“One God, Many Religions? Or Many Religions, Many Gods?”
Psalm 19:1-6, 14
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you,
O God, my rock and my redeemer.
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According to one estimate, there are roughly 4,200 religions. The editors of the World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World believed that there are 19 major religions, which are further subdivided into 270 large religious groups and many smaller ones. The book also identifies 34,000 separate Christian groups, of which about 1000 Christian groups in Canada and US believe that they are the only true church or believers.
That is a lot of religions and faith groups! Are all religions and/or faith groups equal or the same? Are all equally true? In the midst of all these, can one make an absolute truth claim? For our purpose, let us consider two questions: “Do all religions lead to the same God? Or do different religions lead to different gods/Gods?”
Tezenlo Thong, Pastor
Simpson United Methodist Church
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