Question 27 – Aren't there more ways to God than just one?
This question reverberates, not only throughout western societies, but more often in some religious systems. Within the framework of political-religious correctness, we are certainly not going to claim that one person is right and others are not, are we? That is intolerance! You are not, perhaps, going to assert that someone named Jesus is the only way, truth, and life, and that a relationship with God is possible only through Him, are you? Some would say this assertion is the height of pride and hypocrisy, blind dogmatism.
This position of many roads leading to God suggests the attractive thought that all, or at least the majority, is right. It is possible that not all have complete knowledge, but that everyone has grasped and understood a certain part of the truth. The purpose of this question is not to deal with why I think Jesus is the only person in opposition to any other religion. We are looking for the truth but, for the purpose of this question, let us set aside who is right.
Let us think generally about the statement at the heart of this question. Is it true that all religions teach basically the same thing, or must we reject this opinion because it is not true? If we reject this statement, it follows that each of us has the responsibility to put all the possibilities to the test with a critical eye and look for the truth with all our strength. As support for the statement that every religion leads to God, its supporters use the parable of The Hens and the Elephant, among others.
This story is about hens examining an elephant. Since they are blind, they do not know what an elephant looks like. Therefore, after each one has touched the elephant, each comes to a different conclusion. The hen that caught it by the tail claims it is some kind of rope. The hen that touched and hugged its leg describes the elephant as some kind of column. The hen, who comes upon its body, understands it to be like a sturdy wall. Another hen comes across its trunk and sees it as a large snake. What, according to its supporters, does this parable tell us? Each one has its own truth. Each one understood in the framework of its own limited view. The natural outcome of this belief is that all religions are true and one day, maybe when we die, we will know this elephant fully. Therefore, to argue about whether the elephant is a rope or a column does not make sense. If someone does argue about the facts, he/she is arrogant and intolerant. In other words, choose what you like and declare it. It does not matter what you declare; just do not tell others that they don't know the truth . . . you do not know it either.
The Problem
Let us try to think about what this parable is saying. It is probably the following: I am the one who is watching these hens from a distance and I see the whole elephant. I, then, am the one who knows the truth.In other words, the message of this parable is the same dogmatic claim as the Christian belief/opinion presented above.
The Parable of the Mountain
This parable, understood from a different perspective, explains this opinion in the following way. God is like a mountain top. You can set off from the west where the path is walkable/manageable. You can climb the eastern side. This path is harder to negotiate and has more turns, so you arrive later and have expended more energy and effort. All paths have the same goal. However, this parable also acts as a dogmatic statement. To illustrate the weakness of these parables, I have thought up a parable of my own.
Imagine a territory, an island, or an inaccessible part of a mountain. The only reliable way to get there is by crossing a bridge. There is an abyss all around it and no other way in. Despite the existence of the bridge, many people try to build their own causeway, rope, or long ladder to get to the other side. Everyone, however, fails and falls into the abyss. The bridge has a name: Jesus. What do you say to this parable? You have probably understood that no parable contains the truth in and of itself, but only supports and better explains the specific opinion or dogma behind it.
An Examination at the Doctor's
I will not apologise for one last, genuine parable told during a meeting by the well-known Christian, David Hunt, in response to the question, "Isn't it narrow-minded to claim that only one reality/proposition/truth is correct/true?"
David Hunt's reply: You have an unspecified health problem. You go to your doctor for a check-up. You ask, "Doctor, what is your diagnosis? What is causing these problems?"
I am sure you would not return home enthusiastically if your doctor said, "I would not want to be narrow-minded and give you a concrete diagnosis. Heart operations are popular today, so what about having one? On the other hand, we have an excellent cancer clinic where we treat cancer."
Summary
The statement, "All roads lead to God," claims to be true and rejects other opinions. From the viewpoint of tolerance, this statement is also intolerant and arrogant. From these examples, I wanted to show that no matter how popular and agreeable the statement above is to many, it is only an opinion based on ignorance, unfamiliarity with religions, and emotions rather than on ascertained facts. In other words, all religions do NOT teach the same thing or represent God in the same way. Some do not even have a god.
Hinduism has numerous gods and the very popular concept of reincarnation. Buddhism does not have a god. New Age states that god lays dormant within each of us and we must discover him. Even when we focus on monotheistic religions, for example Islam, we find fundamental differences attributed to the character of God compared to Christianity. Whether we like it or not, all religions are NOT the same. Many are diametrically opposed to each other and paint reality in entirely different ways. Yes, most agree on basic ethical questions: it is wrong to murder, rape, etc.. However, they do not agree on crucial concepts like how to reach God, who God is, and how to deal with human guilt.
A Disregarding God
Try for a moment to imagine what God would be like if many ways led to Him. What would the consequences be? What would it mean if everyone had the same god and all ways lead to him? We would have a god who does not care how we approach him, who we consider him to be, or what errors we could stumble into along the way. Some see God as a bloodthirsty beast, others as a loving being, still others as a brutal, impersonal force. Is this the same God? If he supported such chaos and confusion, allowing himself to be worshipped in this way, he would not be god but a malevolent ignoramus and we would only be pathetic animals, exhibited like animals in a zoo. This god would not be interested in people and would not be loving.
This opinion also assumes that God has not made himself known or revealed himself to people. It rejects/denies the central point of Christianity. If however, God has revealed himself to us, this revelation must have been exceptional/extraordinary and easily identifiable compared to the competing claims about God's identity. This does not mean that all aspects of other religions are false or that there are not aspects of true understanding in other systems of faith. It does, however, mean that all of the aspects contradicting God's true revelation are not true.
Is the opinion that all roads lead to God still so appealing to you?
We do not have time to study and apply all religions in detail. One life is not sufficient for this. But we can examine the basic information of the majority critically. Most important is the fact that you can call to heaven with all of your heart and beg God (at this point maybe unknown to you) to make Himself known to you and to show you the truth. If He exists and is interested in you and you call to Him with a sincere heart, He will not leave you without an answer. Let us also realise that God was not narrow-minded when He chose only one way to Himself. Given all our rebellion, during all the centuries we have made fun of Him, having killed his prophets and even His Son, we can only be thankful that a way still exists for us to have a relationship with Him.
Summation
The thought that there is no spiritual patent on truth is easily heard and very popular. However, when we examine it closely, it cannot stand. Not only do all religions NOT describe God in the same way, but they also claim many glaring and obvious differences. As well, the statement itself claims to be what it also criticises, that it is the only truth.