Isn't that what the passage says?
New International Version
5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know[
a] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Footnotes:
- John 14:7 Some early manuscripts If you really have known me, you will know
First, I find it very interesting that some of those early manuscripts say "If you really have known me, you will know my Father as well." I don't know which translation is correct, but that means something different in English than "If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well." The tenses carry different meaning.
Secondly, I believe the Christ is God's grace. The Christ is that which is the "Creative Word," through which all is made and in which God's grace is made manifest. God's grace is manifest through the possibility of life (creation) as well as through the reconciliation of humanity with divinity. Jesus fully emptied himself and became a pure and whole vessel for God's grace, thus literally embodying "the way, the truth, and the life."
We all must go "through" Christ to reach the Father. But the interesting thing is that we go "through" Him. In this response to Thomas, Jesus is not saying our beliefs about him are the way to the Father, but rather that a movement through him is the way. If we think of Christ as a tunnel, humanity is on one end and the Father/God is on the other. We go through the Christ to reach the Father. And who is the Christ? God's eternal grace, embodied in Jesus and given freely on the cross. God's grace is both merciful and just, recognizing the need for a bridge between humanity and divinity (justice) and providing for that need (merciful).
When we go "through" the Christ, we are recognizing our shortcomings, weaknesses, and flaws and we are choosing to embark on that journey that takes us from our usual state of being and, through this eternal grace of God that will guide us if we sincerely seek, walk to through this process of transformation to a state of perfection in which we unify with the Father.
When we really know Christ, whatever we call our religion and whatever scriptures we use, we inevitably are called to the process of recognizing the flaws inherent in our egoic selves and, through God's grace, finding the capacity to transcend them and therefore become united with God. We pour out that which separates us from God so that we can become vessels for God, and in so doing, God's grace is able to fill us and we come face to face with the Father. To allow God's grace to work in us is to know Jesus, who embodied grace, and to know the Father.
In short, there can be One Way- through the eternal Christ, who manifested in the man Jesus- without necessarily resulting in one religion. I think people confuse "The Way, The Truth, and The Life" with Christianity or some denomination/sect thereof, when in fact, it was the Christ.
Hope that helps explain my thoughts on the matter; I'd welcome others to share their interpretations in detail. I think it'd be interesting, like an online Bible study.
A broader observation as the thread has mostly devolved to slinging mud about, ironically, slinging mud... I think the difficulty with online interfaith dialogue is we aren't in person. So while we all say whatever we want and are blunter than usual (probably), we can't follow it up with a group sing of Kumbaya and a good meal. I find that differences in ideology are fine, even intolerance (in the sense of strong and avowed disagreement with) is fine (so long as it doesn't lead to oppression or mockery), but what makes people feel loved despite disagreement is sharing life. I disagree with people in my family and friends all the time, sometimes with zest and zeal and debate... but then we shrug, hug one another, and share some food. It's the hugging and the food sharing that show our love for one another, not the agreement.
Too bad there is no way to kick back with some nice pie or something after online debate. Well... I kick back with pie (or brownies, or ice cream, or...), but unfortunately sharing virtual food just doesn't have the same effect.
