Why so many religions?

By Ajit Krishna Dasa

Question:

“If there’s one God, why are there more than 4,000 religions?”

My answer:

You could also ask:

If there is one reality why are there thousands of different and contradictory views about this reality? Even among the best philosophers and scientist we find these differences and contradictions.

Well, it has to do with our ABILITY to understand reality – including spiritual reality.

The answer for you is that reality is understood by VIRTUE EPISTEMOLOGY.

In other words, reality can only be accessed properly by people who adhere to and master certain epistemic and moral virtues.

Just like, if you are filled with lust, anger, greed, hate, envy, irrational fear, etc. then these will become hindrances to realizing the world as it is.

People – also religious people – are on different levels. They are not equally good at following epistemic virtues, and therefore they perceive reality according to their more or less limited, covered and distorted vision. And thus they create, or are offered, many different worldviews and religious systems – in proportion to their level of consciousness.

When you have mastered the epistemic virtues you will se reality AS IT IS. Then you will follow the true and eternal religion, sanatana-dharma, or Krishna consciousness, as it is revealed in the Vedic scriptures.