Do you think any one faith is the only 'way'?

[WyattDerp]

To the fjords of Fnord, where else could it lead?

 

[SageTree]

faith that teaches an ultimate mystic reality found within.

This.

 

[Windwalker]

I believe all souls operate at different levels of consciousness. Therefore, whatever religion is closest to that level is the one for you at this moment. Of course as a Hindu I believe in reincarnation, and that the ultimate path is Hinduism, or at least some faith that teaches an ultimate mystic reality found within. So religions are like grades in schools. Does the university professor look down upon the kindergarten child? No. You need to go through all grade levels to graduate. So if a fear based faith is what you need, so be it.

Good to bear in mind at all times.

 

[BruceDLimber]

No.

ALL the great religions are legitimate, of God, and valid paths to Him!

Peace,

Bruce

 

[Vinayaka]

Good to bear in mind at all times.

Yeah. Some days its tough, I must say.

 

[Monotheist 101]

I believe the only true faith is Submission to the Monotheist God..Which translates to Islam in arabic.

Do I believe everyone labeled a Muslim is a true Monotheist?...No..I also think one who submits himself completely to God(Allah,Brahma,Yehweh etc) is on the right path..regardless of what label soceity puts on them..Jew Christian Muslim Buddhist Hindu..

A conscious understanding of the true creator..who is one, is vital.

Allah knows best tho...submitting myself to him seems like what a God would command of his servant...

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

My take on approach to life, philosophy, or (if you prefer) religion is that it's like a chess game: there can be multiple different "best" strategies, but there are also an almost limitless number of ways to get things wrong.

 

[ratikala]

I believe the only true faith is Submission to the Monotheist God..Which translates to Islam in arabic.

Do I believe everyone labeled a Muslim is a true Monotheist?...No..I also think one who submits himself completely to God(Allah,Brahma,Yehweh etc) is on the right path..regardless of what label soceity puts on them..Jew Christian Muslim Buddhist Hindu..

A conscious understanding of the true creator..who is one, is vital.

Allah knows best tho...submitting myself to him seems like what a God would command of his servant...

this ...:bow:

 

[ratikala]

No, I definitely don't think that any single religion is the only "True" religion, because I don't believe in the idea of there being a monopoly on truth. In fact, I think if there is such a thing as an actual, ultimate Truth, it would rest entirely with God, and be ineffable to us on this plane of existence. I think many religions-- perhaps all religions-- have truths that they teach, which are themselves elements or fragments, or perhaps aspects of an ultimate Truth. But no religion actually has a monopoly on Truth-- none could, since all religions are, at best, products of both God and human beings, and thus, having at least a human factor in their creation, are inherently limited.

But that doesn't mean that religions are not worth following, or that they are not worthwhile ways of interacting with God, touching the numinous, and framing our lives both morally and with meaning. They are.

I do believe, as a side note, that Jews should practice Judaism and no other religion, but that is not because I imagine that Judaism is superior to other faiths, but rather because I believe that we Jews are all obligated to abide by the terms of the covenant at Sinai, wherein we pledged ourselves eternally to practice only our own religion and no others.

But other than that, I don't think it matters to God what religion people are, or even if they have a religion, or even necessarily if they believe in Him at all, so long as they are ethical people who treat others well and try to foster a just society. Nearly all major religions, as far as I can see, have at least the potential to create spiritual awareness and discipline, and to foster positive moral and ethical living.

this , ... but particularly ..this :bow:

 

[Pegg]

Do you personally think (even though many religions say that it is the only way) believe that your particular faith is the only true faith? Or do you think that it (whether it is a supreme God, or something else) judges by the nature of every individual? Or do you have some other opinion regarding other faiths legitimacy? I personally do not believe any one faith is the only 'True' religion. Your opinions?

I do believe that there is only one true God, the creator, and i believe that he is only represented in the Holy Bible. I dont believe other religions represent him.

for that reason, i dont believe other faiths are paths to the Creator of heaven and earth. They are paths to the respective gods they represent, yes, but imo only the bible represents the Creator.

 

[9Westy9]

depends on what the god deciding on the "criteria for entry" is like

 

[Monotheist 101]

I do believe that there is only one true God, the creator, and i believe that he is only represented in the Holy Bible. I dont believe other religions represent him.

for that reason, i dont believe other faiths are paths to the Creator of heaven and earth. They are paths to the respective gods they represent, yes, but imo only the bible represents the Creator.

God is way bigger than the Bible..I think there are remnants of his representation in every major theistic religion. I see no difference in Jehovah or Allah.

 

[Windwalker]

I tend to see a theme that people, for the most part, see God in other religions, but most tend to still localize God into their culture's scriptures as the correct view. This says to me what is familiar has the most legs. And what has the most legs, helps them to attempt to integrate God into their lives. This makes sense, since one's own culture is the vehicle of that for everyone. It's why culture exists.

What this then says is that even though we can see beyond our own cultural language (i.e., how God is spoken of), for the most part we can't transcend our own culture, and those views of God are therefore "best" or "better". Those that can't see beyond their own culture at all, those who see their culture as the true human race, on the other hand, see God in another context as "false", the "devil", a "lie", and so forth. It is so foreign to them, their culture's view of God is the only True Religion.

This has to do with the person, and much less how well God is presented in another culture or not. It has to do with ones ability to translate the world beyond their own borders. It's like saying French is the only true language, and all other languages are inferior, or worse, deceptions, distortions of the true language, or the True God.

 

[Vinayaka]

I do not believe all religions lead to the same ultimate goal. If that were actually true, anybody anywhere could just switch religions without batting an eye. There would be no reason to be a seeker.

 

[Windwalker]

I do not believe all religions lead to the same ultimate goal. If that were actually true, anybody anywhere could just switch religions without batting an eye. There would be no reason to be a seeker.

No they could not just switch religions at the bat of an eye. Because the symbols have to have legs for them. To become a native speaker of another language, to the point where you actually think and conceptualize with those symbols is enormously challenging. Your native language will typically be the "go to" language, even if you adopt some of the words of another language here and there.

If what you are saying is true, then nobody in another system could get to the same goal (which they do). Just because you or I can't easily switch symbol sets, does not mean they don't go to the same goal for them.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

I tend to see a theme that people, for the most part, see God in other religions, but most tend to still localize God into their culture's scriptures as the correct view. This says to me what is familiar has the most legs. And what has the most legs, helps them to attempt to integrate God into their lives. This makes sense, since one's own culture is the vehicle of that for everyone. It's why culture exists.

What this then says is that even though we can see beyond our own cultural language (i.e., how God is spoken of), for the most part we can't transcend our own culture, and those views of God are therefore "best" or "better". Those that can't see beyond their own culture at all, those who see their culture as the true human race, on the other hand, see God in another context as "false", the "devil", a "lie", and so forth. It is so foreign to them, their culture's view of God is the only True Religion.

This has to do with the person, and much less how well God is presented in another culture or not. It has to do with ones ability to translate the world beyond their own borders. It's like saying French is the only true language, and all other languages are inferior, or worse, deceptions, distortions of the true language, or the True God.

Excellent analysis.

 

[Vinayaka]

If what you are saying is true, then nobody in another system could get to the same goal (which they do). Just because you or I can't easily switch symbol sets, does not mean they don't go to the same goal for them.

I agree there is also a cultural or linguistic base from which to start. But regarding goals, if you ask different practitioners within the various religions what the goals of their religion are they will tell you, and you will not get the same answer from everyone. So then its becomes a question of who to listen to, the individual practitioners, or someone who has done a cursory study of several faiths, and somehow concluded all paths lead to the same place.

 

[SageTree]

I think a round-table discussion with people of the mystic persuasion, from different religions, would have a lot more in common.

 

[Vinayaka]

I think a round-table discussion with people of the mystic persuasion, from different religions, would have a lot more in common.

Been there, done that. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, in my experience. Even 'mystics' can hold onto, "I'm right, you're wrong!" although I confess it's less often with mystics.

 

[Windwalker]

But regarding goals, if you ask different practitioners within the various religions what the goals of their religion are they will tell you, and you will not get the same answer from everyone.

Largely because it's framed in a different symbol set. If you look at what the essence of that is, it is the same thing. But not to those within that system themselves, for the aforementioned reasons I just gave (cultural referents). To say to the typical Christian believer that their salvation through Christ is the same things as the removing of suffering in Buddhism, they will find every reason to try to distinguish themselves. In practical experience however, it's goal is the same thing - union with God, or Freedom from illusion.

The paths and practices of course are different (and common as well), but that is in the context of the methodologies. In another recent thread, someone was citing the Christian practice of meditation and how it was "different" from Eastern practices. The differences cited were largely based on a misconception of those practices, and sounded more like some bureaucratic artificial distinction to try to distinguish themselves as unique to their audience, to the point of emphasizing the trivial.

So then its becomes a question of who to listen to, the individual practitioners, or someone who has done a cursory study of several faiths, and somehow concluded all paths lead to the same place.

I go with the latter, as one is a view of themselves looking out, the other is a view of everyone from a meta-perspective. If you wish to explore the uniqueness of the experience to the practioneers, then talk with them. If you wish to understand a comparative analysis, then talk with those who have done that.

And I agree with the idea of a mystic's view point. To cite the Christian mystic Meister Eckhart, "Theologians may quarrel, but mystics the world over speak the same language." Theology has it's place, and that place is culture. Mysticism has its place, and that is transcending these distinctions.