Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Social Sciences
  4. / Religions

by Revelator on March 29th, 2004

Revelator

Question

Help answer this question below.

Which religion is "right"?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by nona1789 on February 18th, 2005

    nona1789

    The most famous and influencing piece of literature to treat this question is "Nathan der Weise", published in th 18. century, written by the philosopher G.E. Lessing. He lets his protagonist answer this question using the parable of the rings, originally introduced to literature in the 15. century by Boccaccio.

    Short version of the parable: A rich man must decide, which of his three sons, that he all loves the same, should inherit his fortune when he dies. As a sign of this decision, he is to give the son he chooses a precious ring. He can not make the decision, so he invites the most famous ringmakers to make two exact copies of the ring. The copies are so well made, that they can't be distinguished from the original. Before his death, the father calls each of his sons to his bad, gives him one of the rings and says "You are the son I love most".
    The analogy to the three rings are the three "book religion" Judaism, Islam and Christianity but can also be extended to the other religions of the world.
    Nathan says: My ancestors have been told -and therefore told me- that the religion they "received" is the right one, just as have yours (the man he is talking to being of an other religion). Who am I to call my ancestors liars - or to ask of you to call yours alike?

    This is a very short form of one of the most important pieces of world literature ever, so for further detail, I suggest you read the book.

    Comments

    • Fame doesn't make it right. God made the universe orderly, wouldn't cause such confusion. His inheritance is unlimited.

      Anonymous

      by Anonymous on May 24th, 2005

    • If his inheritance was unlimited and he was truly a loving "God", then there would be no Hell.

      eternal0void

      by eternal0void on January 1st, 2007

    • Like
    • Report

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading Which religion is "right"?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company