I understand that men have interpreted God's word through the millenia, so it's not He who is confusing the question, but why would there be punishments, (or if not punishments, at least a lesser "oneness" with him) if you happened to be born in a Muslim country, for example, than a Christian or Catholic environment? Every religion thinks it has the "Truth" and that all others are either completely wrong or have lesser versions of the truth.
It is a dangerous trick or riddle that each person has to figure out. Seems to me that this feeds the idea of relativism, that perhaps God is the only truth and how we interpret Him and believe in him is less important than how act. There are other truths that seem to transcend this, like treating our fellow man in a certain way. But whether we think cows are sacred or (forgive me for this!) whether we think Jesus is alive in the Eucharist is harder to discern. Also, the fact that there is a lesser oneness depending on what religion you believe is not necessarily "Truth." Or, maybe it is. That is my question.
It is a dangerous trick or riddle that each person has to figure out. Seems to me that this feeds the idea of relativism, that perhaps God is the only truth and how we interpret Him and believe in him is less important than how act. There are other truths that seem to transcend this, like treating our fellow man in a certain way. But whether we think cows are sacred or (forgive me for this!) whether we think Jesus is alive in the Eucharist is harder to discern. Also, the fact that there is a lesser oneness depending on what religion you believe is not necessarily "Truth." Or, maybe it is. That is my question.