Image source: pinterest.com
“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”
“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.
“Not because you are?”
“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”
Are All Religions Equally Valid?
Many people say they are, and that it is unfair, therefore, and infringes upon other people’s rights, to say otherwise. But when did everythingism replace tolerance?
Most nations have tolerance laws, ones that include everyone’s right to believe what they wish. But they do 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
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” ~G.K. Chesterton
“You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.” ~Charles H. Spurgeon
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” ~C.S. Lewis
We are blessed to have the freedom to choose what we believe and all beliefs are protected, so long as they do not limit the rights of others to believe what they choose. Tolerance for different opinions and beliefs is key to a free society.
Everythingism. Excellent coinage, my friend! Those quotes are dynamite. I was going to point to the Chesterton quote as ‘the best’ – then I read the Spurgeon… then the Lewis. Dude. Muy bueno.
Most religions make valid claims about God–that he exists, is all powerful, etc. But the link to Jesus Christ as the WAY to know God makes their claims invalid. Jesus is the key.
Pure religion and undefiled is this, to visit widows and orphans in their affliction and to keep one’s self unspotted by the world.
I always tell people who think all religions are the same this: all religions except Christianity give you a list of things to do to teach God. Christianity says you can’t reach God regardless of what you do but God reached down through Christ to reach you.
I’m LDS (Mormon), and we famously hold the claim that we are the one, true church. The thing is, I accept and support everyone else to feel the same about theirs, and by extension to believe that mine is not. Let the Eastern Orthodox, the Catholic, the Muslim, the Hindu, the Jew, etc. all make the same claim that it is their church that is the true one.
Obviously, one day this will all be sorted out, and I agree with C. S. Lewis in The Last Battle that there will people from ALL these religions who come to paradise in the end, accepted because they did give their heart to the one, true God, even if they didn’t know the right name to call Him by.
I don’t think that’s everythingism. Like I said, I do still believe in a one, true church that eventually all will have to accept the reality of, but I believe that every person in every time and every place has the opportunity to prepare their hearts to accept truth when it comes to them, or to reject it.
Whoops, didn’t realize I wasn’t signed in. I’m your anonymous Mormon!
I may not be a Mormon, but I appreciate your perspective and approach, Abe. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I concur with you that God distinguishes between those who are his genuine followers and those who are not.
Very interesting post …We do have the freedom of religion. However, I’ll only take Christianity for me because it’s all I know and it’s the only one that makes sense for me. I’ve SEEN it work so I have PROOF. The fact that when I leave this earth, I’ll have a greater hope in moving to a better world beyond me is hard for some people to grasp. I believe though because I’ve seen it work.
Such a profound post, Mitch!
That opening quote from C.S. Lewis is beautiful: it’s so true that as we grow and learn, our perspective on the world and faith expands too.
Thank you for sharing
A couple more from C.S. Lewis:
“If you are a Christian you do not have to believe that all the other religions are simply wrong all through, if you are an atheist you do have to believe that the main point in all the religions of the whole world is simply one huge mistake.”
“There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there is never more than one.”
Far to often human’s use religion as an excuse. Religion is an organized system of control, your mystics and interruption of text are the preist class. Personally I find religion no different than a government. The mechanics are different, but the output of control is the same.
Religion however is not the same as spirituality.
This spoke to me: Most nations have tolerance laws, ones that include everyone’s right to believe what they wish. But they do 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.
Wonderful logic! I love it!
I agree. Not every path leads you to the Real God. What other god suffered and died, then resurrected because He loves and wants to be with you throughout all eternity. What other god wants you to know Him like a Father? Not one.