Social Problems and Religious Pluralism in Roland Merullo’s Breakfast with Buddha Series

Abstract

Abstract

            This article examines Roland Merullo’s application of religious pluralism in dealing with social problems in his Breakfast with Buddha Series. I argue that the author focuses on presenting solutions of contemporary American social problems by using religious pluralism to understand problems and heal the mind. In these series, the author narrates the story through the protagonist’s experiences. He is an American middle-age man who is confronting with changes in life due to family problems and social problems. The protagonist has to go on a road trip with a Tibetan monk. This travel guides the protagonist to learn life experiences and to understand his personal problems and social problems through religious pluralism’s perspective. The author creates the relationship of two characters who has differences in thoughts and beliefs. They, however, discuss and exchange perspectives while traveling together until the protagonist eventually accepts the Tibetan monk into his family trustfully when Volya marries his sister. These could be interpreted that the author may wish to support toleration and compromise in religion in contemporary society.