Many people who are considered humble and tolerant will say that all religions are useful for "bettering" oneself and have a similar core message: kindness and love toward your neighbor.
I don't believe that. I use the extreme example of Mesoamerican religions: Aztec, Maya, and their predecessors who practiced human sacrifice. They certainly had no love for neighboring tribes since conquest for the purpose of human sacrifice was their goal. The goal of said human sacrifice was not for their betterment or for union with their gods, but rather to appease their gods so the gods didn't wreak havoc on them.
1. Isn't this avoiding the "truth" question? They cannot all logically be completely true if they contradict each other on core thing such as who "God" is?
There's a line in
Childhood's End (the tv version, anyway; I never read the book) in which Karellan, the alien governor of Earth tells one of the characters, a deeply religious and now confused woman,
“...all the world’s religions cannot be right, and they know it. Sooner or later man has to learn the truth:”
Gandhi, on the other hand said
“I came to the conclusion long ago that all religions were true and that also that all had some error in them, and while I hold by my own religion, I should hold other religions as dear as Hinduism. So we can only pray, if we were Hindus, not that a Christian should become a Hindu; but our innermost prayer should be that a Hindu should become a better Hindu, a Muslim a better Muslim, and a Christian a better Christian.”
My take-away lesson from that is that every religion is true for its followers and adherents. But their stated goals are not the same.
2. Is it really arrogant and intolerant for someone to believe that he knows the truth and that it is loving to share that truth with others?
Yes. As we have here, with which I agree wholeheartedly:
but sharing one's truth is different to proselytising and I have no problem with that. I do think it is uncalled for to stand on street corners and preach your religion; it just seems rude, when no-one asked for it.
I will happily talk about Hinduism and explain what I know to the best of my knowledge
IF someone asks. Which they have done. The
pranava (
ॐ aka
oṁ ) pendant I wear is sometimes visible, which sometimes prompts someone to ask what it is. One of the cashiers at the supermarket who knows me as a regular once commented that the flowers I had were beautiful, and that she noticed I buy several bunches every week. I explained why, which prompted a short conversation she found fascinating.
On the other hand, I've encountered people (as currently in a Facebook "discussion") telling me that Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me"; that I will one day have to face God (yes, happily
); that the devil is doing a happy dance for me (really, the person said that); that I will regret my life's "choices"... i.e. being an idol-worshiping sodomite. Seriously, even I can make this stuff up.