If there is one God, then why are there so many religions?

The younger generation, who thinks by logic, often ask a question that if there is one God, then why are there so many religions? This question often comes with a valid supporting argument that Science is universal, scientific facts are universal – for example, gravity acts in same way on everything, properties of matter are universal, then why can’t the religions agree on one universal God ?

Let me begin by telling a parable.  Six blind men were asked to determine what an elephant looked like by feeling different parts of the elephant's body. The blind man who felt a leg said the elephant is like a pillar; the one who felt the tail said the elephant is like a rope; the one who felt the trunk said the elephant is like a tree branch; the one who felt the ear said the elephant is like a hand fan; the one who felt the belly said the elephant is like a wall; and the one who felt the tusk said the elephant is like a solid pipe.  There was a conflict among them. But finally a wise man resolved the conflict by telling them, “All of you are right. The reason every one of you is telling it differently is because each one of you touched the different part of the elephant. So, actually the elephant has all the features you mentioned.”

Similar is the case with religions and followers who believe that God is different in different religions. Saint Tulsidas said:    
                        Hari anant Hari katha ananta ; Gavhie suniye bahu vidhi sab santa ||

Translation:  God is infinite, God’s descriptions and stories are also infinite; 

                        Many Saints sing and listen in various manners;

Some estimates say that there are more than 730 religions in the world with about 2 dozens of them covering more than 95 percent of world population. Each religion has its own set of beliefs when it comes to definition of God, life after death, existence of soul, reincarnation, identity of human being, relation between Soul and God etc.

Christian doctrine of the Trinity says: "The One God exists in Three Persons and One Substance, as God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit."  As per Islam, God (Allāh) is the all-powerful and all-knowing creator, sustainer, ordainer, and judge of the universe. Budhism speak of God to be void (sunya), devoid of duality; in itself it is perfectly real, in fact the only reality. Jainism defines Godliness as the inherent quality of soul characterizing infinite bliss, infinite power, perfect knowledge and peace. Hinduism is unique in itself as unlike other religions, this religion was not founded by any prophet or messenger of God.  It has been there from the beginning of life and hence, it is also called as Sanatan Dharma (Eternal Religion). Hinduism talk about omnipresent Sat-Chit-Anand (Eternal-Conscious-Blissful) Par Brahm Parmatma as God and at the same time, encourages polytheism by way of glorifying Gods in personal form in Puranas.

Although there are differences in the definition of God, but all the Prophets, Saints and religions agree on the existence of a higher power. Most of the religions also agree that existence of such divine higher power is beyond the perceiving abilities of five senses and the mind. It is a common experience that even the objects that can be perceived by five senses and mind are very difficult to define in words, for example, taste of sweet candy, melody of a musical song, feeling of love or experience of happiness. Then how can Prophets and Saints put God or the realization of God into words?  

That is the reason, most of the Prophets and Saints said that, “you cannot put God in words, but at the same time you can experience His presence or realize the Truth.” Most of the Saints say that, “when we talk about God, we are only pointing you to that Supreme Being. So, please don’t get stuck to our fingers or words that are pointing towards that Holy Being. Try to look beyond those words and realize the Truth yourself with closed eyes.”

It is unfortunate that even though all the Prophets and Saints align with each other and were never in conflict regarding God or the Truth. But, the followers have made all the differences and conflicts in the form of various organized religions. When the followers tried to put God into words, there appeared to be differences. The Truth is only one, the Spirituality is only one, the God is only one, but the organized religions might differ based on different aspects or different view of the same omnipresent God, just like the parable of elephant and blind men told above.  

When a seeker goes into the depth of a religion or a path with a pure heart and open mind, he or she realizes that Spirituality or the Spiritual Laws are as universal in nature as Science. The differences are only at the superficial level of religion and not in the underlying spirituality. Most of the differences are only creations of mind – human mind or the undeveloped mind of the followers. Self-realized Saints of the east emphasize that in order to realize the Truth, one has to dive deep into the universal spiritual aspect of the religion or path. Only by erasing all the conflicts and doubts of the mind, one can find the inherent divine Truth. This is beautifully depicted in Sanatan Dharma where in all the doctrines and all the philosophies (Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, Vedanta etc) exist without any conflict. Similarly with open mind, a true seeker should find a confluence in all the definitions of God as per all religions – ultimately it’s all about ONE UNIVERSAL GOD.