Members of any religion: What would you say...?

Question

What would you say to a person who, like you:

A) claims that they have a relationship with a supreme deity;
B) claims that they communicate with this deity on a regular basis;
C) claims that this deity has spoken to them through a written text;
D) claims, without any doubt whatsoever, that this deity has answered their prayers;
E) claims, without any doubt whatsoever, that this deity has changed their life for the better;
F) claims that evidence of this deity's creation is all around;
G) claims that this deity has orchestrated miracles in their life

...but makes all of the above claims in the name of a DIFFERENT deity?

Let me be clear that this person is totally convinced of all of the above. Would you think they're just imagining everything? Would you think that they actually are experiencing everything, but that they're being deceived by the "devil"? Or do you believe that there's many paths to God and that this person is just on a different path?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

cool question! I think the many paths explanation comes closest.
Religion is personal and meant to help us thru life and become helpful people who are joyous and thankful. If a deity did all of the above for the person, that's one person who has found the tools to live a blessed life. Blessed by who or what is not as important.
PS I'm a Christian but I don't think it's all about Christianity! We may even be the "wrong" religion - but as long as religion makes you a better, happier, helpful and caring person I think you're good to go. It's all about peace and faith.

Answer 2

How would I know that it is a different deity? Maybe it is the same deity and they're just calling it by a different name. That is what I would think if all those claims were true.
Yes, I think there are many paths to God, but I certainly don't think ALL paths lead to God. The devil does like to deceive people . That is something we all need to be on guard for.

There is a verse that says to " test the spirits to see if they are from God" We are to use discernment and not jump to any hasty conclusions. That is what I would do if someone gave me the name of a different deity and said he was their god.

Answer 3

I believe that there's many paths to God and that this person is just on a different path.
We are just starting to understand this, and someday the violence will stop, once we do. There is only one GOD, but we can't accept this mentally yet. We still tend to have the most violent lead one group against another to prove whose idea (any idea) is better. Even inside the same faith.

Answer 4

This is an interesting hypothetical setup, but I wonder how many people fall into such a category in real life.

I would not think the person was necessarily crazy or deceived, but I would want to understand their experiences. I would be interested to meet such a person to compare our experiences and thoughts. After all, I am convinced that Jesus Christ is the only way to God.

God bless.

Answer 5

I would believe that there are many paths to God and that this person is just on a different path. As a Hindu I remember the saying from the Rig Veda "There is one God, though humanity calls It by many names."-Rig Veda 1:164.46.

Answer 6

I concur with Squishy. I would take them on their word. I'm a polytheist, so I believe there's many Gods and therefore it is completely possible for someone to have made contact with some deity that I don't worship because I don't believe my Gods are the only ones.

Answer 7

Good question, Parrot.

“Two men say they’re Jesus….one of ‘em must be wrong!” – Dire Straights, “Industrial Disease”
Much logic in this verse. Both may be wrong, both cannot be right, and only one has even the possibility of being right.
In challenging Christianity’s claim to exclusivity, we must consider that it doesn’t matter how many competing beliefs exist, because it’s possible that they’re all wrong. Numbers have no bearing on what is true. Even if Christianity was the only faith in the world, it wouldn’t matter because it could still be wrong. The quantity of different faiths cannot be used as a measure to challenge the quality of one faith.
Any belief system must stand or fall on it’s own merits. We should apply the same standards to faith as we do when we vote for a candidate. We vote based on the candidates doctrines, their credibility, their integrity, their track record, etc. Imagine someone asking you “How could you vote for that one when there are so many others?” It seems preposterous in this instance, so why don’t we apply that same reasoning in both cases?
Just as we carefully choose who we vote for, we can also use the same criteria for determining which, if any, faith to follow. We can do this with any system of belief, for now let’s focus on Christianity since this is the faith in question.
First, is there any historical basis? Yes. More so than we can cover here. Even those who don’t believe in the deity of Christ cannot deny the reality that this is a person of history who’s existence has been well documented by several sources outside the bible.
Second – So Jesus is a real, historical person. Now what? Just because He’s real doesn’t mean we should follow Him on that basis alone. So now we must examine Him on His merits, and by the claims that he makes. Is He a credible person? After examining Him for myself, and not judging by the opinions of misinformed people, I determined that this is the most credible person in history.
Many people, based on what they’ve heard and read from others and not based on first hand examination, have chosen to believe that God’s word is some sort of fairy tale, not meant to be taken literally, and is out of step with logic and reason. Nothing is further from the truth. We can see for ourselves the awesome logic and powerful reasoning skills Jesus possesses. When he was challenged by the critics of his day, we see how He responded to them. His logical and well reasoned answers rendered His critics speechless, unable to answer.
Some say Christianity clashes with science. It only clashes with atheist scientists. For an extensive list of credible, well qualified scientists who determined from the scientific evidence that the universe was created by God, see: http://www.creationinfo.com/list.htm
Is it logically consistent to demand proof from believers without applying the same standards of evidence to demonstrate why Jesus isn’t who He claimed to be? Ask for proof, yes – as believers should always be ready to logically defend their faith; “Be ready always to give an account to everyone that asks you for the reason of the hope that is in you…” 1 Peter 3:15. The burden of proof also lies with those who deny God’s word. Is it unreasonable to expect them to back up their claims?
Let logic, reason, and fairness be the mediator in this extremely important matter. Remember what’s at stake. What will our destiny be if we’re right? What will become of us if we’re wrong?
Is anything more important or more urgent than this?

Answer 8

i would probably ask them questions. and i would evaluate their fundie zeal level. if they seem like a total fundie, i'd assume they were just expressing their strange, obsessive nature in the way fundies on tv always do. if they seemed like a regular person who was truly bewildered and awed at the experience they'd had, i would tend to believe that something special might have really happened to them.

Answer 9

Your question is too damn long and boring. Religion is a creation of men....not God. People who claim to communicate with God are mentally ill.

Answer 10

honestly, I would say nothing unless they asked me point blank what I thought of their beliefs. Then I would use tact and caution to not offend. In the end Its not mine to give and its not mine to take. I see this as a problem beyond my abilities and would use my prayers to intercede with God on their behalf