Question of the Week...August 9th, 2010

The Compassion Revolution receives several e-mails a week that pose various questions about various religious and social issues. We wanted to start posting those questions on the website, blog and Facebook page. The first is this: “There is one path to God. Jesus says so himself. How can you expect me to ‘embrace’ the beliefs of Muslims who kill for lives and Hindus that worship idols? “ (from Gina in Savannah, Georgia)


RESPONSE—“Good and challenging question. First, I would challenge that Jesus truly believed in one path to relationship with the Sacred. Those statements are attributed to him in John, which is most certainly a writing that emerged from the beliefs of the early Christian movement. I don’t believe that Jesus actually said that he was the exclusive “way” to God. Those were ideas from the early Christian evangelists who saw ‘sameness’ in Jesus with God. In other words, I don’t believe that Jesus was creating a legalistic path to experiencing God--his path and ONLY his path. I believe those words in John are a reflection of the movement’s feelings toward Jesus. Inspiring thoughts, certainly, but not ideas that should be taken legalistically and used to denounce another's right to experience God along another path.

Second, put simply, I would not expect, nor would I want, anyone to embrace any belief system that did not coincide with their own experience with God. I do, however, hope that others will respect another’s right to experience a relationship with their God in a way that is effective for them. Murder is a universally deplorable response delivered by man…not God. I don't believe for a moment that God views the attacks of 9/11 from extremist Muslim sects, as acceptable acts of devotion. Nor do I believe that God ordered Samuel to slaughter an entire village of men, women and children as I Samuel 15:3 states. Violence is not an act of a generative spiritual entity. Harmony is in-sync with a Creator. Such a harmony allows me to embrace others even though I disagree with them. I can embrace an orthodox Christian, even though I don’t believe in the literality of Scripture. The same is true with various aspects of other faiths. After all, if I had to agree on all topics with everyone I encounter, I probably would not even find a friend in the mirror!

Jesus, first and foremost, promoted relationship to the Sacred. With that, he knew that lives driven by compassion would emerge—as it did for him. Lives driven by compassion seek a harmony in the world that brings inward peace and promotes outward peace as well. So Gina, you don’t need to bow down to someone else’s idol. I do, however, hope that you’ll express an acceptance of the right of a brother or sister to experience spirituality in their own way. Best wishes, True.”

Is there an question that you would like to pose to the Compassion Revolution? Just e-mail us at or follow this link: info@thecompassionrevolution.net