Religion really like an Elephant?
I was reading Timothy Keller's 'Preaching and Pluralism', and came accross an interesting point. There is a popular analogy of 'the elephant' that I have always had a logical problem with. Keller put a voice to my thoughts.
The analogy is of the blind men trying to describe an elephant. One feels the tail and reports that an elephant is thin and flexible. Another feels a leg and claims the animal is thick as a tree. Another touches its side and reports that the elephant is like a wall. This, to the pluralist notion, represents how the various religions only understand part of God while no one can truly see the whole picture. To claim full knowledge of God is arrogance.
HOWEVER, the only way this parable makes any sense is if you've seen the whole elephant. Therefore, the minute you say, 'All religions only see part of the truth,' you are claiming the very knowledge you say no one else has. And you are demonstrating the same spiritual arrogance you accuse Christians of.
Interesting fodder for discussion, and maybe a sermon.
The analogy is of the blind men trying to describe an elephant. One feels the tail and reports that an elephant is thin and flexible. Another feels a leg and claims the animal is thick as a tree. Another touches its side and reports that the elephant is like a wall. This, to the pluralist notion, represents how the various religions only understand part of God while no one can truly see the whole picture. To claim full knowledge of God is arrogance.
HOWEVER, the only way this parable makes any sense is if you've seen the whole elephant. Therefore, the minute you say, 'All religions only see part of the truth,' you are claiming the very knowledge you say no one else has. And you are demonstrating the same spiritual arrogance you accuse Christians of.
Interesting fodder for discussion, and maybe a sermon.
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