What are the paths to God?

[Trey of Diamonds]

In the Christian Faith there is one path to God, through his son Jesus Christ.

In Islam there are three paths, one through nature (seeing Gods work through the wonder of the natural world), one through the holy scriptures (Quran, Bible, Torah and others) and one through the Prophets (Mohammad, Jesus, Moses, etc).

To me this makes Islam seem more enlightened than Christianity. (Yes, I know the current fundamentalist control of Islamic states is not very enlightened but I have hopes that these countries will come out of their dark ages much as we did.) What do you think? Does this easier method of getting to heaven make them better or just different? Do you think you can be a Christian and believe in the three paths?

Things to make you go hmmmm…

 

[methylatedghosts]

Everything!

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Everything!

Yeah, I agree. I believe that all the different paths to God are legitimate. Like the old story about enlightenment being at the top of the mountain and there are many paths to get there. But this is very un-Christian. I guess my main question is can a Christian believe in multiple paths and still call themselves a Christian? Is the One Path belief truly an integral part of the definition.

 

[painted wolf]

There are as many paths to Creator as there are people who seek to walk.
Creator loves variety... there is no one of anything in creation. No one type of person, no one nation, no one religion.

Its up to the individual to find the path that is right to them, your shoes are not as comfortable as my moccasins.

wa:do

 

[methylatedghosts]

Yeah, I agree. I believe that all the different paths to God are legitimate. Like the old story about enlightenment being at the top of the mountain and there are many paths to get there. But this is very un-Christian. I guess my main question is can a Christian believe in multiple paths and still call themselves a Christian? Is the One Path belief truly an integral part of the definition.

Use whatever label for yourself that you feel comfortable with. Some other people may disagree with that label though, and label you with something else. But regardless of that label, your beliefs are yours and no-one can tell you what to believe. You are on your own path and that's really all that matter isn't it? I find labels to be rather cumbersome and generally get in the way when explaining things to people and they ask "what's your label" and your reply conjures up a whole bunch of preconcieved ideas about you for them. So hence my label - pick-n-mixism. But even then, there are several ideas about THAT in itself. So I really can't win lol!

Umm.... what point was I making? I can't remember. But take from that what you will

 

[EtuMalku]

There are two paths, a Right Hand path & a Left Hand Path
The Right Hand path is the many Divine Earthly planes to Atonement with a Godhead
The Left Hand path is a solitary path that has been broken away from Divine intervention and is one of Ascension to the Primordial source that God itself comes from.

 

[Rolling_Stone]

All paths lead in the same direction: within.

 

[maggie2]

All paths lead in the same direction: within.

Well said.

I also believe that there are as many paths as there are people. We all must find our own way to the spark of God within us.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Thanks to everyone who has posted so far! I agree with everything that has been said. I share the multiple path belief. However, my question is can a Christian believe in the multiple path view and still call themselves a Christian. Understand, this isn’t something I’m struggling with or feeling insecure about, its more of an academic curiosity. I’m a Unitarian so I don’t really care that much about labels but exploring them is a wonderful pastime.

So, I consider myself a Christian. I was raised that way and have been pretty much conditioned to look at myself in that light. Mostly it’s just comfortable. But, having spent a great deal of time in the Middle East and studying the Islamic religion, I have come to believe that Mohammad was a Prophet sent by God to serve the sons of Ishmael. Also, I believe that the three paths to God is more truthful than the one path that traditional Christians believe in.

Does this make me a Heretical Christian or a non-practicing Muslim? It seems that the belief that Christ is the single path to God is a major foundation to the religion as a whole and to discard it is to discard the religion itself.

As I said, I’m not struggling with the answer to this question, nor am I looking for a new label to apply to myself, but I am very curious to hear your thoughts on the subject.

 

[Popeyesays]

I think there's only one path and it goes by everyone's door. We get on at different points and we all fail to finish the journey completely but the destination is still the same.

Regards,
Scott

 

[rheff78]

Thanks to everyone who has posted so far! I agree with everything that has been said. I share the multiple path belief. However, my question is can a Christian believe in the multiple path view and still call themselves a Christian. Understand, this isn’t something I’m struggling with or feeling insecure about, its more of an academic curiosity. I’m a Unitarian so I don’t really care that much about labels but exploring them is a wonderful pastime.

So, I consider myself a Christian. I was raised that way and have been pretty much conditioned to look at myself in that light. Mostly it’s just comfortable. But, having spent a great deal of time in the Middle East and studying the Islamic religion, I have come to believe that Mohammad was a Prophet sent by God to serve the sons of Ishmael. Also, I believe that the three paths to God is more truthful than the one path that traditional Christians believe in.

Does this make me a Heretical Christian or a non-practicing Muslim? It seems that the belief that Christ is the single path to God is a major foundation to the religion as a whole and to discard it is to discard the religion itself.

As I said, I’m not struggling with the answer to this question, nor am I looking for a new label to apply to myself, but I am very curious to hear your thoughts on the subject.

In my own opinion I don't think you can think there are other paths to god and still consider yourself a Christian. Please keep in mind though. I don't think just because you're not a christian means you're going to hell. It all depends on how you live your life. I'm not one of those that thinks only christians are in heaven. You believe in what you believe in, how you choose to act on your faith defines you.

 

[Random]

"Truth is a pathless land" -- Jiddu Krishnamurti.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

In my own opinion I don't think you can think there are other paths to god and still consider yourself a Christian. Please keep in mind though. I don't think just because you're not a christian means you're going to hell. It all depends on how you live your life. I'm not one of those that thinks only christians are in heaven. You believe in what you believe in, how you choose to act on your faith defines you.

Interesting, so you believe that Heaven is not a Christian only afterlife but you do have to believe that Christ is the only path to God for Christians in order to be a Christian. hmmmmm. I think I can wrap my head around that and I must say, very progressive view on your part. Kudos.

 

[heiwamind]

what are your thoughts on religious tolerance or intolerance?

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

what are your thoughts on religious tolerance or intolerance?

My thoughts are this is a very tolerant website with a lot of great folks to discuss any issue with. Unfortunately tolerance isn't the topic of this thread though. There are lots of threads that cover this topic or you're welcome to start a new one. And, you're of course welcome and incouraged to jump in on the topic of this thread.

Welcome to the Forums.

Trey

 

[Todd]

Thanks to everyone who has posted so far! I agree with everything that has been said. I share the multiple path belief. However, my question is can a Christian believe in the multiple path view and still call themselves a Christian. Understand, this isn’t something I’m struggling with or feeling insecure about, its more of an academic curiosity. I’m a Unitarian so I don’t really care that much about labels but exploring them is a wonderful pastime.

No, I don't believe there are multiple paths to God.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

If someone is a Christian but believes in multiple paths, I don't know how they would explain this critical passage. Just my opinion.

So, I consider myself a Christian. I was raised that way and have been pretty much conditioned to look at myself in that light. Mostly it’s just comfortable. But, having spent a great deal of time in the Middle East and studying the Islamic religion, I have come to believe that Mohammad was a Prophet sent by God to serve the sons of Ishmael. Also, I believe that the three paths to God is more truthful than the one path that traditional Christians believe in.

Do you just believe in three paths, or do you believe in others, or all paths? Just wondering

 

[rheff78]

Interesting, so you believe that Heaven is not a Christian only afterlife but you do have to believe that Christ is the only path to God for Christians in order to be a Christian. hmmmmm. I think I can wrap my head around that and I must say, very progressive view on your part. Kudos.

Thanks. That's a good way to put it. Not all of us are crazy. I can't get past some christians saying if you're not christian you're not going to heaven (Church of Christ believes they are the only ones going to heaven). If you were raised Jewish or Hindu or whatever, you're not going to heaven just because you were born into a non-christian religion? But, on the other hand, if you ARE a christian, my humble opinion is that there is ONE path to god for YOU to follow, through Jesus. Take that as you may I guess.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

[/font]Do you just believe in three paths, or do you believe in others, or all paths? Just wondering

I’m a multiple path guy although I see how the three paths in Islam could equate to a multitude of paths. One path is the prophets but you could say each Prophet was a separate paths. Moses is a path for Jews, Jesus is a path for Christians, Mohammad is one for Muslims and that’s just the three biggies. There’s also Amos, John the Baptist and a host of others. The holy scriptures could be broken down this way as well. And when you start to look at it this way who is to say that Buddha isn’t a Prophet and the Vedas aren’t holy scriptures? They aren’t Abrahamic but if you believe that God transcends the religions of Abraham then couldn’t these other sources be traced back to God, the Supreme Being, the All Father or whatever your word for it is? Looking at it that way gives the three paths a whole new meaning.

And so, that gives you a great look at how the Unitarian Universalist mind works. We look at things through a whole new set of glasses.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

[/font]I don't know how they would explain this critical passage.

We would ignore it. :cover: Sometimes UU's are called a salad bar religion. We browse through all the religions and pick the pieces that we like and when we get back to the table with all our friends we compare plates and discuss the combinations.

 

[Don Penguinoini]

All religions lead to god, according to Hindu philosphy.