Many Paths???

[rocala]

Okay, I point out that it is not only religions, which teach about the non-human existence. So if you limit your question you might overlook something.

I agree and am aware of this. However many years of using forums has taught me that it is best to limit questions or the whole thing becomes swamped and sidetracked. Far better to do a follow up post.

 

[stvdv]

It depends on what you think Jesus is...if you think he was a man who literally was God's only Son and therefore is the one and only gateway to ultimate truth then IMO that raises more questions than it answers.

True that raises more questions than answers, and sadly also more irritation, hate and wars.
Learning that "fact" from history is the reason I say that it's "unwise to claim Christian truth for all"
Keeping in mind "The highest Commandment is to Love thy neighbor as thyself"
(Can't mean "act in a way that you know that you will create hate in the other IMO")

If, however, Jesus is simply a proxy for our own ultimate experience then he would simply be saying...to live your life as I have lived mine in the spirit of impoverishment of spirit, in humble mercy to others, etc...is the only way to experience salvation then we might be on to something.

That is nicely said. Thanks, and don't get me wrong, I love Jesus very much. Once I was in a church and they were singing Portuguese hymns (rather long ceremony of 12h). I liked the singing a lot, but could not sing Portuguese, so I was singing my "Sohum Mantra". After ca. 8h Jesus appeared to me, and even "entered my body" (after which I was charged with so much energy and Love that even few people around me noticed that). So you won't hear me say anything negative about Jesus. And it was a nice experience, Jesus not judging me doing 12h Hindu Sohum Mantra in the Church (I, of course, did them mentally and silent out of respect for the others).

 

[susanblange]

I have often heard and read that different religions are just different paths to a supreme truth.
Is this true? Do you believe it?

Obviously there must be an ultimate truth, but do all religions show a way to this?

God does not view the world as male or female, black or white, Jew or Gentile. God views the world as wicked or righteous and both of those come in all races, creeds, and colors. Right now it doesn't matter what your religion is. The righteous of all faiths go to Heaven. It is only at the end when salvation comes down to belief. The end is the death and resurrection of the Messiah. The third and final judgment will be upon the heathen/unbelievers. It will take place in the valley of Jehoshaphat, meaning "God judges". It is also called the "valley of decision". Joel 3.

 

[Kirran]

Namaste, how are you?

Yes, some folks would use that as the ultimate truth. Others wouldn't.

Yeah good!! You?

Hmm, I dunno about that man. I think seeing as the Self is beyond words and all...

 

[Iwuz Madenew]

If Jesus was who he claimed to be, then there is only one path, and it is narrow. The 'wide' path leads to destruction.

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6

Why We Know the Story of Jesus Isn't A Legend

Why did God make salvation such a narrow path?
Why did God make salvation such a narrow path?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

How about if that subjective sense brings one to a deep long lasting contentment that does not trouble ones self to spread it's own importance to others?

Bingo. To me that is a part of it.

 

[Sandra Jayne]

I think there can only be one truth and unfortunately most people are not looking for it. They either do not believe in God or may go to church or other out of habit and tradition and never question what they are being taught.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14
Considering the billions that claim to believe in God doesn't seem many of us will 'make it'.

 

[Vinayaka]

Yeah good!! You?

Hmm, I dunno about that man. I think seeing as the Self is beyond words and all...

You're at SV?

Last fall we went to Toronto to about 20 Sri Lankan Tamil temples. A few weeks back there was a Mahakumbabhiskham for a Murugan temple in Calgary. That's about it.

From the other thread, there are various viewpoints on ultimate truth. I guess I should add another thread on how to get there, or discover it, eh?

 

[Sand Dancer]

I have often heard and read that different religions are just different paths to a supreme truth.
Is this true? Do you believe it?

Obviously there must be an ultimate truth, but do all religions show a way to this?

I think as long as one sees creation as part of a whole, it leads to good behavior. Religious views that are divisive and exclusionary will not lead to anything positive.

 

[metis]

I am honestly not used to disagreeing with you quite this much, @metis
It is an odd sensation.

I hear ya, so let's not make a habit of this, OK?

Take care, my friend.

 

[Iwuz Madenew]

Religious views that are divisive and exclusionary will not lead to anything positive.

If there is only one true religion it will, by necessity, be exclusive. Are you implying that a 'one true religion' can only be negative?

BTW, I looked up the definitions of your username words. If I combine the definitions of the two words 'Thirza' and 'Fallen' I get: "someone who is subject to sin or depravity is my delight"
What meaning does your username have to you?

 

[Sand Dancer]

If there is only one true religion it will, by necessity, be exclusive. Are you implying that a 'one true religion' can only be negative?

BTW, I looked up the definitions of your username words. If I combine the definitions of the two words 'Thirza' and 'Fallen' I get: "someone who is subject to sin or depravity is my delight"
What meaning does your username have to you?

Religions are about belief, not fact, so there is no reason to be exclusive, unless it only wants control and power. My name was chosen when I was Christian, but I don't know how to change it.

 

[Iwuz Madenew]

Religions are about belief, not fact, so there is no reason to be exclusive, unless it only wants control and power. My name was chosen when I was Christian, but I don't know how to change it.

We'll have to politely agree to disagree about that.

What did your user name mean to you when you first chose it?

 

[Sandra Jayne]

You're at SV?

Last fall we went to Toronto to about 20 Sri Lankan Tamil temples. A few weeks back there was a Mahakumbabhiskham for a Murugan temple in Calgary. That's about it.

From the other thread, there are various viewpoints on ultimate truth. I guess I should add another thread on how to get there, or discover it, eh?

I must ask what does SV stand for?

If it is any help when I began studying the scriptures I tried to imitate Descartes and use his 'Method of Doubt'
Tried to get rid of what I was taught in church and began reading the bible as if I knew nothing about what it contained, along with some research. Was surprised as to how most of the mainstream churches were teaching doctrines and such that had no scriptural basis.

 

[Vinayaka]

I must ask what does SV stand for?

If it is any help when I began studying the scriptures I tried to imitate Descartes and use his 'Method of Doubt'
Tried to get rid of what I was taught in church and began reading the bible as if I knew nothing about what it contained, along with some research. Was surprised as to how most of the mainstream churches were teaching doctrines and such that had no scriptural basis.

Abbreviation for a place. Kirran and I are old friends on here.

 

[Deeje]

I have often heard and read that different religions are just different paths to a supreme truth.
Is this true? Do you believe it?

Obviously there must be an ultimate truth, but do all religions show a way to this?

If there is one God who created all things, then there is only one truth. But because it's like finding a needle in a haystack, it isn't obvious just what that truth is...or who has it. Yet there is something in us that drives that search, and I believe that it can be either a frustrating, or a fruitful exercise, depending on what kind of effort we put into it....and what our expectations are. Rather than us choosing God, he is actually choosing us. (John 6:44, 65)

Could it be that the path to life is what Jesus said it was...."cramped and narrow" and that human selfishness would deter most people from entering the gate that leads to life because it's a difficult road to travel? (Matthew 7:13-14) It isn't God who makes it difficult.....we have a common enemy who is bent on keeping the truth from us, confusing us with alternate routes and detours to nowhere.

If Jesus said that the majority would choose the only other path there is, a wide easy 'superhighway' (meaning that those who take the easy road in their search, are actually all heading in the same direction, in different lanes, but in the opposite direction) so if that is the case then, we have to stop and think about what direction we want to take because it's all about the destination. If only the difficult road leads to life and the other easy road leads to death, what are we choosing to believe....and why? Where are our decisions leading us?

It occurs to me that most people are looking to put God and religion into a box that fits in with what they require....rather than us fitting ourselves into what God requires. We often want to make God and religion into something that suits what we want to believe, rather than finding out who God is and asking for directions on how to bring our thoughts and actions into harmony with what he wants us to be.

I see this life as the qualifying test for the real one to come. Humans were given the real one in the beginning, but they lost it. Why? Because someone suggested that they would be better off making their own choices in life, independently.
Selfishness prompted that choice and we have been selfishly using our free will ever since. Has it ever worked for our benefit? Never! So here we are, showing God who we are, and what we want....but is it what God wants?

This life then becomes like a citizenship test. What God is offering, is exactly what humans lost in the beginning, (paradise on earth, not heaven) but rather than have them misuse their free will indefinitely, he allowed them to see where it would take them. We are living in an object lesson of mammoth proportions....each of us is showing God whether we belong in his new world or not. (2 Peter 3:13) We are either qualifying or disqualifying ourselves just by the choices we make regarding God, his word and whether we exercise our free will with the welfare of others in mind....something the first humans failed to do. It was a seemingly insignificant act, but it led to the downfall of all humanity. It teaches us not to devalue what God values. Yet the majority of humans alive today have no idea that what they choose has eternal consequences.

May we all choose wisely.

 

[stvdv]

I have often heard and read that different religions are just different paths to a supreme truth.
Is this true? Do you believe it?

Obviously there must be an ultimate truth, but do all religions show a way to this?

There may be a right religion, but I certainly don't know which one that might be. Instead, I take a different approach, namely that I tend to think all religions are attempting to understand God(s), and I can live with that.

To a point, maybe. But even if one is uncertain I tend to think it's still better to identify with at least one and then do what one can to make us, them, and the world more humane.

I kind of 100% agree with @metis

 

[stvdv]

1) I think as long as one sees creation as part of a whole, it leads to good behavior.
2) Religious views that are divisive and exclusionary will not lead to anything positive.

1) Seems true to me
2) Unhealthy basis generally gives unhealthy outcome. Too dramatic IMO ... it might lead to maybe 1% positive or even a few % positive

If there is only one true religion it will, by necessity, be exclusive. Are you implying that a 'one true religion' can only be negative?

I read "Animal Farm of George Orwell" ... in which was said "All animals are equal, but pigs are more equal" ... I did learn a good lesson from this.

 

[shivsomashekhar]

I have often heard and read that different religions are just different paths to a supreme truth.
Is this true? Do you believe it?

Obviously there must be an ultimate truth, but do all religions show a way to this?

Why is it obvious that there must be an ultimate truth? It is not obvious to me at all.

Speaking of what is obvious, given the diversity of beliefs around the world and the striking contradictions, it is obvious that humans created these beliefs and therefore, it is far more likely that there is *no* ultimate truth.

The notion of countless religious theories pointing to a single supreme truth is wishful thinking and a relatively recent view.

 

[Twilight Hue]

The ultimate 'truth' is very elusive, if any sort of god exists, it is well hidden. I think all religions are human creations with no input from any external entity.

We already are the ultimate truth.

It's right there , plain as day in front of your face biting your nose off everyday.