Lie #5:

'There is no single truth.  Everyone needs to explore and find 
a truth that works for them.' 

~~~

Reader,

   This one's a real hot potato.  And it's not something you hear 
so much from ancient religious institutions... rather, it's simply 
the 'politically correct' way to talk about spirituality these days.

   It tends to be expressed something like this: 'You've got your
truth, and I've got my truth.  You find a faith that works for
you, and I'll find a faith that works for me.'

   Well here's my question:

   How many conflicting versions of the truth can actually be true?

   I'm not going to use this space to promote an agenda today -- or 
to push any specific claim of Ultimate Truth.  I'm just going to
highlight a very simple, logical reality that each of us, in our search
for Truth, must recognize.  Pardon me if I offend you, but I'm 
going to put it bluntly.

   It's impossible for all religions to be true.

   In other words, if Islam is essentially true, then Buddhism,
Hinduism and Christianity are not.  If Buddhism is essentially true, 
then Islam, Christianity and Hinduism are not.  And so on.

   How can I say such a thing?  Because if you *really* study these 
religions, it will become clear that each makes bold, fundamental 
assertions about reality that are not compatible with the others.  

   For example, Hinduism states that divinity is present in everything.
Christianity, Judaism and Islam all assert that God is distinctly 
separate from what he has created.  The implications of these different 
views run very deep, and they are fundamentally incompatible.  It's 
logically impossible for both views to be true.

   So why bring this up, anyway?

   Well first I have to make a confession.  I would *like* to believe 
that all religions could be true.  I would personally *like* to believe 
that all paths lead to God.  It feels good.  It's a kinder view of 
the world.  It puts everyone on equal footing.  

   But it just doesn't make sense.  

   Truth is, by nature, exclusive.  There are always more wrong
ways to do just about anything than right ways.  There are always 
more wrong answers to any given question than right ones.  

   True?

   And you know what?  This really raises the stakes.  It puts a 
real sense of urgency in our search for truth, because it shows 
that if we're not careful, we can fall for a half-truth.

   On the other hand, if you diligently search, seek
out the facts, and your spiritual journey brings you to
a place where the pieces fit in place - if everything makes
logical sense and it feels right in your heart - then you 
should not hesitate to share your joy with others.

   OK... now let's stop right now and make something very clear: 

   If we possess the truth, it doesn't give us the right to 
be unkind to those who disagree.  It didn't give Bin Laden the 
right to declare Jihad, hijack airplanes and fly them into the 
World Trade Center.  It didn't give so-called 'Christians' the 
right to kill people in the Crusades.  It doesn't give us the 
right to be disrespectful or violent.

   What it does give us is the right - and the confidence -
to go out into the marketplace of ideas and *see* if our Truth
stands up to hard scrutiny.

   C.S. Lewis was talking about this very thing when he said, 
'You don't need to defend a Lion.  You just need to let him 
out of his cage.'

   If you really do have the truth, then you have nothing to fear.  
You don't need to burn books or censor speech.  Truth is its 
own best defense.

   In our modern, sophisticated culture, spirituality gets
locked up in a cage.  It's a taboo subject.  Discussions about 
religion are not considered 'polite conversation.'  So nobody 
talks about it.

   The result?  People don't talk to each other.  They live in 
fear and isolation.  

   Some folks harbor ideas and notions that make absolutely no 
sense, but because those ideas are never brought out into the 
light of day, they're never questioned.  

   Others have great wisdom, but they're afraid to share it with 
others!  

   How sad.

   In your search for the truth, then, know that you're not just
looking for something that sounds good.  As with any other kind
of truth, it may *not* feel good all the time.  Know that you're 
looking for something definite, something that will by nature
make some pretty bold claims.  

   Also, please understand that if someone tells you they 
possess the truth, they're not being arrogant.  Fact is, they're 
either sadly deceived or else they're right.  You can't put 
someone down for being deceived, and you can't fault someone 
for being right!  

   The real challenge is to discern the difference.

   Tomorrow I'm going to cover Lie #6:

'The Bible is out of date, inaccurate and over-rated.  People
in the 21st century are way too smart for that.'

   Thanks for sticking with me.

   Respectfully Submitted,

   Perry Marshall