NationStates Jolt Archive

Which religion has it right? What if they all do?

And what if they all have it wrong?

What if they all have it right and wrong at the same time?

Anyone heard the old story about the three blind men who encounter an elephant for the first time?

The first blind man touches the elephants leg, the second touches his trunk and the third touches it's tail.

The first blind man says an elephant is like a tree. The second says no, an elephant is like a snake. The third says, you're both wrong, an elephant is like a rope.

They're all right to an extent and yet still all hopelessly wrong.

What if god is the elephant? What if every religion is right about the little part they see?

And still hopelessly wrong about what they can't see.

Great way of looking at it; that didn't occur to me at all.

That third guy is asking for trouble.

A lot of people have tried to put "God" in similar terms, and I'm pretty sure I've heard this exact metaphor before. Of course, most organized religions nowadays would condemn such an idea as heresy. Maybe one day our theology will progress to the point where this is the common belief. Or maybe one day "God" will show up and set us all straight. Somehow I doubt either of those will happen.

That third guy is asking for trouble.

A lot of people have tried to put "God" in similar terms, and I'm pretty sure I've heard this exact metaphor before. Of course, most organized religions nowadays would condemn such an idea as heresy. Maybe one day our theology will progress to the point where this is the common belief. Or maybe one day "God" will show up and set us all straight. Somehow I doubt either of those will happen.
I thought God was just some huge dude...Why an elephant though?..I know different religeons different gods but Christians say there is one God, but other religoens might have 2 or 3, so what God is really..God?

i dont think the elephant gonna be to happy about three blind men poking him, i predict sooner or later their gonna be squished

Oh wow!

I thought this was going to be another pathetic strawman argument against Christianity.

They should arrive any moment now, don't worry.

[QUOTE=Trolling Motors]Which religion has it right? What if they all do?

And what if they all have it wrong?

What if they all have it right and wrong at the same time?


if it bothers you that much just drop the subject get on with your life and when the old guy up there smites you down you'll find who he is. simple

I thought God was just some huge dude...Why an elephant though?..I know different religeons different gods but Christians say there is one God, but other religoens might have 2 or 3, so what God is really..God?
The answer, obviously, is that I am really God.

The real answer, according to the metaphor, is that all of the various gods (small "g") are just parts of the one God.

Personally, I find it difficult to believe that the elephant exists.

Personally, I find it difficult to believe that the elephant exists.

Whys that?

That third guy is asking for trouble.
Yeah, I think the 3rd guy would more likely say "It's like a snake, but with really bad breath!"

That third guy is asking for trouble.

A lot of people have tried to put "God" in similar terms, and I'm pretty sure I've heard this exact metaphor before. Of course, most organized religions nowadays would condemn such an idea as heresy. Maybe one day our theology will progress to the point where this is the common belief. Or maybe one day "God" will show up and set us all straight. Somehow I doubt either of those will happen.

God did show up.

God did show up.
God showed up and said, "Hey guys, you know Quetzlcoatl? Zeus? Amida Buddha? Yeah, guess what, that was just me fooling around. Sorry about that."?

News to me.

the question is, if god is an elephant is s/he/it and African or an Indian elephant?

God may be an elephant, but you are only allowed to see the parts that thousands of years of organised religion allows you to.

You may be told what the elephant is, but not shown. You are told that it does exist, but you may never see it. You must believe that the elephant exists but your only conduit to the elephant is through these men that keep it hidden.

Because you cannot see the whole elephant, you believe what you are told. You are told that there is one elephant. That the elephant is male. That the elephant wants you to acknowledge no other elephant. The keepers tell you that you must pay penance to the elephant and maybe one day they will allow you to see the elephant.
Since you love the elephant you give things to the keepers, to get in the elephant's favour. The elephant continues to love you but tramples someone you know with no explanation.

One day someone comes along and tells you of another elephant, possibly a herd of elephants. The keepers of your elephant tell you not to trust this person. They tell you that the elephant you know is the only elephant and people that believe in another elephant are not to be trusted.

Years later, with the knowledge of your elephant, your descendants destroy the followers of the different elephants.

Religion is held as true by the common man, false by the wise man, and useful by the leaders of man.

Sorry if I'm the first anti-religion person in the thread. I'm not so much anti-God so much as anti-church. If you mean no harm to another human being, then I have no problem with what you believe.

EDIT: bit of grammar

You are God.
He´s not outside.
He´s not inside.
You are God.

You may be told what the elephant is, but not shown. You are told that it does exist, but you may never see it. You must believe that the elephant exists but your only conduit to the elephant is through these men that keep it hidden.

Because you cannot see the whole elephant, you believe what you are told. You are told that there is one elephant. That the elephant is male. That the elephant wants you to acknowledge no other elephant. The keepers tell you that you must pay penance to the elephant and maybe one day they will allow you to see the elephant.
Since you love the elephant you give things to the keepers, to get in the elephant's favour. The elephant continues to love you but tramples someone you know with no explanation.It does sound rediculous when you say it like that with that model doesn't it?

Too bad you can't get the majority of religions to see their own absurdity.

That third guy is asking for trouble.

A lot of people have tried to put "God" in similar terms, and I'm pretty sure I've heard this exact metaphor before. Of course, most organized religions nowadays would condemn such an idea as heresy. Maybe one day our theology will progress to the point where this is the common belief. Or maybe one day "God" will show up and set us all straight. Somehow I doubt either of those will happen.
According to my religion:
both of those things shall happen
First the Believers shall be taken
Then the Remaining will be ruled for 7 years under 1 corrupt ruler and universal faith.
During this time plague, famine, war, and "natural" disaster shall be occuring
After this 7 year tribulation God will come back and rule the earth and the Devil and his followers will be sent to the pit of fire for a millenium until the Great Battle
After the Great Battle There will be an everlasting peace

Which religion has it right? What if they all do?

And what if they all have it wrong?

What if they all have it right and wrong at the same time?

Anyone heard the old story about the three blind men who encounter an elephant for the first time?

The first blind man touches the elephants leg, the second touches his trunk and the third touches it's tail.

The first blind man says an elephant is like a tree. The second says no, an elephant is like a snake. The third says, you're both wrong, an elephant is like a rope.

They're all right to an extent and yet still all hopelessly wrong.

What if god is the elephant? What if every religion is right about the little part they see?

And still hopelessly wrong about what they can't see.

Mostly accurate but not all religions are blind. Just most of them in small ways.

the question is, if god is an elephant is s/he/it and African or an Indian elephant?
It is now known as the Asian elephant--it is not longer the Indian elephant. And there are two species of African elephant, the forest and savannah elephants.

Which religion has it right? What if they all do?

And what if they all have it wrong?

What if they all have it right and wrong at the same time?

Anyone heard the old story about the three blind men who encounter an elephant for the first time?

The first blind man touches the elephants leg, the second touches his trunk and the third touches it's tail.

The first blind man says an elephant is like a tree. The second says no, an elephant is like a snake. The third says, you're both wrong, an elephant is like a rope.

They're all right to an extent and yet still all hopelessly wrong.

What if god is the elephant? What if every religion is right about the little part they see?

And still hopelessly wrong about what they can't see.

Three elephants encounter a blind guy. The first elephant says, "He's flat." The other two agree.

What does the fourth guy that touches the elephant's 'fun parts' say?

Three elephants encounter a blind guy. The first elephant says, "He's flat." The other two agree.

YAY! :D

What does the fourth guy that touches the elephant's 'fun parts' say?

"Heh. I've felt bigger."