Pluralism, Many FAITHS, ONE God?

Do all roads lead to the same end?

Have you ever walked into a room full of people in the middle of an intense discussion and upon your entering the room they all stop, turn, and stare at you with that very unwelcoming, raised eyebrow look, which says, “Who are you, and what do you want?” The message is clear: “you are in the wrong place; you are interrupting us; go away.” We might calmly respond by saying, “Oh, my mistake, sorry for the interruption.” But we feel anything but calm. That, “Uh oh, wrong place, not welcome, I don’t belong, got to get out of here as fast as I can,” feeling. Rejection! Contrast that with a reception of smiling faces and open arms that say, “We’re so glad you’re here, we don’t know what we would have done without you! You belong. You are one of us: all for one and one for all.” Acceptance!

We all need to belong. That’s why in-groups and out-groups are so strongly defended. Every “group” has its unifying factor, that one thing that unites people of variant backgrounds, experiences, and values—bikers over here, hunters over there, writers in that corner, musicians in this, Republicans down here, Democrats there.

It is ironic then that the ONE, Universal Being—namely GOD—is also the source of humanity’s fiercest divisions: Muslims, Jews, and Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and Atheists (also “faith based” though unadmittedly so), two major types of Muslims, three major categories for Judaism, and umpteen denominations of Christians. No rational, reasonable thinking person can ignore the fact that these FAITHS contradict one another. Logically speaking, it is possible that they are all wrong. But it is NOT logically possible for all FAITHS to be equally TRUE all at once, for they each make mutually exclusive, alienating, and contradictory Universal Truth claims.

A pure Universal Truth is true for all peoples, at all times, in all places. The law of gravity is a Universal Truth in physics—true for all humanity, in all ages, at all times. If you don’t believe this, try defying this truth by jumping off a ten story building, while repeating the words, “I don’t believe in the law of gravity. I will not fall.” As to religious Truth Claims, however, we obviously have divisive beliefs, separate faith systems, and competing definitions for the ONE all-inclusive BEING called GOD—contradictory Universal Truth Claims! We simply cannot accept all FAITHS as equally TRUE.

So, is it possible to assert the tenants of one’s own Faith without insulting, judging, or denigrating the FAITHS of others? To claim that “Jesus is Messiah, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, is the way of salvation for all humanity,” is claiming a Universal Truth, impossible to be true only for some people, in some places, at some times. Logically, if it is not true for all humanity in all places and at all times, it is not true at all. Thus, Christianity is either in error or—because they reject this claim—Islam, Judaism, and other Religions are in error. In short, somebody’s wrong! The Athiest loudly proclaims that ALL FAITHS are wrong; simply begging the question by not admitting that it takes just as much faith to believe in NO God as it does to believe IN God. Serious followers of any FAITH will practice their Faith without apology. Religious Universal Truth claims mean little, if they are not fleshed out—lived, practiced, and incorporated into one’s daily life. Can we respect different FAITHS without undermining, weakening, or even deserting our own Faith?

Yes, if we apply the following principles:

1. The Christian must know in whom he/she believes, not just what he/she believes. That is, he/she believes IN JESUS, not in a church, denomination, a theology, a preacher, an ethic or dogma, but in the Living, Resurrected LORD—the Person. To know Christ means to grasp, understand, and experience Him, not only intellectually but with heart, soul, and spirit; knowing means having a personal, committed, substantive experience in Him.
2. To assert one’s Faith by living it, expressing and sharing it, is not to judge, denigrate, or insult those having no faith, a differing faith, or a countering faith. We do not apologize for faith in Jesus. Insulting one’s own faith by disclaiming Christ—in the face of other FAITHS—has no integrity. But to disagree with people of other FAITHS is neither to judge nor to condemn them; the judgment and/or condemnation of humanity are in God’s hands, certainly not ours.
3. Thus, respecting all FAITHS does not mean accepting all FAITHS as equally valid. So doing is intellectually and spiritually dishonest. In that sense, there are boundaries and limitations to interfaith dialogue, though it’s a very good thing to pursue.
4. No one human can prove the rightness of his/her FAITH. God Himself must demonstrate to humanity who He is, not us. We can only bear witness to the reality of our own committed faith-experience.
5. To have true respect for the FAITH of others is perhaps to assure that we all have religious freedom of conscience, a freedom of choice, and the freedom of FAITH expression, including the freedom to dialogue and to bear witness—with a potential for the conversion of others—respecting appropriate social boundaries.
6. Religious FAITH of any kind must never be forced, controlled or manipulated. In a pluralistic society such as ours, any FAITH tradition, be it Humanistic-Atheism, Muslim, Christian, or otherwise, attempting to domoninate and control all peoples in all areas of their lives, especially with respect to religious conviction and its expression, is suspect and is dangerous to the welfare of a free and democratic society.
7. One might say, all religions agree in the Big things: Love, Truth, Purity, Righteousness, Peace, Justice, and Goodness. Yes, BUT! The devil is in the details; it’s how we particularly apply them that cause the trouble: does justice mean the death penalty, does truth mean science without God, does peace mean pacifism, does love mean accepting gay marriage? Does purity mean covering all women from head to toe? You see the problem.

The Nicene Creed (a 451 AD modification of the Creed of Nicaea of AD 324):

We believe in one God the Father All-sovereign, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten son of God, Begotten of the Father before all the ages, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from the heavens, and was made flesh of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man, and was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, and ascended into the heavens, and sits on the right hand of the Father, and comes again with glory to judge living and dead, of whose kingdom there shall be no end:

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and the Life-giver, that proceeds from the Father, who with Father and Son is worshipped together and glorified together, who spoke through the prophets:

In one holy catholic [universal] and apostolic church:

We acknowledge one baptism unto remission of sins. We look for a resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come.

KILLING GOD?

"Well, where is God,” said Mrs. Coulter, “if he’s alive? And why doesn’t he speak anymore? At the beginning of the world, God walked in the Garden and spoke with Adam and Eve. Then he began to withdraw, and he forbade Moses to look at his face. Later, in the time of Daniel, he was aged—he was the Ancient of Days. Where is he now? Is he still alive, at some inconceivable age, decrepit and demented, unable to think or act or speak and unable to die, a rotten hulk? And if that is his condition, wouldn’t it be the most merciful thing, the truest proof of our love for God, to seek him out and give him the gift of death?"

The above is a direct quote from THE AMBER SPYGLASS, the third book in the trilogy, His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman. It anticipates the death of God, which happens like this: Between them they helped the ancient of days out of his crystal cell; it wasn’t hard, for he was as light as paper, and he would have followed them anywhere, having no will of his own, and responding to simple kindness like a flower to the sun. But in the open air there was nothing to stop the wind from damaging him, and to their dismay his form began to loosen and dissolve. Only a few moments later he had vanished completely, and their last impression was of those eyes, blinking in wonder, and a sigh of the most profound and exhausted relief.

This is the death of god. Pullman’s “god” is nothing more than a mere literary effigy, a caricature, an imagined cartoon figure of the true Biblical Judeo-Christian God—quite laughable, to say the least. It is only natural for such a god to die, for he was no real GOD to begin with. To take this “god” seriously is to give credit where no credit is due.

Another Character of interest is Mary. She is the tempter in the story; but her role as “tempter” is positive. As the story unfolds, we grow to like Mary and want her to succeed in her efforts. She does, and it is fitting that she does; and we are pleased. Yet, she was once a nun and, having lost her faith in the “Christian” God, she calmly explains her loss of faith by saying: The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that’s all. Obviously Pullman uses this character to drive home his own opinion about Christianity, doing so through a supporting character.

Then there is Metatron. Though the story makes no overt connection between Metatron and Jesus Christ, most Christian readers will see a link. But, here again we are presented with just another caricature—a false likeness to Christ—an effigy we are actually glad to see defeated.

In real life, the average reader would normally have some degree of respect for the following: God, Christ, the church and its religious teachers and leaders. In Pullman’s saga, the reader is led to dislike or have little respect for these same characters, as portrayed in the story.

Subtle as this may seem, Pullman no doubt has his real world supporters. There are many in today’s world that have been so disappointed, hurt, dismayed, and/or abused by religion, the church, and its leaders, that they have lost most if not all respect for religious types of any kind, especially clergy, the church, and its teachings. Thus, in Pullman’s tale, major religious characters are inverted, turned upside down. We want them defeated and taken out. And so, Metatron, the character most likely to be identified with Jesus, is a ruthless lord and certainly no savior—definitely not someone before whom we’d willingly bow down and worship. And the reader can only pity god for what he really is—in the tale. Anything but true, good, righteous, just, and all-powerful, he’s old, weak, and frail, and a sad victim of his own creaturely attempt to be GOD. In short, he is actually no worse, nor better, than any human we know of in the real world. Such is the death of god.

So if you are confident in your faith and know Jesus, true God of true God, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and if you understand the true nature of God, the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, let your children read these books and then have a great, enlightening theological discussion with them. Compare the Biblical God with that of human imagination, fantasy, and mythology. Show how the Biblical God defines Himself, what He says about “who He is” and His role in the story of the human race and what He actually expects from humanity.

Discuss Jesus and the church. Tell them what you know about church history and the sins of its past. You may want to refer to the book of Revelation, chapters two and three. Talk about how and why people have been hurt by the church (everything from the crusades to clergy misconduct). Yet, point out that it was Jesus who established the church. Why did He? Show how the true church is supposed to be “the Bride of Christ” and how Jesus is the Head of the Church.

Then talk about our need to make a choice. Who and what are we going to believe? Why is faith important and necessary? What are our faith choices? How can we be sure that we are making good, wise, and true choices? Also point out the difference between being religious and being in a genuine relationship with God, through Christ, by means of the Holy Spirit? Show how and why. And above all, do all of this with the least bit of anxiety, worry, and fear. Demonstrate the strength of your own faith. Speak with conviction that Jesus is Lord and Savior, that God the Father is Creator, and that His Spirit is the revealer of the Word of Truth.

Humanity’s true story, our very own human saga, is an epic tale found in the Biblical narrative from Genesis’ “Adam & Eve” to Apocalypse’s Judgment Day.

Remember: the greatest story ever told is the truest one ever heard.

Below are more direct Quotes from Book Three, THE AMBER SPYGLASS, of the trilogy, His Dark Materials:

He meant the Kingdom was over, the Kingdom of Heaven, it was all finished. We shouldn’t live as if it mattered more than this life in this world, because where we are is always the most important place.

*

She said that all the history of human life has been a struggle between wisdom and stupidity. She and the rebel angels, the followers of wisdom, have always tried to open minds; the Authority and his churches have always tried to keep them closed.

*

The Authority, God, the Creator, the Lord, Yahweh, El, Adonai, the King, the Father, the Almighty—those were all names he gave himself. He was never the creator. He was an angel like ourselves—the first angel, true, the most powerful, but he was formed of Dust as we are, and Dust is only a name for what happens when matter begins to understand itself.

*

Mrs. Coulter says: How can it be? The Authority created the worlds, didn’t he? He existed before everything, how can he have come into being? King Ogunwe says: This is angelic knowledge. It shocked some of us, too, to learn that the Authority is not the creator. There may have been a creator, or there may not: we don’t know. All we know is that at some point the Authority took charge, and since then, angels have rebelled, and human beings have struggled against him, too.

If anyone is wondering, yes, I do plan to see the movie when it comes out. Meanwhile, blessings to all--grace, love, and peace.