Religious Reletivism

It seeems to me that the "in" thing these days is to have a "tolerance" that surpasses all reason. Truth has been relegated by pop-culture as that which fits ones taste, completely subjective, and beyond the tests for logic. It never amazes me how, though we live in an age unrivaled in its scientific discovery and technical prowess, it seems that we have traded ease for intelligence.

I could go on and on here about the reasons that we can be sure that ALL truth is objective and absolute and give answers to objections against this claim, but I will take them as they come, and presuppose that people do not doubt this for the sake of brevity (though I know that many contest this idea.) I encourage doubters to challenge this claim.

The purpose of my writing tonight is to challenge those who believe that it doesn't matter what one believes about religion, that all religions have equal worth, to reconsider this assumption. I agree that many different religions may all have some earthly worth, but this isn't neccesarily transferable to the eternal realm. Ultimately, only one worldview (e.g. atheism, pantheism, panentheism, theism, deism, polytheism, or finite godism) can lay claim to being the truth, and based on their claims, it matters if we are wrong. The reasons that more than one of these systems cannot be true are found within the basic principles of logic. The simplest law to understand in regards to this is the Law of Non-Contradiction, which states that opposites cannot both be true at the same time and in the same sense. Each of these systems of belief are diametrically opposed to one another in many areas and, therefore, cannot share the claim to truth.

I believe that theism is true, and specifically that Christianity is true. My belief isn't based on blind faith but on evidence that Christ lived, died, rose again, and was seen by over 500 witnesses after the ressurection. Rising from the dead proved Him as a messanger of God, therefore whatever He claimed must have been true. Two things that Jesus claimed to be true are important to every single person who ever lived, as well as us alive today. Number one, He
claimed to be God, meaning he had authority in all of His claims. Number two, He claimed to be the only way to heaven, based on the fact that their could be no other sacrifice worthy of covering the sin of the world. In addition to this, he claimed that it was not simply enough to believe, for even the demons believe, but one must lay down his life in submission to the One who created all. Consequently, this claim by Jesus, by default, is equal to saying that Buddhism, Hinduism, Atheism, Mormonism, etc... are all paths to the same place, which is not heaven.

Many would argue that this is unfair to people who were raised in different cultures controlled by different belief systems. I would argue two points here. Number one, people from all cultures have shown the ability to change their beliefs based on evidence, meaning the opportunity to accept truth is always present, though sometimes difficult and perhaps fatal. It remains possible nonetheless. My second point is that truth doesn't depend on what we were taught as children. Many raised in the south were raised racist and bigoted, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to convince them otherwise, for their own good as well as the good of those they interact with. A positive call to change can be had when the motivation is out of concern and love.

I am sure that many who read this will go on with their days and never again think about these most important issues, and that is okay. Just realize that you are making a concious act of will to pass up an opportunity to understand yourself, your purpose, and most importantly, your origin and destiny.