Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Only One Way To Heaven?

Oprah Winfrey believes that there are millions of ways to Heaven. Here is a small excerpt from her show.

“One of the mistakes that human beings make is believing that there is only one way, and that we don’t accept diverse ways of living in the world. There are many paths to what you call God…and her (lady in the audience) loving and kindness and generosity brings her to the same point that it brings you, it doesn’t matter if she calls it God or not…there couldn't possibly be just one way.”

Is Oprah's statement accurate? Many people believe this to be true. In fact, it is quite an attractive take on life and immortality and seems to be reasonable. But what is Oprah really saying? She is fundamentally stating that there is no absolute knowledge when it comes to religion, but she herself is making a statement that is absolute when it comes to her view on religion (the specific case here being the afterlife)!! In other words, you can't trust anyone's view but mine. The problem here is that most people will not see the apparent contradiction.

Also, regarding the main religions of the world, they believe and teach that their view is the correct view and that their way is the only way. Christianity teaches that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Islam claims Jesus didn't die on the cross and that Muhammad is the last and greatest of all prophets. Buddhism teaches that after you follow the Four Noble Truths, you then you pass on into a state of Nirvana.

Not all of these religious points of view can be true and not true at the same time. The basic and philosophical principles of logic will not allow it. Either one is right, or all are wrong.