theology games

There is a distinction of the world that I had previously been unaware existed. You see, I have been under the assumption that truth and reality were synonymous, as were falsehood and idealism. If something is true then it, by definition, has to be real. If something is false or a lie, then it has to either be simple misconstrued idealism or deception. Once again, say hello to my pure black and white thinking. How quickly that gets us into trouble. The shattering of this perception has perhaps been one of the factors that has shaken me up the most and given me a sense of disequilibrium.
It seems straightforward and simple. Most things that get us into trouble have that deceptive aspect to them. No matter what religion you look at (at least if you speak to people who wholly devote their lives to it), its followers believe it is the essence of truth. It shapes their worldview, how they live their lives, and gives them purpose and faith. To them, it is true. Completely. It is truth. Now if you line up all these major (and even many of the more controversial) religions there are many aspects and histories that are similar—if not identical. Even so, there are many more aspects that are in direct opposition to each other. There are details that are fundamentals to each faith that contradict fundamentals of opposing faiths. Ideally, if truth is to be truth, then there can only be one truth. These contradictions then, if it follows logic and common sense, negate the possibility that all these religions are true. They can’t all be true. If they are, then they cancel out the truth of each other and we return full circle to the lack of truth. In spite of this, each devoted follower of their perspective religions would be willing to die for the truth they find in their faith.
In fact, we need not look that broadly. Let us look at our beloved Christianity, shall we? We do not even have to be as broad as comparing Catholicism with Protestantism. Let’s narrow it to pure Protestantism. One major faith, right? One core set of values and beliefs that are true and false. Of course, we all know better. Even within this seemingly cohesive religious family, there are core beliefs that separate believers from one another. At times, the separation is not such a huge dilemma; at others, it can be the difference between Heaven and Hell. Once you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior and ask him in believing to forgive your sins, you are saved right? Guaranteed to enter Heaven and be with Him eternally? Well, slowdown there, Bucko, not quite yet. It depends on which Protestant faith you have fallen into. Baptist? Sure, you are set. No matter what, as long as you really meant it that first time, you are gonna go to Heaven. Good luck making reservations in Hell if you desire change your vacation destination, you have made a commitment—your Heaven-bound tickets are non-exchangeable. Methodist? Yep, you sure did make the commitment. Then you consciously tell a little white lie so you don’t have to help your mother-in-law move. You don’t even get a choice, Hell has been sprawled on your ticket where ‘Destination: Heaven’ used to be shining so brightly in baby blue puff lettering. Better pray and ask for forgiveness again real quick before that semi-truck comes hurdling your way! So which is true? Both! Both are 100% true. Just ask a Baptist, he’ll tell you his beliefs are true. Just ask a Methodist, he’ll tell you his beliefs are true. But, wait, if they are both true, then their truths must exist independently from each other, or they would contradict in such a fashion that one would be untrue. Thank goodness for that whole alternate reality theory. That must be what is going on here. Whew, figured that out!
I remember people debating the issue of interracial marriage as I was growing up (yes, I know, we were a couple decades behind the times in Missouri, shut your trap). We considered it immoral and a sin to marry outside your race. Well, Blacks and Whites anyway. White and Asian seemed to be acceptable. Maybe even a commingling of Whites and Hispanics from time to time as well. In fact, people who engaged in such sham marriages were not really married in the eyes of God. Their belief that they were actually married and in love was false. And yet. . . I have seen many interracial couples in my adulthood who have seemingly loving and successful marriages. I have even seen interracial couple who lead churches—I know, outrageous. These people would say that Christians who preach against interracial marriage are promoting a false commandment of God that never really existed. Historically, this separation of values has resulted in many lynchings and deaths. Now, both beliefs can’t be false. If one is false, then the other has to be true. But both sides say the other is false. Ok, then, they are both false, mystery solved.
The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is wrong and a sin and such acts are an abomination before God lead directly to The Pit (Hell, for those of you not as in tune with religious slang as you should be—for shame!). We accepted this as non-negotiable and as of pure truth as any that may have ever existed. After all, the Bible is one hundred percent correct, factual and infallible. Another part of that very same book states explicitly how women should stay silent in church gatherings and never take a leadership role, oh, and keep their shinning glory (aka hair) covered at all times, of course. And yet, my great-grandmother not only spoke in church, she was a preacher—as much as she could be at the beginning of the 20th century in the Mid-West. Now, about that whole gay thing leading me to the flames. . .
So, this little lesson has been presented for your enlightenment and to clear up any misconceptions you may have previously been holding onto. Truth is not simply true or right. False is not simply a deception or wrong. That would make too much sense and be too easy. There is no truth and there is no falsehood. There is, however, reality. Things are either real or unreal. There is no gray there, none. Something either exists or it does not. It can not be both. Maybe at times some of the truth that people hold onto actually is what exists in reality. Maybe at other times, some of what humanity believes is false falls into what truly does not exist in our world. However, how are we to know when this happens and when it does not? We are all too consumed by our own definitions of what is true and what is false to recognize what is reality and what does not exist in reality.