“How do I know which religion is right? They all claim to be correct, yet they all teach different things!” If there are different religions, teaching contrary things, then they can’t all be correct, can they? Don’t be discouraged, for many of these are merely man’s attempt to seek out happiness in life, and they should not threaten us. Others, however, come to us from founders who claim to have immediate or extraordinary (direct) mission from God.
“These different founders, all claiming to speak for God, speak contrary to one another.” Then it is clear we can not take the founders at their word alone.
First, I say then that no one should allege an extraordinary [direct] mission [from God] unless he prove it by miracles : for, I pray you, where would we be if this pretext of extraordinary mission was to be accepted without proof? Would it not be a cloak for all sorts of reveries? – St. Francis de Sales [1]
No, if someone approaches us, claiming to speak directly for God, let them produce some sign that they speak for God.
If then they allege extraordinary mission, let them show us some extraordinary works, otherwise we are not obliged to believe them. – St. Francis de Sales [1]
This is how we can sort and sift the various religions we find on earth. How many religious founders provided extraordinary works to prove the truth of their claims? — Only Christianity.
Moses, and all the other prophets throughout the ages worked miracles to prove they were sent by God.
Never was any one extraordinarily sent unless he brought this letter of credit [miracles] from the divine Majesty [God]. – St. Francis de Sales [1]
That Jesus Christ worked many miracles is recorded throughout antiquity.
But also, to give authority to his mission, he brings forward his miracles, and attests that if he had not done among the Jews works which no other man had done, they would not have sinned in not believing him. And elsewhere he says to them: Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? Otherwise believe for the works themselves. [John 14:11] – St Francis de Sales [1]
That Christ’s early church, founded on St. Peter, worked many miracles is recorded throughout antiquity as well.
But as to the Apostles,–who does not know the miracles they did and the great number of them? Their handkerchiefs, their shadow, served for the prompt healing of the sick … by the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done amongst the people [Acts 5: 12]. - St. Francis de Sales [1]
We must be careful what we believe. While people’s intentions may be good, that does not mean they can not be misled, or miseducated, even through no fault of their own. We must weigh carefully the claims of the founders of a religion to ascertain its authenticity:
He then who would be so rash as to boast of extraordinary mission without immediately producing miracles, deserves to be taken for an imposter. – St. Francis de Sales [1]
1.) The Catholic Controversy, St. Francis De Sales, Ch 3 – The Pretended Referormers Had No Immediate or Extraordinary Mission from God, http://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Controversy-Francis-Sales-Defense/dp/0895553872/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247385916&sr=8-1
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