Combating "All paths lead to god"

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Geode

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I’m hoping you guys can help me come up with some good logical arguments against the above belief. I’m sure this topic must have been covered before, but I searched the forum and couldn’t find anything.

Here’s some back story about why this is important to me. My husband and I got married two years ago, and at the time we both shared the “all paths lead to god” belief. We were/are both unbaptized, and the present moment both of our families are very indifferent to God and religion. My mom is a lapsed cradle Catholic and my dad is a lapsed Baptist. My husband’s family used to be Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Jehovah’s Witness experience has made my husband very, very negative about religion. He sees absolutely no good coming out of any religion, and even believes that religion only causes wars and tears families apart (neither of our parents are divorced, and each of our families are very close so I don’t know where he gets this). He was that kid in school who has to sit in the hallway during the Christmas party and not speak during the pledge of allegiance. I can understand where the dislike for religion is coming from.

This past year, feeling the God-void in my life, I got interested in liberal Quakerism and started reading the Bible just so I could learn from Jesus, the “great moral teacher”. During these readings I became convinced that Jesus was telling the truth, and that Christianity was true. When I told my husband these things, and told him that I wanted to go to church he either would roll his eyes at me or try and persuade me not to go. He says I can study at home, that I don’t need to meet any “church people”. He believes that since no religion is true, then there is no purpose for learning about any one religion besides just making yourself feel better. His argument is that all religions worship the same god, but call god by different names.

Last night we had a little friendly debate. I assured him that just because I want to be a Christian doesn’t mean that I’m going to divorce him (the “tear families apart” argument). I was able to show him that Jesus is in fact divine according to the Bible, and I was able to clear up some of the other misconceptions he had about Christianity due to the Jehovah’s Witness background. All this softened him up to Christianity, but I still could not seem to budge the “all paths lead to one” belief.

I’m not exactly trying to convert my husband at this time, but I’m trying to persuade him consider that there is logic for religion and not just logic against. I don’t want to be pushy and use Jehovah’s Witness tactics which I know will drive him further away from Christ, I just want him to see and respect my perspective. Last, I want to alleviate some of the negative feelings he has towards religion because I’m considering entering RCIA in the future and I don’t want him to feel threatened by it.
 
God is surely directing you in your search for Him. That is an example of His love for you. As for your husband, ingrained attitudes are not easy to change. Perhaps if you and your husband visited a book store and reviewed the books in the religion section, he might find a title that sparked his interest. Any opening to the idea of God working in our lives is a good start. Prayer is always the best answer, of course. I like to direct people to Mary, because she is so intent in leading all to her Son. Good luck to you in your efforts to find God, and to help your husband begin his quest. God bless.
 
Geode said:
I’m hoping you guys can help me come up with some good logical arguments against the above belief. I’m sure this topic must have been covered before, but I searched the forum and couldn’t find anything.

Here’s some back story about why this is important to me. My husband and I got married two years ago, and at the time we both shared the “all paths lead to god” belief. We were/are both unbaptized, and the present moment both of our families are very indifferent to God and religion. My mom is a lapsed cradle Catholic and my dad is a lapsed Baptist. My husband’s family used to be Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Jehovah’s Witness experience has made my husband very, very negative about religion. He sees absolutely no good coming out of any religion, and even believes that religion only causes wars and tears families apart (neither of our parents are divorced, and each of our families are very close so I don’t know where he gets this). He was that kid in school who has to sit in the hallway during the Christmas party and not speak during the pledge of allegiance. I can understand where the dislike for religion is coming from.

This past year, feeling the God-void in my life, I got interested in liberal Quakerism and started reading the Bible just so I could learn from Jesus, the “great moral teacher”. During these readings I became convinced that Jesus was telling the truth, and that Christianity was true. When I told my husband these things, and told him that I wanted to go to church he either would roll his eyes at me or try and persuade me not to go. He says I can study at home, that I don’t need to meet any “church people”. He believes that since no religion is true, then there is no purpose for learning about any one religion besides just making yourself feel better. His argument is that all religions worship the same god, but call god by different names.

Last night we had a little friendly debate. I assured him that just because I want to be a Christian doesn’t mean that I’m going to divorce him (the “tear families apart” argument). I was able to show him that Jesus is in fact divine according to the Bible, and I was able to clear up some of the other misconceptions he had about Christianity due to the Jehovah’s Witness background. All this softened him up to Christianity, but I still could not seem to budge the “all paths lead to one” belief.

I’m not exactly trying to convert my husband at this time, but I’m trying to persuade him consider that there is logic for religion and not just logic against. I don’t want to be pushy and use Jehovah’s Witness tactics which I know will drive him further away from Christ, I just want him to see and respect my perspective. Last, I want to alleviate some of the negative feelings he has towards religion because I’m considering entering RCIA in the future and I don’t want him to feel threatened by it.
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Its Good that showed the truth about the divinity of Christ>Jesus is God. The reason why i have trouble accepting all religions is a path to the One true God. Although the devil is the Angel of darkness. He also can transform himself into a Angel of Light and deceive people into false religion>{2 Corinthians 11:13-15.} {Galatians 1:8}

Old testament warns about false Prophets and Jesus warned about false teachers that come as wolves in sheep’s clothing.

At the end of the day in a relationship you have to come to a agreement to agree to disagree when it comes to Opinions of matters of faith.
There is nothing worst then one side or the other forcing their views on the other. It causes nothing but stupid arguments.
 
The best thing you can do is “walk the walk”. Treat your husband with love and respect while you are starting your journey. Don’t worry that he will get “left behind”. The worst witnesses are those newly converted to the truth and worry all will go to hell if they can’t see the truth. They tend to over reach and push forgetting that they don’t appear much different to their spouse and that the moment before they found truth they were just as much in danger. Trust that God will hear your prayers and save your loved ones as well as you and you will be more relaxed and natural.

As the knowledge of Jesus, the Word, grows in you there will be a tension between the believer and unbeliever. The “fuzzy” logic you referred to about religion will be sharpened as you progress in understanding scripture. Only one path leads to God the Father and that is God the Son, Jesus Christ. We come to this understanding through God the Holy Spirit. We have been given this mystery of the Trinity by Jesus as He taught about the Kingdom Of God, not just about morality.

Every belief system must have a strong, clear foundation and a cornerstone just like a building. The “all paths” belief system does not measure up. The problem we encounter in picking a belief system is submitting to that belief. Christianity is seen too many times as “do’s and don’ts”. That will come in time with maturity from the heart but first we must commit to the belief that Jesus is Lord as taught in Scripture. Jesus is the foundation, scripture is the cornerstone. Then we see that Jesus passed on His authority and teaching to the Apostles who in turn passed on that authority and teaching to others. The Catholic church comes out of ancient times with that authority and teaching.

Remember, there are two parts to learning the Catholic faith; the practice and the theology behind the practice, i.e. the order of the mass and what Jesus did that is reflected in it. You can learn the steps of Catholicism but if you do not learn the “why” you will not be very strong and easily swayed. Don’t forget to prayerfully read scriopture as you go through RCIA.

There will be arguments but if you live out the husband and wife scriptures you will be pleasing to the Lord. Sadly, many Catholic wives had to live their lives praying their husbands will come around so be encouraged that others have been patient and seen the reward.
 
Start by listing the nature of all the gods of the world religions.
Then apply argument creation by design to show that a personal God is required.
That will leave you with Islam, Judaism and Christ
Show where Islam contradicts Christ — “love your neighbor” vs “kill the unbeliever”
that leaves you with Judaism and Christ
then show how Christ is a fulfillment of the OT.
 
Patience and prayers must be hallmarks of your efforts in helping your husband.

I’ll try to be brief…
The argument that all paths lead to God is absolutely True. No Catholic should ever argue that this is false. For…
At the end of our earthly life we will all stand before God to be …Judged…
So
While all roads lead TO God, they do not all lead TO salvation…and this is where the difference lies.

I’ll grant to your husband that organized religion has not always acted in the best and most Christian way. However it is important to separate teaching from action. ALL of the teachings can be good and true, and yet the actions of individuals, and even entire groups, can be sinful. Not even the original twelve Apostles managed to be perfect disciples all the time.

The bottom line is that, for us Christians and Catholics, we seek discipleship to Christ, who has taught us that the road is narrow and many will seek but not find it. He has taught us that Love of God and Love of neighbor - put into action on a daily basis is the key to attaining heaven. This is not something to be lightly held or presumed upon, but something to strive for and struggle with so that we grow in holiness.

Too often people who have become frustrated with organized religion fall back on this “all paths” argument as an excuse to do nothing at all beyond living a “good life”, as the world considers a life good. The goal of eternal life sets the bar a bit higher than that.

anyway - -
I better stop now or I’ll be rambling all over the place…

Peace
James
 
Yes, I am really not trying to convert him. I’m trying to prove by my actions that my having religion will not wrench us apart. If I keep having to hide a huge interest of mine from him due to his not being open to the idea of religion, then that does give religion the power to come between us. I really am just trying to open up the dialog where we each feel comfortable sharing opinions, and I think we started that with our discussion last night. I do reserve the right to tell him when I think part of his philosophy doesn’t make real sense, though. 😉

The “all paths lead to god/all paths are valid” belief sounds really nice, really tolerant. After all, you’re saying everyone all around the world is correct. But at the same time you’re saying that everyone is incorrect. You’re saying that they are actually worshiping a different god than they think they are, but are too dumb to know it! Does this attitude not do other cultures even more disservice?

My husband is good-naturedly always trying to persuade his friends and family to do this or that, using logic to derail their arguments. I’m just trying to offer him the same kind of thing!
 
JMJ
Peace be with you,

When dealing with the “all paths lead to God” argument it is always good to show the necessity of religion in relation to mans final end.
Taken from the book My Catholic Faith
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*Man’s high destiny is to go to God, because man comes from God, and belongs entirely to God. Our reason tells us that someone made us. That someone is God. Nothing can proceed from nothing. If there had ever been a moment when nothing existed, nothing would ever have existed. Therefore, because we exist, we know Someone who made us also exists; That someone is God. “He made us, and not we ourselves” (Ps. 99;3). “All things have been created through and unto Him” (Col 1:16).
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Our reason also tells us that God must have made us for some purpose. God made man to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy forever with Him in the next. God made us for Himself. The end of man, as of all creation, is the glory of God; to manifest the divine perfections, to proclaim the goodness, majesty, and power of God. “The Lord hath made all things for Himself.” (Prov 16:4). Whether he wishes to or not, man must manifest God’s perfections, dominion, and glory. Man’s very existence does this; even his sins will in the end show forth God’s infinite holiness and justice.
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We belong to God, since we are His creatures, we have certain duties towards God which we must fulfill. Religion teaches us what these duties are. Religion is the virtue by which we give to God the honor and service due to Him alone as our Creator, Master, and Supreme Lord. It is by religion that we know, love, and serve God as He commands us to know, love and serve Him. It is by religion, then that we fulfill the end for which we were made, and so save our soul.
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Our Chief business in life, the business which God commands us to attend to, is to go to God, and this depends on our practice of religion. It is by religion that we fulfill the purpose for which we were created. By believing what God has revealed, we know God. By knowing God, we cannot help but love Him. By practicing what we learn and obeying God’s commands, we serve Him. “He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me” (John 14:21).*
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Now that you have shown the necessity of religion and at the same time the necessity for a true religion you two will hopefully be able to move forward. All paths may lead to God but not all of them lead to Heaven.
 
Geode said:
Yes, I am really not trying to convert him. I’m trying to prove by my actions that my having religion will not wrench us apart. If I keep having to hide a huge interest of mine from him due to his not being open to the idea of religion, then that does give religion the power to come between us. I really am just trying to open up the dialog where we each feel comfortable sharing opinions, and I think we started that with our discussion last night. I do reserve the right to tell him when I think part of his philosophy doesn’t make real sense, though. 😉

The “all paths lead to god/all paths are valid” belief sounds really nice, really tolerant. After all, you’re saying everyone all around the world is correct. But at the same time you’re saying that everyone is incorrect. You’re saying that they are actually worshiping a different god than they think they are, but are too dumb to know it! Does this attitude not do other cultures even more disservice?

My husband is good-naturedly always trying to persuade his friends and family to do this or that, using logic to derail their arguments. I’m just trying to offer him the same kind of thing!
Click to expand...
All paths lead to God, all religions worship the same God… isn’t this just another case of relativism?

Simple argument: what about cases of mutually exclusive definitions. Jesus says “No one can come to heaven except through Me”, Islam and Judaism both refute this claim as they both believe that Jesus was not God. Christianity says there is a Trinity, Islam says there is only one. Judaism agrees. Pagans, Hindus, etc, say there are MANY Gods. Buddhists say there are none (theistic buddhism, anyway).

So an example:
  1. I state that A is true, and a caveat of A is that B is not true.
  2. Your husband states that B is true, and a caveat of B is that A is not true.
There are only three options:
  1. I am right, A is true and B is false
  2. Your husband is right, B is true and A is false.
  3. We are both wrong and both A and B are false.
Because the two definitions are mutually exclusive, they cannot both be true without creating an unacceptable paradox. God cannot be both many, triune, and one at the same time. Jesus cannot both be God and entirely NOT-God at the same time. These are paradoxes in which one position or the other (or both) are wrong, but both can’t be simultaneously correct.
 
In order to logically believe “All paths leasd to God” you either have to believe all religions (and atheism) teach the same fundamental truths, or that God doesn’t care what we believe or do (or He does not even exist).

It may be time consuming, but should be relatively simple to demonstrate the various paths teach many seriously contradictory things.

This leaves you with “God doesn’t care.”

It seems “obvious” to me that “IF” there is a “Just” Creator that he would care about how we respond to Him, but I have no idea how you would “prove” it.

Probably not much help, but just some thoughts.

Chuck
 
With the A B thing in mind. Say a loaf of bread worldwide costs five dollars. Now, if someone else comes to the store with only four dollars and no credit. He can only get that loaf of bread by someone else paying for it or by him stealing it. Otherwise, he does not get to take that loaf of bread home, unless he eat it in the store.
 
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