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Truth in Religion: Two aspects

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Summary:

This section deals with two very different aspects of truth in religion:

1. Theological beliefs: These involve such topics as the nature of gods, goddesses, or other deities, the afterlife, salvation, seasonal days of celebration, sin, etc. These are taught as truths by the tens of thousands of different religious denominations and traditions worldwide. However, there are major differences in "truth" both within and among religions.
    
2. Social, moral, scientific, cultural, and political beliefs: Faith groups and parachurch organizations also teach and report about about morality and ethics; human sexuality; various scientific topics like the origin of the species, the age of the Earth, cosmology; etc. They often advocate for and against legislation and government regulations. Often, they promote beliefs as truth that conflict with the "truths" of other religious groups and the findings of scientists.
   
   We have also noted in recent years that some of these groups are bending the truth -- particularly when battling proposed legislation. We hope that this section of our website will document individual examples of this and provide a more complete and balanced treatment for our visitors.

Topics covered in this section:

Introduction

1. Theological beliefs:

	Beliefs taught as truth within: Christianity Judaism Islam Other religions
	Cardinal beliefs by conservative Protestants and mostly shared by other Christians
	The Ethic of Reciprocity (a.k.a. Golden Rule): A behavioral truth taught by all religions.
	The roles of doubt in religious faith.
	Truth: is it absolute or relative?
	How people view truth in other religions: exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism.
	Definitions of "Christian."
	Which denomination(s), if any, is the true Christian church?
	Which religion is the true one?
	Religious freedom: the path to peace, in spite of different concepts of religious truth.

2. Social, moral, scientific cultural, and political beliefs:

	Conflicts over "truth" in science and religion
	Conflicts over origins of the species, the earth itself and the rest of the universe
	Truth concerning the age of the Earth A failed attempt to enter into dialog with supporters of creation science: Part 1   Part 2   A list of "proofs" of a Young Earth that web sites might want to avoid:  Part 1  Part 2
	Truth in healing: using prayer instead of medical treatment
	Human sexuality: Lesbian, gay, bisexual topics Trandgendered persons and transsexuals Foundational beliefs play a major role in many the bills being proposed or recently passed in Congress that involve sexual orientation -- like ENDA, DOMA repeal, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy in the military, hate crimes legislation, etc.

Footnote:

1. Unfortunately, the term "religious pluralism" can be confusing because it is sometimes used to mean "religious diversity."

Copyright © 2009 to 2011 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Initial posting: 2009-SEP-16
Latest update: 2012-JUL-30
Author: B.A. Robinson

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