Choice is somethings that most of western society takes in its stride and for granted. There are many countries where 'choice' is not available either through educational or cultural ignorance. Today, even in some western countries there are people's choices being eroded by the removal of educational material and narrow minded teaching.
There really is just one truth. But is is like a faceted gemstone - it depends where you are relative to the gemstone as to how you see it. Try it yourself - take any object & look at it - really look. Turn it over & about - how many different aspects can you see? And don't forget the political aspect of religion either. Oh does that colour it! Religions rise as the people need them. Truth stays true. 'First unto thine own self be true' and the rest can go hang. I am 'not a witch' by the way, though I was one for many years - but that's another story.
From a soft polytheistic viewpoint this is "true", but from a hard polytheistic viewpoint it's not. Therefore I think it's a bit presumtuous to say "there really is just one truth."
Yes there is only one true way... My way, no! A few cannot be right! No we can't all be right! I am the gate I am the key....
Sometimes I [the Buddha] spoke of myself, sometimes of others; sometimes I presented myself, sometimes others; sometimes I showed my own actions, sometimes those of others. All my doctrines are true and none are false. - Buddhism. Lotus Sutra 16 As men approach Me, so I receive them. All paths, Arjuna, lead to Me. - Hinduism. Bhagavad Gita 4.11 Confucius said... "In the world there are many different roads but the destination is the same. There are a hundred deliberations but the result iis one." - Confucianism. I Ching, Appended Remarks 2.5 At any time, in any form and accepted name, if one is shorn of all attachment, that one is you alone. My Lord! You are one although variously appearing. - Jainism. Hemachandra, Dvatrimshika 29 They have called him Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, and the divine fine-winged Garuda; They speak of Indra, Yama, Matrarisvan: the One Being sages call by many names. - Hinduism. Rig Veda 1.164.46 There is more in this vein at World Scripture - The Truth in Many Paths Christianity is hardly the only religion that claims its deity is the One True God, and that its teachings are Absolute Truth.
He'd be a bad salesmen if he didn't however..... "What this, naaah load of tottenham.... But still, tis a laugh.... So.... Can I interest you in a bible study?"
Perhaps some salespeople need to rely on their customers not knowing there are alternatives... but I've seen many good salespeople who actually rely on the quality of their product rather than trying to win customers over with false claims.
Greetings AT, A friend of mine was once reading a book when an idea flew out of it. It was about the four ways of truth. For every truth you can find a truth opposite in nature. These truths in turn have their untrue shadows. For example, honesty is the best policy but it is equally true that sometimes it is best to hold our tongues. Or as Karl Popper said, any theory must be falsifiable to have a chance of validity or advancing our knowledge. That is the simple way to look at it, but I have taken it to twelve views- which is the Rosicrucian method. I bring you this poem from T.L. Harris: No two men in creation think alike; No two men in creation love alike; No two men in creation are alike. No worlds, or suns, or heavens, but are distinct, And wear a separate beauty. Not a star But differs from the star that nearest seems And most congenial to its own pure state, And this unlikeness grows with all their growth. Manhood is individuality Of thought. No two men ever saw the world Alike through outward eyes, nor ever heard Just the same music in the wild birds' hymn Or the deep moaning of the wakeful sea. Were all men just alike, then there would be One stagnant ocean, one lethargic swamp Of fetid and corrupting life, and men Tired of the sameness of the universe Unvarying and permanent, grow like Ghastly and empty shells of heart and brain. Best Wishes, Br.Bruce
