Copyright by Shea Oakley
All rights reserved
In a pluralistic world in which numerous belief systems, specifically religious or otherwise, vie for our attention why should we give heed to only one? A particular faith or philosophy may contain teachings that seem true as true to our experience as the next one. Further, in a world in which electronically conveyed information is more accessible to more people than at any other time in human history, why not choose the best from each philosophy and eclectically mix and match our way into “custom” belief system that works best for us?
Sounds good doesn’t it? In a world in which the only absolute truth has become the belief that there is no such thing as absolute truth there seems to be no good reason to hold to one “Truth-claim” over any other. In fact the religions that persist in making such claims, beyond seeming terribly passé these days, may actually be dangerous as far as our freedom to live as we want to live. They often appear to attack the very foundation of our hard-won individualism, telling us that we are somehow beholden to a Being that created us rather than to ourselves.
The problem, though, with this objection to belief systems with exclusive truth-claims is actually found in the above mentioned statement about absolute truth. When we claim that absolute truth cannot possibly exist we effectively contradict ourselves. We find ourselves making a statement that destroys the validity of the very point we seek to make. It is impossible for absolute truth to be absolutely impossible. Natural reason and common sense makes it obvious that this statement is self-canceling. It is non-sensical. The honest spiritual seeker has to eventually butt up against the logically incontrovertible fact that no one can prove that absolute truth does not exist.
Once this happens that seeker must become intellectually open to the possibility that there is such a thing as “Ultimate Reality” and now they are forced to face a further daunting realization; if such capital “R” reality exists then, by its very nature, it must preclude the validity of any competing philosophy that contradicts it. Follow this line of thought to its reasonable conclusion and we can no longer claim that all religions basically say the same thing. At the very least “smorgasbord” spirituality must divest itself of the claim that all world religions can be added to the mix.
What does all this mean for the truly sincere seeker? Among other things it means this: do not think that one religion in particular, Christianity, a religion whose founder claimed that he is “The Way, the Truth and the Life” can be casually added to the spiritual mixing bowl.
Because of its unique truth claims Christianity must stand alone and be accepted, or not accepted, as such.