All religion seems to need to prove that it's the only truth. And

In the deep recesses of human history, one truth becomes ever apparent: the more we cling to our religion as the only path to salvation, the more we risk descending into conflict. John Shelby Spong speaks with unsettling clarity when he observes, "All religion seems to need to prove that it’s the only truth. And that’s where it turns demonic." This warning—echoing across centuries of human strife—reminds us of the destructive force that arises when faith becomes a weapon, a means of division, instead of a force for unity. Religion, at its highest calling, should uplift, enlighten, and guide souls toward peace. But when it becomes insistent on proving its singularity, it transforms into something far more dangerous: a tool of division, hatred, and violence.

From the beginning of time, mankind has sought truth, and religion has long been seen as the key to understanding the divine mysteries of life. But in the pursuit of truth, something insidious arises—the need to prove that one’s version of the divine is the only true path. In this need to be right, in this fervent desire to conquer others' beliefs, religion becomes a shadow of its original purpose. It loses its capacity for love and becomes the engine of hatred and bloodshed. Spong’s insight rings with wisdom—religion is at its most dangerous when it seeks to annihilate the beliefs of others, when it refuses to see the divine in any path other than its own.

Consider the Crusades, a period where Christians, driven by their belief in the supremacy of their faith, embarked upon violent campaigns to reclaim Jerusalem. In their zeal to assert the Christian faith as the only truth, they committed atrocities, slaying thousands in the name of salvation. The Crusaders were not merely fighting for land; they were fighting for the supremacy of their religion, believing that their faith alone held the keys to eternal life. And yet, in their attempt to prove the truth of their religion, they committed acts of brutality that stained the name of their faith for generations. This was not the divine love they professed, but the demonic shadow of a religion consumed by the desire to dominate.

In the same vein, the Inquisition stands as a grim testament to the dangers of a religion that insists on being the only truth. Those who dared to think differently, who held beliefs that deviated from the prescribed orthodoxy, were branded as heretics and condemned to a brutal death. The religious wars of Europe, which spanned centuries, left a trail of suffering and despair. Demonic, indeed, is the word for such actions—religion, in its attempt to prove its supremacy, had become a source of fear, pain, and destruction. What was once a path to divine peace had turned into a system of persecution.

But it is not only in history's bloody chapters that we see the dangers of religion turned demonic. In every era, from the rise of fundamentalism to the imposition of strict orthodoxy, the impulse to assert one’s faith as the only truth leads to the same tragic consequences: the stifling of freedom, the silencing of dissent, and the justification of violence in the name of God. The demonic force within religion is not in the belief itself, but in the belief that it must be forced upon others, that one must obliterate all who do not share it. In this pursuit of absolute truth, the human soul loses its way, forsaking compassion, understanding, and respect for the inherent dignity of others.

The teachings of Spong call us to a higher understanding of faith—one that transcends the need for domination and embraces the beauty of diversity. There is truth in many places, and the divine is not confined to a single path. We must learn that the essence of religion lies not in proving it is the only truth, but in living it with integrity, love, and compassion. Religion, at its core, is a journey towards unity with the divine and with one another, not a battle to be won. The challenge, then, is not to prove our religion as the sole truth, but to embody its deepest principles—love, forgiveness, humility, and peace.

The lesson for our time is clear: religion must not become a tool of war or persecution. It must not become the demonic force that divides us, but the divine path that unites us in our common humanity. Let us not be consumed by the need to prove our faith over others, but to live our truth in a way that fosters understanding, kindness, and respect. For when we recognize the beauty and value in the religious paths of others, we honor the divine in all its forms, and we move closer to the peace we all seek. Spong’s words serve as a beacon—a reminder to let religion be a force of healing, not harm, in our world.