Deseret News | BYU Education Week: Similarities and basic truths among religions

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BYU Education Week: Similarities and basic truths among religions

jzman | 12:43 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

All religions are true and all religions are false. This is the take home message. Religious symbolism, language and belief diffuses over time. So...the real message isn't "truth" but that humans construct and pass on religious ideology and symbolism.

Inclusive | 1:10 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

Mr. Wilcox presents a mature, broadminded view of religion that shows he is very secure in his faith.

jackie | 8:21 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

This world is full of goodness and truth. We just need to open our eyes and be more loving and accepting of others. Mother Theresa, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Gordon B Hinckley, Oprah, The Pope, my mother in law.(yea really) All good people and loved bye the God how created them and those who love them and who's lives are affected by them. Maybe we should stop looking for the bad in people and look at the good we would live better lives. Sometimes I come on here and can't believe the negativity. We don't have to believe the same things but we do have to be good people, we do have to get along in this world, there is good in everyone. We all want the same thing, a good, safe, happy life for ourselves and our loved ones so work harder creating that instead of fighting about who is different from us.
Have a great day everyone, Smile and everyone you see today, I'll just bet you'll have a good day if you do.

Comments continue below

Unique | 8:23 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

The Christian faith is different than other faiths,it is not what you can do for God but what God did for you. (Ephesians 2:8,9) For by grace are ye saved through faith,and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is a gift of of God, Not of works,lest any man should boast." Amazing Grace,the hour I first bgeleived. RE Truth; John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they must worship in spirit and in truth.
IF the professor is right then,Christ died for nothing.

jackie | 8:34 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

Spell check lol!
by the God WHO created them
smile AT everyone you see today

sheesh, guess I should have proof read.

Page | 8:37 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

It is not to be understoood that truth is whatever, whomever, or whereever a group representing the majority, or minority for that matter, decide it to be! The truth should never be equated with half-truth, semi-truth, or untruth. Truth is!

Wilford | 8:52 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

All religions, like all superstitions, are man's inventions to deal with the fear of the unknown and escape the reality and responsiblity of his own doing. If man were to apply as much attentions to the social science of community and respect of life and nature as he does to false believes then the world would be a much more pleasant place; and if there is a good god, then god would be more pleased with man's civilized manners rather than the heathen of today's man.

Thank you | 9:06 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

Mr. Wilcox presented us with a breath of fresh air.
How wonderful to read about the work of God through out the world and not be afraid of recognizing it.
We need more LDS articles as this one.

jackie | 9:11 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

Wilford. while I don't agree with everything you said, if you read your post and my post earlier, we are basically expressing a similar message, imagine that, we can agree even when we don't totally agree!
Have a good day!

CJ3 | 9:23 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

What about our belief that we are the ONLY true church on the face of the earth?

Perspective | 10:06 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

It seems that all revelation is a mix of man and God and as His creations is of God and by God. God speaks to us according to our interest, desires, requests, and language. We receive such in our weakness or individuality according to our level of understanding, our interpretation based on our perspective, our selective perception of our own feelings, thoughts, sight and ability to communicate such to others. Its a very unique and individual process -- and pretty limited or different from the ideal that tends to be held. But, of course, God is in charge of all of it and has molded us to have the experiences and perceptions and understanding that we have. So, it is no surprise that there are many perspectives on religion and God and no suprise that they can all be of God. Who is right and wrong? All probably right in their own way for the purposes God has and true to their own ability to see and communicate such.

John Z | 10:12 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

I have read the Qur'an and found many divinely revealed truths there, too. Perhaps we should add to our LDS canon the Qur'an as the fifth book of scripture and revere Muhammad as a prophet.

@ John Z | 10:42 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

Not a bad idea. There are many similarities between the two religions. They would blend well. The body of the two churchs would work well together. Of course the real problem is at the head of the churchs. They are the self serving people who don't want to share their power or position: the same as the problem between governments. It is the boss that keeps the workers down so he can stay boss.

RE: Truth | 10:44 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

The truth about Jesus. "He was called Lucifer, son of the morning, Haughty,ambitious,and convetous of power and glory,this spirit-brother of of Jesus desperately tried to become Savior of Mankind. (Milton Hunter)

Re: CJ3 | 10:55 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

What about every other religion's belief that THEY are the ONLY true church on earth and everyone ELSE is wrong. You can't all be right. Or can you?

Why are there so many different sizes of shirts at the clothing store? Because one size DOESN'T fit all. Maybe there are a variety of religions because humans aren't a "one size fits all" species.

Maybe different religions work for different levels of spiritual maturity and spiritual acceptance.

The key to this is tolerance of other people's spiritual unfoldment. Your religion doesn't work for me because I am at a different level. Not WRONG, just different.

I believe in a God that loves and accepts all, no matter what path or paths they have taken to reach him (or her).

RE: Truth 10;44 | 2:01 p.m. Aug. 19, 2009

Because Jesus(Yeshua) is his given Hebrew name,"Jesus" is the helenized-anglicized form of Yeshua, which means salvation,Yeshua never heard the the name Jesus in his life-time. He was always called "Yeshua", which is very similar to "Joshua,"a common name at the time. Examples:
(IS. 62:11)( MT 1:210) Jews who beleive,Yeshua is the Messiah.

CJ3 | 2:09 p.m. Aug. 19, 2009

To Re: CJ3,

I also believe in a God that loves and accepts all. However, the LDS Church specifically teaches that we are the ONLY TRUE church on the face of the earth and that all other faiths, creeds and denominations "draw close with their lips, but their hearts are far away". How do you reconcile this belief to what you have been saying?

Mike | 2:24 p.m. Aug. 19, 2009

Good thoughts CJ3. But maybe there are so many different religions because people started them to fit their ideas and what they wanted and not what God wants. The only true church is the one started by Him. Now unless you deeply studied each reglion and not just looked at it you will never know the answer, if you are really seeking the truth and not just bashing others.

CJ3 | 2:39 p.m. Aug. 19, 2009

I have been hijacked by a false CJ3.

Mike | 3:38 p.m. Aug. 19, 2009

Maybe you will be taken to a better place.

The Real CJ3 | 3:43 p.m. Aug. 19, 2009

To the fake CJ3,

Please stop using my moniker.

Thanks

CJ4 | 5:30 p.m. Aug. 19, 2009

I have read the Book of Mormon and found some "inspirational" things in it. I have read the Quran and found some inspirational things in it. I have read the Bible and found some inspiration in it.

I have also read the works of Marx and found much inspiration there.

And I have read Mein Kampf and found some very insightful and inspirational things there.

And in each of these books I have found things that are so patently wrong, false, and absurd that it makes one's head spin trying to imagine how such putridity can spew forth from the same source as the "good" stuff!

The bottom line is this: It means NOTHING to say that a single book or Church is "true"! There is NO single book or Church or person that is "true"! Not one!

So please, please, please, all you Latter-day Saints, stop mindlessly parroting the cliche, worn-out, meaningless phrase "I know the Church is true"! It means NOTHING!

JAYEG | 5:32 p.m. Aug. 19, 2009

I agree with CJ3.

I would like to request...again...that participants please select a moniker of their own, and post under that moniker...and ONLY that moniker.

CJ3 | 8:57 p.m. Aug. 19, 2009

The gospel had been restored and has alleviated the apostated. The Book of Mormon is true and I have a testimony to that. In the end you will have a choice to choose the truth; until them please visit with the missionaries, if not keep your yap shut because you don't have a clue.

How? I ask you. | 1:53 p.m. Aug. 20, 2009

It always puzzles me when BYU professors or others give lectures or write books pointing out the similarities and basic truths and philosophies in all faiths.

Why would you as a Latter-day Saint do that?

The entire LDS position rests on the idea that the other faiths were all wrong, and had apostatized from the truth! People supposedly could not find the TRUE doctrines, philosophies, and principles anywhere on the face of the earth! That is why a "Restoration" was needed.

If that is true, then how is it possible that there are all these doctrines, philosophies, and principles common to all faiths and the LDS Church? How did these "Apostate" Churches all the sudden OBTAIN all these truths when they were so absolutely devoid of them in 1820 so that Joseph had to "restore" them? What happened to the "famine" in the land in the 19th Century where people "wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it?" How came the word of the Lord to these Apostate Churches with no priesthood authority or revelation?

SFC RET DENNIS | 11:56 a.m. Aug. 22, 2009

CJ3 | 9:23 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009 You misunderstand, we believe we have the full truth with the restored gospel, every church has truth, but not the complete and full truth, as we are the only church that believe that God steel takes to living prophets, and that God will always talk to his children and provide guidance. We may not understand why others fill this way but neither do they understand why we believe God steels talks to living prophets.

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