A major objection expressed of
Christianity is – how can there be only one way to God?
Apologetic writings address
the question, but objections are raised to Christianity’s claim because
adherents of different religions are dedicated and happy and produce great work
in the world. You can’t examine major religions without discovering elements of
beauty and truth in each. An obvious conclusion would be that faith and
religious choice should be open to the believer - that Christianity has no right to claim the
only truth.
We have to be
careful because looking deeper, one can see there are aspects of each religion
that single themselves out as being the only truth, or requiring devotion to specific
ways of life or tenants that would exclude persons who are of a different
faith. It is inaccurate then to only object to Christianity.
So I spent a great deal of time reading
of Taoism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism. Buddhism is really a
philosophy because it does not believe in a deity which is
interesting because the life it calls adherents to live is the most similar to
the life Christians are called to exhibit. I also read other philosophies
including Platonism, existentialism, and postmodernism. Surely one system would
rise above the others. When elements of one conflicted with another, one had to
be right and one had to be wrong. They couldn't both be true. I wanted the
religion I was raised in to rise to the top, but I was giving all others an
opportunity to present their cases.
At that point in my life I was reading books
about Christianity as a means of comparison, but I had not read the Bible in
years. I wanted to believe everything I was taught as a child, but I couldn't
pray. Oddly enough however, I still attended church and sang in the choir. Each Sunday
we walked passed the alter to be seated, and every Sunday I would see the
carved wooden wall-piece that framed the alter with these words carved and
painted gold:
“For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but
he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God.”
And every Sunday I’d think – there it is again, either you’re “in” or you’re “out.” And looking over the rows of people I'd think – it must be nice for them, but since I can’t believe like they do, I guess that makes me “out.”
Read the second part of this story, What Is Truth - The Anchor of Our Souls here
And every Sunday I’d think – there it is again, either you’re “in” or you’re “out.” And looking over the rows of people I'd think – it must be nice for them, but since I can’t believe like they do, I guess that makes me “out.”
Read the second part of this story, What Is Truth - The Anchor of Our Souls here
