I was at home yesterday, and I came up with a pretty good analogy.

New York City is New York City. Nothing more, nothing less. Whether you get there by train, car, bust, taxi, or boat, it's still the city. You can drive there so many ways: up from New Jersey, south from the suburbs, or west from Long Island. Sure, some roads are more dangerous than others, but as long as you drive safely, you have little reason to worry. And if you stop to get gas or eat, who cares? It doesn't matter as long as you get back on the road when you're done. Any way you go, you're still ending up in New York City.

What I'm trying to say is that there's no one true way to practice religion. In the end, provided you're not overzealous or corrupt and try to twist your beliefs, pretty much each path ultimately requires good actions. Everyone is allowed to deviate a little and differ in their approach, because the results are the same.

Ahh, the old "all roads lead to Rome" theory hu. I was thinking of this awhile back. So I tryed to use that same line of thinking, but using other senerios. Lets say you wanted to become a Doctor. All roads surly dont lead to rome then. There is much you have to do. Nor do all roads lead to becoming a crack head. There had to have been somethings in ones life that had to go terribly wrong for that to have happened. Besides, if you take a big step back, do all roads really lead to NY city? One wrong turn and you can find yourself North bound going in the opposite direction you wanted to go. Especialy if you've never been there before. Forgive me for using scripture, (I know how its unwelcome here) but the one that comes to mind is "Wide is the path to hell, many will go that way, and narrow is the gate to heaven and few will find it"

That's why it's essential to actually follow the road and not make any significant wrong turns. It's not like there's one road to travel. All roads lead to Rome, but all of them have turnpikes that lead onto the seedy side roads, too.

Ahh, but what if New York City enlarged its borders? What if you were to discover that The One who built the city, loved the people, and to include everyone, enlarged the city so it would be populated by ALL the people? And governed by the One who loved all people and made the city for everyone's delight and provision?

JayD, I truly believe from my experience of quoting scripture here, that it is not unwelcome as you perceive. I think the old ibid, loc cit and op cit are quite essential to support your opinions.

OD

So what do you supose happens to the people who do make wrong turns? Why would it be essential to stay on a certain road, when all roads lead to the same place? Im just trying to understand.

,

JayD, we're all good, okay?

But now tell me, from your working within Anti's analogy, who is God then? Are you driving your "vehicle" to heaven?

OD

Very nice OD. There is a place even outside the city though for those not ready to live in the city

I dont know if there will be vehicles in heaven or not, but if its so, I hope I dont have to bring mine. I'd rather just get a new one if its all the same.

JayD, work with me here, okay???

This was an analogy!

Now tell me honestly the answers to my questions.

OD