If there is one true religion, what about the other 99% of earth’s population throughout history?

Once again I think this is a problem many thoughtful individuals have with religion in general. Multiple religions claim to be the correct path while at the same time having rather harsh statements about those who are not with them, even to the point of the unfortunates burning in fire for all eternity. Such statements do not seem to ring true to those who believe in principles of justice and mercy and of a God with the same characteristics. Even those who are members of faiths that have such doctrines will usually themselves voice beliefs about justice and mercy in regards to those outside of their own faith although their own faith does not have doctrinal justification for doing so. Those who cannot stand the duplicity often feel there is no alternative but to throw their hands up in the air and dismiss it all, some even haughtily proud of themselves for recognizing the dilemma. A seeker, if troubled by this particular dilemma, would not be satisfied with a question mark.

In my observation, the limiting element of such a faith’s doctrine involves viewing this life as a one act play when in fact it is at least a three act drama, more accurately with endless acts. The common thinking is to view of our birth on earth as the beginning, our death as the end, followed by a judgement that determines our condition for the rest of eternity…done, close the book, end of story. With such a view those who do not accept Jesus, or the prophet Muhammad or God at all, let alone those who have never heard the name Jesus, are without hope. There is not a doctrinal explanation for why certain souls are born into favorable or less favorable conditions, nor a mechanism by which souls could be ’saved’ despite their unfavorable lot in this life, nor an answer to the fact that a great percentage of souls that have been born into this world never lived past their fifth birthday. There are speculations and attempts to explain: the Calvinists turn to the idea of pre-destination; the religions of the East turn to reincarnation to explain (and unfortunately justify perpetuation of) distinct classes; while others turn to baptizing newborns to solve the issue in their mind. However all such efforts are merely patches. I find them all to be manmade attempts to reconcile the theological language by which they are bound with the observed conditions of the world around them.

The most profound statements to me in relation to this dilemma, came in the 93rd section of the Doctrine and Covenants, passages in the Book of Abraham, and the book of Moses. Some of these elements are given voice in a lecture by Truman Madsen in Timeless Questions, Gospel Insights speaking about suffering and the problem of evil. Or if you want the real meat, Hugh Nibley’s essay entitled Before Adam blows the socks off of the best religionists and scientists.