Jesus was intolerant?

Question

jesus did not say to accept other religions as being true. In fact, He made one of the most "intolerant" statements that any religious leader has ever made:

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." (John 14:6)

This statement alone reveals that all other religions and religious ideas cannot be true. No religion other than Christianity claims that Jesus is the only way to God. Therefore, either Jesus was telling the truth and He is the only way to God or He was a liar and Christianity is false.

Answer 1

That's Right Jesus is "The Way, The Truth and The Life" and no body does come to God except by Him.

1. The Way to "eternal life"
2. The Truth "God's Living Word"
3. The only way to recieve "eternal life" is through His blood

Answer 2

I believe that it is jesus's followers that have made him look like a douche bag and that jesus himself was pretty enlightened and an all around good person. If historical records are at all accurate than Jesus was a pretty loving person and actually put his money where his mouth was. I agree that the statement i am the only way is intolerant, but i don't believe this what he really meant. A friend of mine told me that what he believe jesus really meant was follow my example and you will become enlightened like me. I had never looked at it this way before but i think that it he is right . As far as stating that either jesus was telling the truth or he was liar and christanity is false, you are using the same simplistic argument that christians do, by narrowing the choices so there are only two to chose from. Maybe jesus was telling the truth and the christians have messed it up just like they have messed up the usa by electing Bush. At least jesus actually hung out with those who were considered the sinners, which half of the religious right today wouldn't dare to to do. Jesus was also far more tolerant than muhammad. The only religious leader who i think is more englithened and tolerant than jesus is Buddha. If jesus did come back to earth ,i am sure that he would be irrate at all the crap the religious right tries to say they are doing in his name.

Answer 3

As the bible states in Galations 4:24, "which things are an allegory". The hidden mysteries are for the sheep that hear his voice. Sheep go to the root (inner mysteries, holy of holies), cattle graze on the outer blades (outer court only, literal interpretation). I AM THAT I AM was the name given to Moses at the burning bush (burning conscience/Son/Sun). Moses saw Christ is that small inner voice of his own conscience, the place where Jesus was crucified (Golgothah, the place of the skull i.e. mind), Jacob wrestled for the name IS-RA-EL at the place called "peniel" (peniel gland is in center of the forehead i.e. mind). Moses took off his sandals because he made the ground holy by realizing he was one with God, the son of God was that conscience voice inside his mind poured out as the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. I AM the way, the truth, and the life, is the truth pathway to God but it is not through religion, it can only be found when you worship God in "spirit" and "truth". As God is no respecter of persons, all have the opportunity to discover the true Christ, the hidden man of the heart that loves his neighbor as himself.

Answer 4

Yeah, He was just telling it like it is. He was telling the truth and He is the only way to God.

As far as tolerance, that has nothing do with it - would you have Jesus come out and say, in an effort to appease everyone and not hurt any feelings, "Verily, verily I say unto you. Everything you say is true. My joy is full in your disagreement (except those who think I should have joy in your agreement). None of you are mistaken. I bless you for moving in all directions at once. All that you say about my nature, my will, my power, and my authority, and all the opposites, are correct. Your only mistake is meeting together to discuss these things as if the truth is one. Now dismiss the Council. My peace be with you,"

Is that the solution? No.

"And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center."

Answer 5

Replace the words referring to Jesus in that verse with love and you have "Love is the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but through Love.".

And there you have it....as tolerant as anything that was said. After all Jesus is Love...it's what he preached. So, replacing references to him with love make perfect sense.

Peace, Love, and Blessings
Greenwood

Answer 6

John 2:15
And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

Luke 22:36
Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

I agree with you, Jesus could be intolerant, but, Jesus knew what was in the heart of the people and without God we do not even know right from wrong.

PS: I disagree Patrick.

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

I believe that all scripture in every religion is from God, but, that Salvation is only through Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:3
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Jesus is the Lord.

Answer 7

Correction & Instruction in righteousness(grace)...

Grace(not law) unto you, and peace(not division),
from God OUR Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1stly of all it's all "allegory" & "mystery" to solve.
2ndly John's is the "verily verily" gospel account.
3rdly "the Father" is different from "our Father".
4thly Jesus didn't say through me, but "by me".
5thly the narrow way isn't life, but only leads to life
6thly n w leads to life by go on to more excellent way
7thly e-life of e-salvation is thru Jesus-->Christ-->God
(Jesus(division) isn't Christ(peace) & God isn't a man)

Broad Way <--- Narrow Way ---> More Excellent Way
Another Law <-- Jesus / Christ --> The end of the Law

To wit, that God was in "Christ" reconciling the world.

The GRACE of our Lord J-->C with you-->all. Amen.

Answer 8

actually the author of John, which was written about 150 years after Jesus' crucifixion, attributed that saying to Jesus. You'll note that none of the other (canonical) gospels quote Jesus as saying that he is the way, let alone that he is God (another unique attribute of John's characterization of Jesus)

Answer 9

yes, thats right, you have pointed out exactly why Christianity is unique. By quoting the words of the King of Kings you have also demonstrated that Christ did not come to start up a new religion, it is obvious from the dialogue between him and all the religious leaders in the NTthat He believed they were all hypocrites and religion was hardly on His agenda. The thing about Jesus is He died for you, even before you knew Him whether you choose to believe it or not. So Christ was indeed intolerant, He was intolerant of sin and intolerant of religion

Answer 10

Forget that what you're saying makes sense, religious pluralism is the hot- ticket issue of the day, but not in the way it should be. Wait till they hit you with "How do you know Christianity is the only true way?"