Some people may come to this conclusion that there is a commonality and similarity that unites all religious thought and practice under one category as God. Yet this surface level view is Titanic as navigating the waters of religious diversity with an overconfidence that only sees the tip of the iceberg as neglecting to seriously consider the massive and deceptive destruction that lies just below the surface in boarding this doomed and sinking ship as a passenger that will never arrive at a safe harbor but will, to their surprise, drown under a false sense of security in thinking it to be indestructible.
Many people fail to recognize that most of these religious world views are so antithetical and divergent that they are plainly irreconcilable. This enlightenment comes when a person studies comparative religions/cults and like a sonar they pick up the significant differences as seeing its true shape and form as outlining its danger apart from a limited view and scope.
A Hindu can say that this is not a problem as contradiction is compatible with their philosophy yet they don’t walk the talk as their everyday lives reflects logic and reason even as it applies to the ideology of religion in that radical nationalistic Hindus are hostile towards other religious movements and the eastern gurus are often eager to convert Westerners to their way of thinking.
Practically speaking this whole idea perhaps evolved as a way to problem solve the tension between their competitive polytheistic past with an attempt to bridge the gap between these paths so as to broaden the road of life nonetheless this herd mentality will lead them to fall off the cliff as following the leader of religious pluralism.
Anyway some have attempted to use the analogy of the blind men and the elephant as relating this idea about god and though there is a god concept which is common among humanity as being intuitively hard-wired into the main frame of our being this does not always lead to a truthful correlation of reality.
Just because the blind person claims they can see in describing god does not mean that they couldn’t be lying or possibly deceived. This kind of subjectivism can be misleading as the motivating factor for ones perception can be imperfect for various reasons of self interests thus following the path of a religious teacher, guru, sage, and yogi can be presumptuous. Whose to say they are really touching god at all as it may be no more than the creative and imaginative process of inventing a god after their own likeness and image to correspond to their idolatrous desires. Jesus warns that there will be false prophets or blind gurus, who as the blind who lead the blind, they will both be led astray and off course.
Here is what the bible has to say on this matter
Mathew 24:24
24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Romans 1:18-23
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
In conclusion to state that all views of god are equally valid and no one absolute view is essentially right becomes self refuting as applying to their very statement about all views being equally valid. Moreover to say that every expression is just a small part of the larger whole is conflicting as Hindus value their own uniqueness and exclusiveness as being essentially important otherwise they would see no problem or conflict as joining other groups or for that matter another unrelated religion in their experience of god. Furthermore to say that we all have just a little truth, then what reassures them that they have enough information to be effectual as being ultimately or essentially true.
Lastly it is one thing to accommodate various beliefs or belief systems but quite another to say that every belief can be proven to be equally valid or true. Thus religious tolerance is one matter while religious synthesis, relativism, inclusivism, and universalism is quite another. Forbearance is good but it does not supplant the need for a standard of truth and to say that there are “many ways” or valid paths to God will intolerably disqualify those who say there is only “one way.” Thus tolerance doesn’t become the measure of all things but rather truth spoken in tolerance and love is.
Finally, biblically speaking there are two paths that oppose one another. One is broad (many) that leads to destruction and the other is narrow (one) that leads to life. Just as most of us were given feet to walk we are also given a choice as to what path to travel. My challenge to you is will you take the broad way which merges all paths or will you dare to walk and explore the narrow way which leads to life? Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life and that none one comes to God except through Him.
Lastly God doesn’t just leave you blindly groping for the truth but rather he will open your eyes with a special revelation of who He is when you wholehearted and sincerely seek after him.
Mt 11:28-30
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
How to know God
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007