Posted on 04/25/2006 8:04:00 AM PDT by churchillbuff
From time to time, some people will suggest that all the world’s religions are of equal value and accomplish the same end. “All roads lead to God,” these folks say. “Whatever name you call him (or her), it’s still the same God,” others proclaim.
I am not among these people. I do not believe that all religions are of equal value, though there is value in most forms of religion, and I do not believe they accomplish the same end. Neither do I believe that, whatever name is used, all names for God refer to the same God.
As an historic, orthodox Christian, I believe that Jesus Christ was telling the truth when he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV).
This, of course, is a scandalous statement. Either Jesus was deluded and should be denounced as a madman or he was speaking the truth.
If he was deluded, then Christianity is a farce and 1.5 billion people are ensnared in false hope.
If he spoke the truth, however, then all religions are not of equal value.
Religious pluralism says that “there are many, many ways to God and all of these ways are good.”
But Jesus claimed that he was the way. Not just that his teachings were the way but that he himself was the way to the Father. Not only that, he claimed that, outside of him, there was no other way.
Further, he claimed not only that he taught truth but that he was the truth.
Certainly, all religious faiths contain truth, but Jesus claimed that all truth regarding spiritual matters was found in his own person. If he is the repository of truth and if truth cannot be found outside him, then other religions contain error. And, if one is seeking God, then error can lead one away from, rather than toward, God.
Jesus also declared that he was the life. Much of religion is a search for fullness of life on the earth and a quest for any life that may exist beyond this temporal plane.
In addressing this first consideration, Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 KJV). The reason he came at all was to bring a quality of life never before known or experienced. He also came to insure eternal life for those who would believe and put their trust in him.
As John 3:16-17 states: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (NKJV).
But the claim to exclusivity is found in his words, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” That means that the way, the only way, to God is in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
That is offensive and repugnant to some, but it is still what he claimed. If there is a “Plan B,” it is not found in the scriptures.
Christianity makes for itself the claim that the only true path to finding one’s destiny, one’s ultimate plan, in fact the only path to God the Father, is found in Christ.
“So,” someone will ask, “are you saying that Christianity is the only true faith and that all others are wrong?”
That is, in fact, the claim of historic, orthodox Christianity. Christians believe that all that God began in the Book of Genesis and continued in the books of the Old Testament was brought to consummation in the person of Jesus Christ.
Scandalous? Yes. Absurd? So it may seem. Outrageous? Many think so.
A number of years ago, I was looking for a small town in Colorado and became lost. I stopped and asked directions of a man who owned a filling station. The directions he gave described a curvy and treacherous trek over some mountains. I asked if there was a shorter or safer way to get there. “Nope,” he said, “there’s only one way to get there from here.”
The New Living Translation puts it this way: “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved” (Romans 10:9-10).
It’s the only way to get there from here.
That's not a particularly strong argument for Feeneyism.
If the things he taught led to his outright refusal to obey the Vicar of Christ, what does that say about the things he taught?
SD
The question is often asked (I'm not saying you are doing this) as if to put God on trial. How could a just God condemn people to eternal punishment merely for their lack of knowledge of God? The answer is that they are not sent to hell for their ignorance of God, but for their sins. That is, they already have enough knowledge of God to be justly and righteously held accountable by Him for their rebellion against Him. See Romans 1-3.
Cordially,
I wasn't saying that to imply that Fr. Feeney's teachings were not a problem, I was just saying that in the interest of complete accuracy. The sad part is it can be a confusing issue, and he didn't take the opportunity to speal with the Holy Father. The fact is the Baltimore Cathechism, The Council of Trent, St. Thomas Aquinas, etc. spoke clearly on this issue.
Perfect response, Diamond. Nice to see you again. 8~)
please check into the many trips of St. Francis Xavier to India. Could it have spread from someone, say that heard St. Francis Xavier, and then went back to his/her remote village and talked with relatives there?
In my opinion, that would still be the work of the missionary or evangelist. Wouldn't you agree?
Yes, I know what you mean. Have you ever seen a map of the journeys of the apostles? They went everywhere in the known world at that time -- even all the way up to England.
Excellent point. I forgot that! Thanks.
John 8:58. Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham was made, I AM.
You don't believe Jesus was an observant Jew? Dude, most of your friends on FR would disagree with you.
I believe the guy was an observant Jew and later writers, redactors and interpolaters made him into the man-god figure. So its not him that's necessarily the madman. Its the pointy hats that came after him.
Based on what evidence.?
Dueteronomy 13.
Say what?
At one time or another we all speak in metaphors?
We live in a cruel world. Religious persecution and wars constantly. Suicide bombers die all the time. Should I embrace their philosophy?
However, nothing anyone says will convince you of anything. It's really between you and God. God Bless and good luck. susie
Yup. Christian for 30 years and I became unconvinced.
Thanx for making my point.
went back and looked at my original response. "Can" should have been "can't". sorry.
Well, I will pray for you! :)
susie
1257 "...God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.
1260 "Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery." Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity."
To get a fuller idea, it's best to read this in context:
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a1.htm#1259
Thanks for clarifying, especially for klossg
Thanks, I will do that.
Wow that is interesting
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.