DOES THE EXISTENCE OF SO MANY RELIGIONS ARGUE AGAINST THEIR TRUTH CLAIMS?

There are many religions and many Christian denominations. Do these facts diminish the truth claims of Christianity? Let’s start with the question of many religions.

Skeptics argue that since there are many religions, which claim to have a monopoly on the truth, none can be true. Of course, this conclusion does not follow logically from the facts. For example, Western Europeans had many different ideas about how to sail to India, but this didn’t mean that there weren’t correct answers. In fact, there is often a diversity of opinions, but few would conclude from this that none of them were true.

Other skeptics take a slightly different tack. They claim that there might be a truth, but when it comes to religion and the important things of life, there is no way to know which religion is true.

Just try telling this to Jesus’ disciples who had witnessed many of His miracles, which had validated the truth of His claims!

We often here the “there is no way to know” claim. However, this claim is illogical. If there is no way to know, then there is no way to dogmatically claim that there is no way to know. A simple question can expose this fallacy. “How can you KNOW that there is no way to KNOW? If we cannot know, how can you claim that you do KNOW that there is no way to know?”

This is also a very bold and unsupportable claim. It suggests that the claimant has evidence of ANY possible truth claim and has proven all of them wrong. Such a claim requires infinite knowledge, which none of us possess.

Contrary to the claim that we cannot know, Jesus claimed:

·       “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

·       So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Thanks to our Lord, the prospect of finding is assured for those who are seeking, despite the many religions from which to choose. Many have testified to the truth of this fact.

Does the existence of so many denominations invalidate the truth of the Christian faith?

Instead, we can take these many denominations as a testimony to the truth and vibrancy of the Christian faith. Even though so many had a problem in their church and sought to establish another denomination, often, they didn’t venture far from the tree. In their disappointment or anger, they didn’t start a new religion, but simply tweaked the faith they had received. This testifies to the fact that they were still convinced of the truth of the Christian faith.

The very fact that innovators have ventured forth to create many different forms of bread doesn’t testify to the lack of viability of bread but rather to its viability. Likewise, those who have ventured out to form a new church or denomination were actually affirming the surpassing truth of Christianity and their commitment to its truth.

Yet, for many of us, this is a source of confusion, and we understandably ask, “What then should we believe?” However, discounting the few exceptions, I don’t think that the churches are very different. They all believe that Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, died for our sins and will return to set up His everlasting kingdom. They also hold many other truths in common.

Does the existence of these various denominations suggest that something is very wrong with the Church?

Yes and no! If they prevent us from accepting our common brotherhood in Christ, then they have gone too far. However, I think that we can still find unity within the diversity. In fact, there is evidence that God esteems diversity. God dividing humanity at the Tower of Babel is one good example of this.

The wisdom of this kind of diversity becomes clear when we look at the State churches and the older denominations, which have corrupted themselves by compromising with the world. Renewal is always necessary, and diversity best insures renewal.