One true religion

I would like to respond to one more thing about the video I linked to in my last blog. About 35 seconds into the video, it says, in a sarcastic tone, “After all, only one god can be right.”

I’ve heard many other people say it’s mean and intolerant to claim only one belief is right. What’s wrong with that statement? Christians, Muslims and other religions have used the claim for violence, but that doesn’t make the claim itself wrong. By itself, the claim that “My religion is the only right one” is not mean or intolerant. It’s simply an expression of a belief about reality.

Like I said in an earlier blog, all religions can’t be right because they contradict each other. When I say my religion is the only true one, I’m not being intolerant. Other people have every right to believe whatever they want to believe.

It seems some people treat belief about religion like opinions about movies and music. Everyone has their own opinion about what the best music and movie is. But in reality, there is no such thing as the best music or movie. Different genres appeal to a variety of tastes and there are varying levels of quality, but there is no “best.” Religion is different.

We all live in the same reality. Our tastes, desires and beliefs can never change our reality. There’s no concrete evidence for which religion reflects that reality, but that doesn’t change the fact that there is only one true religion.

So what’s wrong with believing your religion is the true one? As long as you don’t try to force other people to believe it or use the belief for violence, there’s nothing wrong with thinking yours is the true one.