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During a recent trip to my home county of Berbice, Guyana, South America, I met up with a long time friend, and as usual, we entered into some very reflective discussions.
As usual, the conversation veered itself around to the idea of religion. As you know, religion is one of the questions that has plagued mankind for centuries. We are born into a world with so many different “truths.” And each of these “truths” has millions of adherents or believers who swear by it.
It is easy for a human to get confused and wonder what in the world is going on. “Well, there can only be one truth.” I commented. “Yes, my friend agreed.”
But can there be more than one truth? In science, there can. Take for example, the idea that the sky is blue. Is it true that the sky is blue? It is, but it also isn’t. The sky is only blue for the majority of humans whose brains are interpreted to translate the signals reaching it as blue. But for color blind people, the sky certainly isn’t blue!
And who knows how the brain of certain animals are wired, if they do not see a different color! Yet, there may be humans who are wired to see an entirely different color when looking at the sky…who knows?
The sky is blue is true. But at other times, it’s not true. So in science, there can be several truths.
But I strongly believe that in religion, there can only be “One Truth.”
Before I go, I’d like to leave you with this classic poem, entitled, “The Blind Men and the Element.”
IT was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind.
II.
The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
“God bless me!—but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!”
III.
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried: “Ho!—what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ‘t is mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!”
IV.
The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a snake!”
V.
The Fourth reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
“What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
“‘T is clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!”
VI.
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”
VII.
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a rope!”
VIII.
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
MORAL.
So, oft in theologic wars The disputants, I ween, Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean, And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!
We must admit that we are very much like these blind men when it comes to God! We cannot see God. We can only feel Him!
