The Problem with Embracing All Religions

July 31, 2011 by Dr. Mc.

About a month ago my wife and I went to a therapist in The Big City next door. We knew nothing about light therapy, but were willing to check out this “alternative medicine.” We are OK with exploring such things, realizing that thousands of years of experimenting with plants and exercises should produce some treatments of value, regardless of the explanations given to them by their providers. I, for one, have found an exercise similar to tai chi to relieve me from ever going back to an MD or chiropractor for back pain.
But back to my story: As we waited in her office-home, I first noticed the raw crystals on the shelves. (I’m a rock hound.) Then my wife pointed out the religious symbols on the walls and spiritual books and pictures, most having reference to crystals or Taoism. When I asked the therapist about her personal belief system, she replied, “Oh, I embrace all religions.” Funny, I didn’t see any crosses among the symbolism. She is a pantheist, which means “all-god,” or “all-the-gods,” or even “all-is-god.” No one, including pantheists who claim to, can embrace everyone else’s beliefs when some of those other beliefs say they are the only way. Even other religions that say they respect Christ as a great prophet (along with Mohammed) or among the appearances of god (along with Krishna) do not include the cross; because the cross has one meaning—There must be a substitutionary payment for each person’s short-fall before a perfect God.
That statement is huge. It includes that there is one and only one absolute and just God, who desires a relationship with us enough to pay a cost we cannot overcome any other way than His personal payment. Some religions say Christ is or was a god, but that does not distinguish them. Some say Christ made the first or major payment for sin, and then we must keep our end of the bargain or it’s all for naught; but that does not make them unique or distinct. There is one and only one “religion,” if we can even call it that, that says we are entirely incapable of earning any part of favor with God (OK, or a right relation to the universe). Why is that so distinct? It flies against human nature to not earn the ultimate prize. Why would any human make that up? They wouldn’t.

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