Voices of faith: Are all the ’truths’ of various faiths equally valid?
Voices of faith: Are all the ’truths’ of various faiths equally valid?
Pastor Raymond Davis Jr., Greater Corinthian Church of the Christ, Kansas City, Mo.: All religions have truths that are exclusively relative and valid to their faith systems. The political, social and religious nuances of our times give truth a relative and pluralistic status. This summation is politically correct because it gives veneration to a diversity of religions.
However, not being a pluralist — making no distinctions between faith systems — I believe there must be a measuring paradigm, an authoritative source for religions to be rightly judged. As such, we move from relativism and embrace absolutism, from truths to the truth. Therefore, we move to biblical Scriptures.
The truth question was put to Jesus after Jesus said, “Everyone that is of truth heareth my voice.” Then Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:37-38). Martin Luther, the 16th-century reformer, experienced religious and spiritual frustration from many lines of truth contained in his faith system. Luther began to look for and was passionate for one truth that had been foreign to him: What justifies my life in the sight of God? Luther found the answer in the Bible (Romans 5:1-2).
According to religion professionals and theologians, three great religions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam — have religious affinity, being connected to one another through their faith systems and to God. In the sight of God, according to Bible Scripture do these systems stand equally valid before God? Ultimate validation of any religion is with God.
Lama Chuck Stanford, Rime Buddhist Center & Monastery, Kansas City, Mo.: You ask an excellent question. Of course the term “all truths” is open to interpretation. In one of the well-known sutras (teaching) by the Buddha at the conclusion of his teaching he adds: “Don’t accept these teachings, just because I say they are true. Don’t accept them out of respect for me. But rather examine them like a goldsmith would examine gold, and only when you know there is value and/or truth in them, should you then accept them.” All religions encourage good actions, moral virtues and personal responsibility and see the world and our lives as sacred and meaningful.
From the Buddhist perspective we shouldn’t accept religious teaching simply upon blind faith. Instead we should use our mind, as the Buddha suggested, and determine for ourselves whether there is value or truth in a particular teaching. All religions attempt to connect with the sacred. To do so means letting go of our attachment to self or ego and finding truth in that which is ultimate. Of course the ultimate is defined differently by different religions.
Different minds respond positively or negatively to different religions. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which religion you choose to follow. We all know that harming others is wrong. The measure of whether a religious truth is valid is in the outcome. Therefore, if that religion makes you a better, kinder more compassionate person, then that religion is doing its job.
McClatchy Newspapers