Once again, I see people taking analogy literally, rather than looking at the point that was being made.
You are assuming that God doesn't exist for all religions. I am assuming God does exist for all who are truly faithful in their desire to be with God.
There are of course many different visions of God as reported by man. Many different paths to God have been outlined.
My analogy, not to be taken literally, is that while potential to reach a goal may exist for all, not all reach the potential goal.
You point to many different religions, lets say there are 1,000s of religions.
They all worship the God of their understanding. Those who follow the path of the religion, as intended by the founder of the religion....not those who are generations removed from the direct experience of God realization*, and do so correctly get the desired results.
Personally, I have no problem with many different religions.
I am not in a position to judge other religions, or their efficacy.
My own belief system allows there to be many different religions, that have their own creed and dogma, and yet all worship the one single absolute supreme God.
A lot depends on definition at this point, in order to communicate, but let's just say for the sake of this discussion that God is an absolute singular being of multi-dimensional forms.
How can that be?
Well, look at yourself.
Who really knows you completely?
You parents? Your siblings? Your boss? Your spouse? Your best friend? You co-worker? You teammates? Your children?
They can all claim to know a "part" of your personality, but do they know the whole you? Yet, is it wrong when they say they know you?
So, if human beings are able to have multifaceted personalities, and some aspects of their personality that are manifest, while others remain hidden or dormant depending on the circumstances, does that make the man less than a whole person?
Can you imagine if human beings have that level of complexity, how complex an absolute supreme being would be? Beyond our imagination.
Do you wear the same clothing for every occasion? Do you maintain the same level of intimacy with each person you come across?
No, we act according to the situation.
What is then so difficult to understand how one single supreme being, could appear so differently to so many people?
One religion could worship the angry and vengeful aspect of God, another could worship the Wisdom aspect of God, another could worship the benevolent aspect of God, another the pure love aspect of God, etc., etc, etc.
However, falling in love with one aspect, draws you close to the whole person. You can form a relationship with one aspect, and through greater and greater intimacy come to love that person completely. A child can fully love his parents, without having a full understanding of who the parents really are.
To denounce kindergarten, as invalid, because you happen to be in 6th grade does not allow for the fact that people are at different place in their own growth process.
My belief is that the one supreme God accepts all worship if done sincerely, faithfully, to whatever form of God a person imagines. If the worshiper is faithful and sincere, God will guide that person to him, based on their faithful practice and surrender.
What are the real percentages of success and failure when it comes to realization of God? I cannot say for anyone else but me, and I am trying to do what I can to be counted among the successful statistics.
*God Realization by my definition would be someone for whom God is real, not imaginary.
D), i have no problem with that. i'm happy for you boys!)
