Why so many religions?

As a follow up to my last post it may be prudent to discuss why there are so many religions. If, as I asserted before, there is only one truth, why are there so many religions? This question cannot be answered by common sense alone until we have a basic understanding of some fundamental truths. I will start with these basic truths, then the answer may be discovered with simple reasoning.

As there is a Supreme force for good, or a God, there is also a source of evil; the classic struggle of good versus evil. This is not a literary creation of a simple tradition but is based in eternal truth. This force of evil stands in opposition to God and desires the destruction of everything good. It desires everyone to be miserable because it is miserable. This force is known by many names such as Satan, Lucifer or the devil. He is real, just as God is real.

So, with this key understanding of a force opposed to God, we can deduce why there are many religions. Satan will use any means available to prevent us from finding God and His eternal truths. Because, if we can find God and His truth, we will find joy, happiness and peace. Satan does not want that. So, he employs many means to deceive us.

One of his best tools, and working well on anyone skeptical of the truth that there is a force of evil, is that he doesn't exist. If he can convince you that there is no evil then he has no need for any additional deceptions. If you don't believe there is any evil, then you cannot believe there is any good; for how could one exist without the other? And if there is no good, why would there be a God or any need to seek him? Life must have no meaning other than to just live for yourself and the day.

Another common tool that Satan uses is to provide counterfeits of things that are good. He uses half-truths to deceive those who are content with a little of the truth but unwilling to make the effort to find the whole truth. If he can provide something that looks appealing with partial truths, he can prevent us from finding the original. One of the results of his counterfeiting is the existence of many religions. There is one true religion that contains all of the truths of God and His plan, but with the existence of many, it is difficult to find it.

To improve his plan, Satan is also working to discredit religion altogether. Haven't created his counterfeits, he can then use them to deceive many others by making religion look bad. He makes it appear to be the enemy of peace. We can see this in a couple of fashions. First, since the differing religions are teaching different beliefs, how can any of them be right? For elaboration on this, see my previous post. Second, if he can have religion appear to be evil he would have a great victory. How many atrocities have been committed in the name of religion? Too many to number. And why has this been done? Because religion is bad? No, because Satan wants to discredit all religion to prevent us from finding truth and God.

Satan's plan is very effective today. There an many people who decry all religion because they have been convinced that religion is evil or that it is misleading its followers. Every religion that has commits atrocities or that promotes discord and contention has done so at the bidding of Satan. This is very important to understand, because without this key of knowledge we could be left to believe, as many do today, that there is no true religion.

However, I assure you that there is a true religion. I promise that there is a religion that truly preaches and practices principles of good. There is a religion that preaches and embraces peace, love for our fellow man, service and charity. It is a religion that expects is followers to think for themselves and learn for themselves of the truths of God. It is a religion that Satan does not want you to find because it brings true joy, happiness and knowledge. Satan has done much by way of counterfeiting and discrediting religions to hinder us in finding this happiness.

In summary, I have presented the key of knowledge necessary to understand why there would be so many religions in the world and why many have perpetuated violence and cruelty throughout the ages. This key is that there is a force of evil opposed to all things good.