Can all religions lead to God?

[cataway]

if the title question was ''Can all religions lead to a god?'' then yes .

Can all religions lead to The God? no!

 

[ManSinha]

If you're following a religion that's making your life more meaningful and improving you as a person and helping the people around you, you should continue living it as long as it works, because that's really all we can do.

I think you have hit the nail on the head with that statement. I salute you for making it. In reality that is the crux of most dharmic faiths. No threats of eternal damnation or torture if you do not worship this one or that one. A virtuous life is the absolute simplest path to salvation - IMHO god or the supreme being or whoever it is - actually delights in one's fellow creatures being taken care of irrespective of which house of worship one walks into.

Now if some one wants to start an argument or discussion on what "virtuous life" means - that is another thread in the making I suppose.......

 

[Aupmanyav]

That's true, so where does that leave us?

I suppose in limbo. If religions and philosophies cannot decide, think of checking with science.

 

[BilliardsBall]

Yes! Belittling another Religion one should not do

So, If I understand you correctly, you agree to this:

If Allah is God, any religion removing His ability as Savior is also a false religion.

We disagree, Jesus isn't a mere prophet, but Savior.

 

[Ehav4Ever]

Many people who are considered humble and tolerant will say that all religions are useful for "bettering" oneself and have a similar core message: kindness and love toward your neighbor. Proselytizing is considered to be cruel and intolerant.

1. Isn't this avoiding the "truth" question? They cannot all logically be completely true if they contradict each other on core thing such as who "God" is?

2. Is it really arrogant and intolerant for someone to believe that he knows the truth and that it is loving to share that truth with others?

Taking the word "religion" out of the picture, consider the following:

1. If there is a Source of all creation, that is itself not created, and it has defined what it is about and what it is not about then logically anything that contradicts the Source's definitions is false.
2. If said Source of creation has dictacted the correct mindset and development for its creations then it is logical that anything that contradicts it would be not only false but useless.
3. If said Source of creation has in the past revealed the correct method of thinking and actions that helps one operates in the reality that was created then it would stand to reason that anything that contradicts it would have no real short term or long term benefit for any intellegent/sentiant creation.
4. Based on #3 it would also stand to reason that anything given by said Source of creation would be more beneficial and more based on reality than something created by a thing that is itself created; i.e. a resultant of creation is not compariable in its logic when compared to the logic of the Source.
5. If said Source of creation intended to have the above information be kept and passed on throughout the generations among some of its creations then it would stand to reason that the delivery method would have to be in a way where the information would be kept, preserved, and available in a way where false concepts or fabrications could be easily indentified and avoided.

So, given the above it would appear to be less of an issue of what people say or beleive is useful or even what people perceive to be betterment. It would stand to reason that the only reasonable question is, "did this situation, information, mindset, philosophy, way of life, etc. actually come from the Source of creation and is it correct, based on the requirements of the Source, in relation to the Source of creation provided for operating in the reality it created."

 

[stvdv]

You are correct. If Jesus is God, any religion removing His deity or ability as Savior is a false religion. Jesus was either intolerant while on Earth or factually correct.

Interesting claim

Yes! Belittling another Religion one should not do

So, If I understand you correctly, you agree to this:

If Allah is God, any religion removing His ability as Savior is also a false religion.

We disagree, Jesus isn't a mere prophet, but Savior.

Not answering my question about agreeing to my claim which is similar to your claim:
If Allah is God, any religion removing His ability as Savior is also a false religion.

Note: We only talk about "If Allah is God", not about how Koran is written, Islam is implemented nor about Jesus, Muhammad.

 

[Milton Platt]

Ultimate Reality is usually defined as fundamental, eternal and unchanging.

How is that different from reality?

 

[Trailblazer]

How is that different from reality?

From my perspective, reality is what exists in the material world; so ordinary reality is what we can see, hear, feel, smell, touch, etc.

Ultimate reality is the reality that lies beyond the physical world, the reality that exists in the spiritual world, that which is eternal, including God.

 

[Milton Platt]

From my perspective, reality is what exists in the material world; so ordinary reality is what we can see, hear, feel, smell, touch, etc.

Ultimate reality is the reality that lies beyond the physical world, the reality that exists in the spiritual world, that which is eternal, including God.

where is "beyond the physical world located? It would have to be outside the entire cosmos, which seems illogical. As far as we can tell, everything within the cosmos that exists is material in nature or is energy of one kind or the other as defined by the laws of thermal dynamics, and other laws of physics. Where does "outside" of this exist?

 

[metis]

I do not believe any religion has a monopoly on Truth or God(s), nor am I willing to judge such matters. I do believe most religions honestly try to understand God(s).

Therefore, I feel comfortable in any religious setting with the exception of those that teach the "my way or the highway" approach.

 

[Trailblazer]

where is "beyond the physical world located? It would have to be outside the entire cosmos, which seems illogical. As far as we can tell, everything within the cosmos that exists is material in nature or is energy of one kind or the other as defined by the laws of thermal dynamics, and other laws of physics. Where does "outside" of this exist?

The spiritual world is not "outside" this world, it is within this world. Don't ask me how that works, only God knows, because God created both worlds. I get my information from the Writings of the Baha'i Faith but of course I cannot fully comprehend what Addu'l-Baha is saying below since I have never seen or experienced the spiritual world.

“The spiritual world is like unto the phenomenal world. They are the exact counterpart of each other. Whatever objects appear in this world of existence are the outer pictures of the world of heaven.” The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 10

What I think he is saying above is that the real world is the spiritual world (heaven) and this physical world is just a reflection of it.

“Your questions, however, can be answered only briefly, since there is no time for a detailed reply. The answer to the first question: the souls of the children of the Kingdom, after their separation from the body, ascend unto the realm of everlasting life. But if ye ask as to the place, know ye that the world of existence is a single world, although its stations are various and distinct.” Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 193

“Those who have passed on through death, have a sphere of their own. It is not removed from ours; their work, the work of the Kingdom, is ours; but it is sanctified from what we call ‘time and place.’ Time with us is measured by the sun. When there is no more sunrise, and no more sunset, that kind of time does not exist for man. Those who have ascended have different attributes from those who are still on earth, yet there is no real separation.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, pp. 95-96

 

[izzy88]

Don't ask me how that works, only God knows,

I get my information from the Writings of the Baha'i Faith but of course I cannot fully comprehend what Addu'l-Baha is saying below since I have never seen or experienced the spiritual world.

If only God knows, how did Addu'l-Baha know?

 

[Trailblazer]

If only God knows, how did Addu'l-Baha know?

That is a good question and a valid one.

I believe that Abdu'l-Baha knew because he learned it from his father, Baha'u'llah. Baha'u'llah got His knowledge from God.

 

[izzy88]

Baha'u'llah got His knowledge from God.

Why do you believe that?

 

[Deeje]

So no, thank you very much. I have my own writings that tell me who the Lord really is. Don't need anyone else "offering to share" what I consider are inferior beliefs and practices

Then there is nothing more to say. (Matthew 10:11-15).....I have offered the message...what you do with it is up to you......my work is done.
Have a nice day.

 

[Deeje]

Use your discernment.

John 6:44; 65...
"No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him. . . .“This is why I have said to you, no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

It is our response to Jesus' teachings that God is looking for.....when he sees the heart respond positively....he responds to that person by opening up his truth to them. We can't come to Christ without an invitation from God. That is how I see the Bible's explanation.

 

[Trailblazer]

Why do you believe that?

Because I looked at all of the evidence that indicates it is the truth.

 

[izzy88]

Because I looked at all of the evidence that indicates it is the truth.

What is the evidence?

 

[Trailblazer]

What is the evidence?

The different categories of evidence that I believe “indicate” that Baha’u’llah was a Messenger of God are as follows:

• What He was like as a person (His character);
• What He did during His 40 year mission on earth;
• The history of His Cause, from the time He appeared moving forward;
• The scriptures that He wrote;
• The Bible prophecies that He fulfilled by His coming,
• The prophecies of other religions that He fulfilled by His coming;
• The predictions He made that have come to pass;
• The religion that His followers established, what they have done and are doing now.

 

[izzy88]

The different categories of evidence that I believe “indicate” that Baha’u’llah was a Messenger of God are as follows:

• What He was like as a person (His character);
• What He did during His 40 year mission on earth;
• The history of His Cause, from the time He appeared moving forward;
• The scriptures that He wrote;
• The Bible prophecies that He fulfilled by His coming,
• The prophecies of other religions that He fulfilled by His coming;
• The predictions He made that have come to pass;
• The religion that His followers established, what they have done and are doing now.

Interesting. And on what are you basing your criteria for the characteristics a Messenger of God would possess? How do you know what a Messenger of God would be like, enough to be able to judge that this man met the right criteria?