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As far as this, don’t mistake this theory for “all religions come to God”, but it’s possible that some religions might be a bit like a 6,000 year long instance of “The Telephone Game”. (Others are probably more like demons trying to lead people to destruction…)
Remember, it used to be very hard to write things down. Sometimes entire nations would be sacked, everyone in a place killed, languages changed due to conquest, etc. - all sorts of different “social earthquakes”.
Yet amid this, some small remnant, often of people too young to correctly remember all the details, do remember and know enough to keep doing some important parts. It seems entirely possible that scattered around the world are bits and pieces of truth, mangled through centuries of trials, who’ve come to call things by the wrong names while preserving and passing down traditions and teachings of doing some number of things the right way.
Not that wild of a thought considering that most Christians think God’s name is “God”.
Go check out the Sikh principles and religious festivals. It’s shocking.
What’s the meaning of their god’s name? How do they think of his existence?
It’s definitely just a theory, but it seems like one that could bear some really good fruit if correct. May be worth keeping an eye out for all the same, as at the very least it’s an opportunity to open further conversation with “come, let us reason together”.
It isn’t entirely impossible that fragments of truth have been preserved, even in traditions far removed from historic Christianity. Some religious practices or beliefs may contain echoes of ancient revelation, distorted over time by cultural shifts, oral transmission, or spiritual warfare.
It is written in the scriptures, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20). Even without special revelation, creation and conscience bear witness to Him. “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.” (Romans 2:14-15). So it shouldn't surprise us if, across cultures and centuries, people have retained some understanding of moral order, divine holiness, or the need for sacrifice and purification, even if those truths are now embedded in syncretistic or idolatrous systems.
There is also historical possibility. During the reign of Solomon, many from across the ancient world came to hear his wisdom. It is possible some of that wisdom has filtered into distant cultures. After Pentecost, the gospel spread rapidly. Paul preached from Antioch to Ephesus, and Thomas carried the message to India, possibly influencing local communities there long before Western missions arrived. It’s conceivable that remnants of apostolic teaching could have blended over time with local beliefs, leaving behind cultural practices that feel meaningful or morally coherent, even if their theological foundation has shifted.
That said we must beware counterfeit spirituality. While we can acknowledge glimmers of truth such as the Sikh emphasis on one God, or Diwali’s celebration of light overcoming darkness, we must also discern when those symbols have been redirected away from the true God and toward false gods or self-redemption.
Still, these parallels can serve as bridges for gospel conversation. Just as Paul at Mars Hill used the Athenians’ "unknown god" as a starting point (Acts 17:23), we can honor the longing behind other traditions, such as the desire for purity, justice, light, and new beginnings, while pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment of all that humanity has dimly remembered or hoped for.
So no, I don’t believe “all roads lead to God.” However, God has been revealing Himself in various ways throughout history, and He still uses fragments of truth to draw people toward the fullness found only in Christ.
Yeah, I see the theory in the same way, as pointing toward a bridge for them to cross over, or back over, into proper understanding.
Also, on occasion, as a reminder to us where we’ve forgotten to pay attention to the scriptures of more appropriate realizations of them.
Frankly, I see the scriptures that same way for a lot of the rest of Christianity as well.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 - Test all things; hold fast that which is good.
Amen, and thank you for the conversation.