Debate # 1- How many Gods are there?

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A couple of months back I published some thoughts on capital punishment. To my surprise a fairly fierce debate ensued and interestingly, many of the views brought into sharp focus our cultural and national differences.
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So I thought I’d throw another one into the pot, and just maybe this could become a regular feature to take place at the beginning of the week when writing prompts are thin on the ground.

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People of many religions visit here, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews and many others too. Also of course there are atheists, humanists, agnostics and pagans.

Let’s assume for the sake of this discussion that there is a higher being – a God by whatever name you wish to give it. Is God the exclusive ‘property’ of one particular religion, or are all religions effectively praying to the same God but by different means? Is it possible that only one system of faith is right and those who follow a different one are, for the want of a better expression, barking up the wrong tree? For instance, if the Sikh faith is the right road to travel, does that mean that the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope are destined for eternal damnation?

There are of course many folk who do not subscribe to a religion at all, yet spend their entire lives doing good whether on a global, national, local or family level. At the end of their lives will they be judged unfit to pass through the pearly gates, whilst someone else who has led a corrupt and evil life is accepted by virtue of the fact they begged forgiveness on their deathbed?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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