously, either within the limits approved by the law of the church or without them (when it required a dispensation or was punishable). (Heath, Peter. Church and Realm, 1272-1461, 365)

clerical practice of holding more than one church benefice (or office) at the same time and enjoying the income from each. (p. 456)

That one text may be read in different ways by different people.

The quality or state of being plural, or in the plural number.