Of the many gods humans have envisioned, only one (or none) can be the real God.?

Question

Think about it. There are a vast number of religions and theistic beliefs in the world, each depicting a different God. Christianity is the most prominent, at about one-third, but even the seperate denominations have their own beliefs.

So, which is it? Only one can be correct. There is a slim chance that a given individual has the truth.

And when arguing the existence of God, why do believers think that there reasoning supporting a supreme being validates their and only their particular conception of a god?

If it's all the same God, just expressed differently, that still means that, at most, one conception of God can be ultimately correct. This renders the teachings and the doctrines of religions irrelevant--as well as the consequence of Heaven or Hell in the afterlife.

Answer 1

I agree with your logic.

However, the nature of belief is that of course, the believer knows that he/she is following the "right" religion.

Answer 2

There are some elements that have to be followed to make any sense of this...

1st, you have to believe that there really was an actual divine creation. I do so the next step is 2) You have to believe that their is a God. This involves accepting that evolutionary theory is false and misleading and that everything around is a creation from God himself.

Once you have decided that you are a believer you have to choose what you believe in. If you had been around in Christs time, you would have had it from the source. Since you were not, you have to take if from a book and accept that it is true. This is why the Mormon church has in their "Articles of Faith - We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as long as it is translated correctly...". Its about interpretation. They feel that they have additions to the bible. Is it wrong? Who knows. Is it wrong to take the Bible and make it "modern" or "easier to read"? Probably not any worse than any of the other changes that have been made over the last 1500 years. People make a mess of truth and then justify it to keep from looking like asses. Many faiths follow an origin of Christianity, even if they follow it half assed. Who gave them the right to get all Jesus bus on someone else with their own understanding and beliefs? I have no friggen idea but it is what it is.

God is there...just what flavor of Him are you going to believe?

Answer 3

Well, actually, I see it the other way around. The more I explore into the "various gods" I see that they are all teaching a very similar kind of character as The Divine. I think, underlying all religions is one God who teaches those characteristics of himself/herself which can be accepted by the various peoples of earth.

My son's name is Caelan. Yet his cousins call him Kay-kay, and his schoolmates call him Nicholas. I call him Caelan-Waylin, and when he is alone, he sometimes calls himself "Nicholas Genius".

But there is none other than him... Whatever we call him, he is still himself.

God is the same. Many names, many "faces"... but they are all Him.

Additional reply: Your right that it means there is only one right conception of God, however, having a slightly "wrong" view of God does not invalidate the kindness, self-discipline and good works that people do, from their hearts, to please their Creator.

God's judgement is not an "All or Nothing" thing.... He looks on people's hearts... the intentions and desires behind their actions. Does that make sense to you?

Answer 4

You have aptly described the reason I (along with many others) am an agnostic.
An agnostic is one who believes in God, but does not adhere to the teachings of any Church.
I am confident God exists, I think there is a lot of truth in MANY ( but certainly not all) Religions. Where I disagree is in thinking any ONE Religion is correct in the ABSOLUTE sense. If anyone claims he knows for certain with absolute knowledge the true nature of God and all he has done, he is to be avoided. He is a quack and a potential tyrant or cult leader.

Answer 5

There is such a thing as a partial understanding of the truth.

For example, if the Muslims see that God is all-powerful, but don't see that he is all-loving, then there religion isn't completely false.

Despite the criticism of Muslims, no religion historically has been as destructive as the atheistic state.
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For your second question, yes, only 1 religion can be perfect.

Answer 6

One true omnipresent God, whatever title you call it, is still one true omnipresent God.

Any person who thinks their "one" God doesn't include everyone else, does not trust one God at all.

God is not a belief.

All the beliefs in the world will not alter the truth, but the truth will still affect the believer.

If God is true omnipresence, all people have His truth, it's just that many people are in complete ignorance of it. They just don't recognize that they are anything like Him at all.

Answer 7

Or the other possibility is that there are many different ways of expressing the same. Different cultures develop their own way of expressing God. Some see a goddess, some see the many aspects of god as many different gods and goddesses. We are all limited by human understanding.

Answer 8

Only man can make a God, God is real only in the hearts and minds of believers.

Egypt adopted monotheism before Judea, in fact the Hebrews abandoned their many Gods in light of of Egypt's new trend of one God.

Pantheist

Answer 9

There is only one God/Goddess. The divine creator of all life. All religions believe in Him/Her differently. Any religion saying their God/Goddess is the one and only God/Goddess is only fooling themselves and looking at diety with blinders on.

Answer 10

That's why Jehovah's Witnesses do not join the prayers of others who are not Witnesses. Even when it comes to Christianity, there are too many variants. The name of my God is Jehovah. He does not torture people forever in a fiery hell. He does not steal babies and other loved ones to make them angels. etc etc.
There can not be multiple truths.