If there is "Only One True God," why is there so much disagreement as to who he is and what he wants?

Question

One of the reasons that I do not believe in god is that there is no consensus on who or what he is, what he wants, and what he doesn't want.

Don't you think that if he really existed there would be greater agreement as to what his plan was?

Or is the simplest explanation that god and gods were invented by man to explain things that, at the time, seemed unexplainable. That's why the basic tenets of most faiths are similar, but the broader messages are completely different.

What do you think?

Answer 1

I am unable to understand why do you think there should be a consensus over God at all?

The question you pose have been disscussed various times throughout the ages.

We do not know even about our solar system from all angels.

How can anyone know some force large enough to create the whole universe?

Everything is relative. even vaccume. If there is nothing, why it is nothing?
Why anything was created at all?
from where God came?
Was He always there, Did he created himself,
How could he?
If he was not created but existed forever , how?
What size he is?
Are you really sure that ours is the only universe?

There is an Indian tale about an elephant and five blindfolded men. Each could feel only one part , A tail, a tusk, a leg, an ear and a trunk.

Obvioulsy all of them called it by different names and explained the qualities according to their perception.

When an elephant was difficult to describe, how can anyone explain God ?

"Munde Munde matirbhinna" ie

as many heads , as many opinions(Kathopanishad).

There is no such thing as one size fits all relegion. Most of us agree that clothes are a necessity. That does not mean I should wear the same thing as you.

Why should be there one belief for all?

I am sure there are is a fair chance that God really exists. If he does I believe he is logical and understanding enough to reach us in he way we believe in him. Otherwise he is no God.

Vedas teach us that creation is without beginning or end. Science has proved to us that the sum total of cosmic energy is always the same.

They were written, nobody knows at what date, it may be 8,000 years ago, in spite of all modern scholars may say; it may be 9,000 years ago. Not one of these religious speculations is of modern date, but they are as fresh today as they were when they were written..."

Various hymns are to be found on this question, struggling forward to assume form, and nowhere do we find it so poetically, so wonderfully expressed as in the following hymn:

"Then there was neither aught nor naught,
nor air, nor sky, nor anything. What covered all?
Where rested all? Then death was not nor deathlessness,
nor change to night and day."

Now first arose desire, the primal seed of mind.
Sages, searching in their heart by wisdom, found the bond
Between existence and non-existence."

It is a very peculiar expression; the poet ends by saying that "perhaps He even does not know."

The metaphysical agony, which alone makes man great, bursts forth in the famous words of the Rig Veda. These words of spiritual yearning, metaphysical unease and intellectual skepticism set the tone of India's cultural growth.

The seers of the Rg Veda believe, in a truth, a law which governs our existence, which sustains the different levels of our being, an infinite reality, ekam sat, or which all the different deities are but forms.

(source: East and West in Religion - By S. Radhakrishnan p. 21)

For thousands of years India has been a veritable laboratory of religion: everything imaginable has been tried out, and nothing ever has completely been rejected. India remains a predominantly Hindu country. Its ethos has evolved down the ages through its the ancient Hindu traditions, customs, philosophy and culture. In spite of many attacks on Hinduism by varied invaders, in spite of rumors of decay and disarray, Hinduism has outlived all announcements of its impending demise.

Hinduism does not claim to tell the ultimate truth , it is relentless search of the truth. I sincerely believe the day we started seeking consensus over plans of God, it will defeat the very idea and evolution of spiritual mind.

Answer 2

The best stories are the ones based on a grain of truth, and the best lies are the ones closest to the truth. The simplest answer may also be that there is a grain of truth that the many lies are based on... creating myths, which people create beliefs and cultures around, if self-worth is built on the existence of that, then it makes it something which then must be guarded.

If so many people and cultures believe in the existence of the divine, 'God or gods' -whether many, or just one which is greater than any other being, it seems to point to existence of the divine in some form or other, The central grain of truth. That could be why the basic tenets of most faiths seem to be similar. Remember, a subtle difference can make all the difference between truth and fiction.

Another, point... all cultures seem to have some form of 'divine' or 'sacred', it could be because there is truth in there somewhere.

If you have to find one person the midst of a group of lairs, you just need to test them to find out the truth.
And I've heard that the truth can be freeing.

We like to know things, if we don't know, for securities sake, guessing at what the truth is and means is easy.
Finding out the truth can be harder, sometimes leading observers to think 'there is no truth', because the water has been so muddied.

Answer 3

Men seeking power over men have invented different religions. These are mainly political constructs. If you notice, none of the Prophets ever set out to create a religious movement.

I see the similarities in religions' basic tenets as proof the underlying Truths really are True. These are also present in non-organized spiritual systems which, in some cases, pre-date the Bible, Q'uran and the Talmud. It's all of the other C R A P that was created by men to set armies against each other.

The Bible was voted on by the Council of Nicea, set up by Constantine the Great cause he got tired of fighting the Goths, Visigoths and other Pagans.

Answer 4

There are an estimated 100,000 religious belief systems and denominations in practice worldwide today.

Most of them insist that they are the one true religion, and their god is the one true god... and that all the other religions and gods are false.

The odds on choosing the right one, if ANY of them are actually right, are about as good as winning the lottery.

This is why I'm an agnostic. And while I respect the beliefs of other people, I have a hard time thinking that any religious person who is honest with himself really believes 100% that he is sure not only of the existence of God, but that he has chosen the right religion to follow... and not at least partially acting out of fear.

Answer 5

People are people... they tend to make everything in their lives fit their beliefs. There is nothing wrong with that but with over 4 billion people on this small planet you will not get very many that totally agree with one another as to what should be 'absolute answers' on anything.

If you look into the belief system and not the politics of religions you will find many themes similar. Once religion gained a more bureaucratic structure differences became more glaring. Some believe more in the structure, not the message.

Answer 6

God wants the same thing for all mankind. But as you said,most faiths are similar,but they interpret the Word differently. But in the end everyone will have their eyes opened and will know the true meaning of the Word of God. It will be up to each individual to decide weather or not to accept this truth, or to follow another path. Anything that is "unexplainable" will be understood, and all questions will be answered, and His plan will be revealed. BUT SOME WILL CHOOSE THE WRONG PATH, so pay attention!!!

Answer 7

Perhaps the simplest way to explain it is to use an example. When I took college sociology, there were probably 20 of us. We were divided into groups of three or four. Each team was given the assignment of ranking the twenty worst problems in the world. After much, much discussion (and some arguing) each team finally agreed on their twenty answers. The instructor took each list and the class as a whole had to look at them and narrow all those down to 20. I don't think we ever finished it. If you can't get 20 people to easily agree on something, how are you going to get the millions of people who believe in God to agree on what exactly God wants? The Bible is open to interpretation. My denomination teaches me to use the Bible, other writings, my head and my heart to decide what God wants of ME. I know He is there and I know He cares for me. If you are asking questions like this, perhaps you are looking for something. If so, look for Him. He will be there waiting for you.

Answer 8

Because, while I believe there is only One True God, there are billions of people with their own opinions. Everybody sees everything a different way. If you sat down 100 independent Baptists from the same church they would have 100 different opinions about God. That's part of the beauty of the way the One True God created us.

Answer 9

The best way for you to find out for your self who God is
is reading the bible! very one probably told you that but it's the truth. If you really want to know who he is just say a little prey and say god show me who you are and a hole new life will open! you might end up with some asking you about god who knows but don't knock it until you try it!

Answer 10

There is offcourse one God, that is Allah the Almighty.
The God of Adam, Shees, Noah, Abraham, Ismail, Isac, Lot, Mosus, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them all).
There was not / is not any disagreement in their teachings at all.
This is we who have made the difference.
In the Quran Allah the Almighty says, There is onlyone Allah who created you all and this was the message that every prophet or messenger preached about.