by Michael Corthell
Religion and why so many of them is the question. Here is the real question, ''Can Many Religions All Be True?'' That question will be opined on lastly. And after you are through reading my simplified answer to that very REAL question, please watch the video at the end. Learn about 'Big History', a unified approach to understanding what is REAL. God and His Universe are calling us to greatness.
The existence and variety of so many religions confuses people who are sincerely looking for the truth about God. Some want the absolute, final word before they even find Faith. Some even say that the existence of so many religions is proof that either you cannot know God or that God simply does not exist.
Why are so many religions? Because the truth of God has a space in every human heart and soul. God designed us that way. He did that so that we, His created, could choose Him or reject Him. It is a need we are all born with, but most of us, instead of accepting the truth about God and submitting to it, reject Him and seek their own way to fill that space created and reserved for God. Very often, far too often, we fill that space with junk. Junk like food, toys, and vices like drugs and alcohol.
Many people do not want to believe in the kind of God who demands strict morality and a code of conduct, so they invent their own God(s) who will make no such demands. The creates a wide road to travel on through life. Religions tend to narrow that road considerably pointing the pilgrim directly towards God.
Some people do not want to follow a God who says it impossible for people to buy their way into heaven. So they create a God who accepts people into heaven if they have followed certain steps, followed certain rules, and adhered to certain laws, and with some it is just the 'good old college try'.
We, humankind in general, like to replace our Creator with a God who is more to our liking, often a God created by us, in our own image. The problematic danger? We are not perfect. We didn't create the Universe and all it's laws of operation. In fact we do nothing without both the guidance and allowance of God.
The good news in all of this, is that we have a continuing partnership with God, even if we reject Him. We serve Him, but he also serves us.
We saw it when God came to earth by incarnating Himself to teach us. He washed his disciples feet. ''If I then, your teacher and master, have washed your feet, it is also your duty to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example in order that you may do what I have done to you.'' A humble partnership. Jesus also made it very clear by doing this that He would not ask us to do anything that He would not do Himself. This is also the mark of true leadership.
So, for the question at hand. ''Can Many Religions All Be True?'' The simple answer is yes. Do all religious belief systems lead to God? Actually they really do. God has made it so. Remember that space in our heart, soul and spirit that God created? It has to be filled, not with money, power and other material and carnal wants, but with God.
How you get to your belief in God is your business, not mine. I am your brother, not your judge. We all need to live and let live. It is your path. Along that path are many 'gods'. Many of you will have to try out many of them to see how they 'fit'― to see if they fit that space God Almighty created for it.
We are all looking for that 'fit'. We all find it in the end. Just remember that God the Creator, the One, has many names. With no explanation, I will leave you with this, a passage from the Bible, concerning the return of God in human form:
''On His head were many crowns. He had a name written on Him that no one knew except Himself.
Religion and why so many of them is the question. Here is the real question, ''Can Many Religions All Be True?'' That question will be opined on lastly. And after you are through reading my simplified answer to that very REAL question, please watch the video at the end. Learn about 'Big History', a unified approach to understanding what is REAL. God and His Universe are calling us to greatness.
''Science without religion is lame,
religion without science is blind.''
― Albert Einstein
Religion is a system for worshiping God or whatever you call God or your higher power. Religion can also be anything we are devoted to such as our families or jobs, even our hobbies. But mainly we are speaking about and the observances of God and worshiping our own idea of God.religion without science is blind.''
― Albert Einstein
The existence and variety of so many religions confuses people who are sincerely looking for the truth about God. Some want the absolute, final word before they even find Faith. Some even say that the existence of so many religions is proof that either you cannot know God or that God simply does not exist.
''The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good,
but that God will make us good because He loves us.''
― C.S. Lewis
but that God will make us good because He loves us.''
― C.S. Lewis
Why are so many religions? Because the truth of God has a space in every human heart and soul. God designed us that way. He did that so that we, His created, could choose Him or reject Him. It is a need we are all born with, but most of us, instead of accepting the truth about God and submitting to it, reject Him and seek their own way to fill that space created and reserved for God. Very often, far too often, we fill that space with junk. Junk like food, toys, and vices like drugs and alcohol.
Many people do not want to believe in the kind of God who demands strict morality and a code of conduct, so they invent their own God(s) who will make no such demands. The creates a wide road to travel on through life. Religions tend to narrow that road considerably pointing the pilgrim directly towards God.
Some people do not want to follow a God who says it impossible for people to buy their way into heaven. So they create a God who accepts people into heaven if they have followed certain steps, followed certain rules, and adhered to certain laws, and with some it is just the 'good old college try'.
We, humankind in general, like to replace our Creator with a God who is more to our liking, often a God created by us, in our own image. The problematic danger? We are not perfect. We didn't create the Universe and all it's laws of operation. In fact we do nothing without both the guidance and allowance of God.
The good news in all of this, is that we have a continuing partnership with God, even if we reject Him. We serve Him, but he also serves us.
We saw it when God came to earth by incarnating Himself to teach us. He washed his disciples feet. ''If I then, your teacher and master, have washed your feet, it is also your duty to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example in order that you may do what I have done to you.'' A humble partnership. Jesus also made it very clear by doing this that He would not ask us to do anything that He would not do Himself. This is also the mark of true leadership.
So, for the question at hand. ''Can Many Religions All Be True?'' The simple answer is yes. Do all religious belief systems lead to God? Actually they really do. God has made it so. Remember that space in our heart, soul and spirit that God created? It has to be filled, not with money, power and other material and carnal wants, but with God.
How you get to your belief in God is your business, not mine. I am your brother, not your judge. We all need to live and let live. It is your path. Along that path are many 'gods'. Many of you will have to try out many of them to see how they 'fit'― to see if they fit that space God Almighty created for it.
We are all looking for that 'fit'. We all find it in the end. Just remember that God the Creator, the One, has many names. With no explanation, I will leave you with this, a passage from the Bible, concerning the return of God in human form:
''On His head were many crowns. He had a name written on Him that no one knew except Himself.
''God has no religion.''
― Mahatma Gandhi
___________
''Religion 3.0''
by Michael Dowd
Language changes over time, and words create worlds. What we call Reality, the ancients called God, or if you lived in a polytheistic culture, the gods. These were personifications of our inner and outer reality. This fundamental insight not only makes sense of religious differences and bridges the science-religion divide, it also clarifies our way into the future.
I’m a Big History evangelist — I preach ‘the gospel of right relationship to reality’ — that is, the Good News that is only possible when we, individually and collectively, live in right relationship to what is fundamentally and inescapably REAL.
I’m a Big History evangelist — I preach ‘the gospel of right relationship to reality’ — that is, the Good News that is only possible when we, individually and collectively, live in right relationship to what is fundamentally and inescapably REAL.
Here is my recent TEDxGrandRapids talk, titled, “Reality Reconciles Science and Religion.”
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