The Way — Living with Multiple Deities

Thoughts from the Middle:

The Way – Living with Multiple Deities

By

 Robert James Fischer

Most Christians, and for that matter many people of other faiths, follow a “way” of life.  From a Christian perspective, the “way” is through Jesus Christ.  A problem is created when the only way accepted is through Christ, Mohammed, Buddha or Vishnu.  Does any one religion have a monopoly on the “way”?  The answer is simple if approached from the perspective of common beliefs.  C.S. Lewis, the noted Christian author, did a fine job looking at commonalities in his work The Abolition of Man.  However, the belief differences often cloud the commonalities shared among almost all religions, and thus make the answer more difficult for many people.

Let’s face it, regardless of our beliefs, we all share this planet.  We all have a mother and father.  We develop friendships and enemies.  We love, and often marry and have our own children.  We experience joy and pain.  We die.  Is that it?  Most of us want to believe that there is more to existence than our 76 average years of human life.  Of the 6 billion people on earth, 5 billion believe that there is in fact some existence that transcends this life.  Another 1 billion are either agnostic or atheistic.

Of the 5 billion humans who believe in some form of afterlife, approximately 1/3 are Christian, 1/3 Muslims, and 1/3 Hindu.  All three of these major religions believe in the following which I have paraphrased from C.S. Lewis The Abolition of Man, “Illustration of Tao.”

• The Law of General Beneficence  — Love all that surrounds you, do no harm
• The Law of Special Beneficence – Respect all beings
• Duties to Parents, Elderly, and Ancestors – Care for your elders
• Duties to Children and Posterity – Love your children, make the world safe
• The Law of Justice – Sexual justice, honesty, court justice
• The Law of Good Faith and Veracity – Tell the truth
• The Law of Mercy – Help those in need
• The Law of Magnanimity – Give of yourself, don’t be afraid when fighting for Good Way

All adhere to a basic concept of right and wrong and duty to fellow human beings.

Character Counts sums these same characteristics as follows:

• Trustworthy
• Respectful
• Responsible
• Fair
• Caring
• A good citizen

Does it make sense that the only “way” is through just one religion?  Religion is a product of its culture.  All major religions have undergone change since their founders left this temporal existence.  In fact, most would probably not recognize the religions that they established.

Let’s reflect on the religion that I know best- Christianity.  I truly believe that Jesus would not recognize and would probably not accept all that is presented today as Christian doctrine.  Shortly following his death, Jesus’ followers began the process of interpretation of the “apostles.”  James, the Brother of Jesus, became the head of the Church in Jerusalem.  Peter eventually traveled to Rome.  Thomas was extent in Egypt.  Mary Magdalene may have traveled to what we now know as France.  Paul, a latecomer, traveled extensively among the Gentiles and clashed with James and Peter on basic theology.

Other first century “Christians” also debated Jesus’ theology.  For example, Eusebus, Marcion, Augustine, Philo discussed the meaning of Jesus’ ministry and death.

In truth, the codification and unification of Christian theology did not come to be until 412CE at the Council of Nicea, called by Constantine, the Holy Roman Emperor.  Constantine wanted to control the diverse populations that lived under his control.  The advantage of bringing Christians and other religions together was obvious.  After 40 years of debate, political intrigue and assassinations, a creed was established.  Much of what we call Christianity was born.

Later, Popes Gregory and Innocent added the concepts of original sin, to the Nicene concepts of Christ divinity and the trinity.  These actions finalized the early Christian blueprint.

Those who held other, at one time widely accepted beliefs, were labeled as heretics.  Thus, their views were quashed.

The point is, Christianity as we know it today is a result of who “won out” in those early battles after Jesus died.  For example, the beliefs of James were mostly quashed by the sects of the more powerful Peter and Paul.

In conclusion, the founders of our major religions would likely not recognize the faiths that bear their names.  As followers of any given faith, we need to realize that those in control often make rules that benefit the organization.  These rules may not have any foundation in the actual teachings of Mohamed, Jesus, or Confucius.

Religions are an important component of society.  The values that they teach are important in making sound decisions.  But we should not let dogma get in the way of the true messages as outlined by C.S. Lewis and paraphrased early in this writing!