Question:

How can any one religion be correct when each claims to be correct?

Reply:

I respect your question, but I don’t think you need my help to answer it.  Suppose you were an astronomy student.  How would you answer if someone asked, “How could one theory of planetary formation be correct, when each claims to be correct?”  Or, since you are in law school, how you would answer if someone asked, “How could one explanation of legislative intent be correct, when each claims to be correct?”

Disagreement does not invalidate the quest for the truth; it is the reason for the quest for the truth.  The fact that different answers are in competition with each other does not suggest that there is no answer, but that to find it we must seek it.

The most important prerequisite for the search – and the one most often overlooked – is really wanting to find what you are looking for.  Do you want to?

Pagan natural law theory is non-historical.  Human nature cannot change, and its condition has not changed.  We are what we are, and we are as we are, forever and ever.

Christian natural law theory is historical.  In itself human nature cannot change, but its condition can change, and it has.  We were created; we have lost our original integrity; the cure has been offered.

In the early modern era the playing field was altered.  Some tried to use natural law to deny, ignore, or marginalize salvation history.  Others tried to make profane history do the work of natural law, and the state do the work of God.

The first modern gambit is dead.  Variations on the second are still playing out.

It was not in your power not to be born of Adam: it is in your power to believe in Christ.

-- St. Augustine, Exposition on Psalm 71, Section 2

If you are one of those who are as yet unclean, ... unfit for sacrifice, and of the gentile portion – then run with the Star, and bear your Gifts with the Magi:  Gold, frankincense, and myrrh, as to a King, to God, and to One who is dead for you.  With Shepherds glorify Him; with Angels join in chorus; with Archangels sing hymns.

Let this Festival be common to the powers in heaven and to the powers upon earth.  For I am persuaded that the Heavenly Hosts join in our exultation and keep high Festival with us today.

-- St. Gregory Nazianzen, Oration 38, Section 17

For hold this fast as a firm and settled truth, if you would continue Catholics, that God the Father begot God the Son without time, and made Him of a Virgin in time.  The first nativity exceeds times; the second nativity enlightens times.  Yet both nativities are marvelous; the one without a mother, the other without a father.  When God begot the Son, He begot Him of Himself, not of a mother; when the Mother gave birth to her Son, she gave Him birth as a Virgin, not by man.  He was born of the Father without a beginning; He was born of a mother, as today at an appointed beginning.  Born of the Father He made us; born of a mother He re-made us.  He was born of the Father, that we might be; He was born of a mother, that we might not be lost.

-- St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 90 on the New Testament, Section 2