Photo by Shashank Sahay (unsplash.com)
Thought for the Week
Many people say that all religions are equally valid, and that it’s unfair or that it’s infringing on other people’s rights to say otherwise.
When did everythingism replace tolerance? The U.S. Constitution protects everyone’s right to worship as they will; it does not protect everyone’s right to be labelled correct. In no other field of study does this kind of everythingism prevail. We don’t insist that all methods of brain surgery, or even weather prediction, are equally valid. Don’t assume. Ask.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
~Matthew 7:7
Mitch Teemley 
💜 In a Word EveryOne This is In”Correct” and Exactly what Creates Conflict; basically a Person with a Settled Mind Accepts Diversity and Avoids War…this is inflammatory for WhatEver Reason; it’s Crystal Clear Clarity that HowEver Atrocious ALL Things Happen for a REASON!!!
…💛💚💙…
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“but because by it I see everything else.” Powerful (and amen). What a brilliant, deeply contemplative man.
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Wonderful essay today, desperately needed in nearly every inch of the planet.
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There is another arena where ‘Everythingism’ is also taking hold: gender!
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These are excellent quotes.
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Thank you, Mitch, for a few more wise quotes for my collection! Perhaps you don’t have this one yet: “Faith untried is simply a promise and a possibility–tried faith is pure gold”–Oswald Chambers (who was speaking of the Christian faith, of course).
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Thanks back, Nancy. I’m always up for Oswald!
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This is a good piece, abd certainly wasn’t expecting Dylan to appear! 🙏🏻
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That’s from his song of the same name (it’s on the Slow Train Coming album).
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I know the song. It’s from one of his many religious periods. That particular one was Christianity, I believe. I am a bit of a dylan fan. Actually have a game up on my site if you’re interested in playing. https://marladragon.wordpress.com/2021/06/13/bob-dylan-song-titles-everyone/
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“Everythingism.” I love it, Mitch! Equally correct certainly doesn’t happen very often in the natural world, only in our mixed up version. I love how you switch from hilarious to philosophical like a flip of the switch. It makes for most interesting reading!
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Thanks, David. Always great to hear from you!
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A great point, Mitch! I love the distinction you’re pointing out between spiritual truth and social tolerance. Free will means we GET to explore and choose! And we’re expected to give lots of room to honor and respect that privilege given to everyone! But free will doesn’t guarantee accuracy OR success. That responsibility is on us. “Every privilege demands a responsibility”, said the fourth-grade teacher. And even better, Jesus said, “Everyone who loves the truth listens to me.”
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Good points and good quotes, thank you Mitch!
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Mitch, I defer. I think every religion is equally valid because it shows you the road to reach Him. The paths are different. They aren’t wrong because they all go from one’s heart to the Lord’s. You may find Christianity correct, I find Islam correct, but even though I had quit Hinduism, I do not find Hinduism wrong. It is different but it shows a path to the same God as yours–different names though.
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I love the quotes!
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Love the GKC quote.
Yes, there is a huge difference between tolerating diverse views and saying that all are equally right.
On the other hand, brain surgery is a branch of medicine. Medicine differs from religion in that there is a rough consensus about what a treatment should accomplish and about ways to measure success in practice. (Treatments based on the Four Humors theory flunked.) There is also a growing awareness that one size does not fit all; what works best for U may not be what works best for me.
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There’s also an immense difference in wisdom and depth between the teachings of, say, Jesus and L. Ron Hubbard. The former of which have formed the core ideology of many of the greatest teachers, thinkers and philosophers in history; the latter of which have led thousands down a one-way street of secrecy, threats, and financial ruin.
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The other problem with everythingism is that is is an impossible statement of truth. To say “all religions are true” is to say that anyone who disagrees is with that statement is wrong. It claims to be inclusive, but it excludes those who disagree. So, how can all religions be true? Everythingism inherently denies the truth of all religions except everythingism.
Second, the only way for all religions to be “valid” is for none of them to actually be the truth. They are mutually exclusive. So, to accept all religions as “paths” is to say that no one religion is a complete statement of the truth. Who among us can claim the superior vantage point from which to judge every religion and know that the all have validity but none is the Truth?
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Nailed it, as usual, Allen.
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P.S. Allen, I sent you an email about a possible film project. Did you get it? I don’t seem to I have your current phone number or email address. Email me at teemley@fuse.net
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