The Blog

At first glance, it might appear that the existence of so many contradictory beliefs reinforces the elephant parable – the idea that truth in religious can never be known.

In this parable, an elephant is being examined by six blind men.

Each man feels a different part of the elephant and thus reaches a different conclusion about the object in front of him.

One man grabs the tusk and says, “This is a spear!”

Another holds the trunk and says, “This is a snake!”

The one hugging the leg claims, “This is a tree!”.

The blind man holding the tail thinks, “I have a rope!”

The one feeling the ear believes, “This is a fan!”

Finally, the one leaning on the elephant’s side is certain, “This is a wall!”

These blind men are said to represent world religions because they come to a different conclusion about what they are sensing.

Like the blind men, we are told that no religion has truth. Religious truth is relative. It is subjective, not objective.

This may seem persuasive until we consider one question: “What is the perspective of the one who is telling the parable?”

He seems to have an objective perspective of the entire proceeding because he can see that all the blind men were wrong.

In fact, he would not know that the blind men were wrong unless he had an objective perspective of what is right.

So, if the person telling the parable can have an objective perspective, why not the blind men?

If the blind men could suddenly see, they would realize that they were mistaken about they were feeling. We too can see truth in religion.

Unfortunately, many people who deny the fact that there is truth in religion are not actually blind but willfully blind.

We many not want to admit that there is truth in religion because the truth will convict us. But if we open our eyes and stop hiding behind the self-defeating nonsense that truth cannot be known, then we will be able to see the truth as well.

Not just truth in the areas where we demand it – relationships, money, health, law, etc.- but truth in religion as well.

As the blind man healed by Jesus said, “Once I was blind, but now I see.” (John 9)

Personal Reflection:

Why should anyone believe anything at all?