A special kind of kaleidoscope may be thought of as similar to a wagon wheel.  The hub has a central light in it, which is the unfathomable, divine mystery.  Around the hub, each spoke is a telescope looking into the central light.  Each telescope represents one of the world's great world stories, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Science, Secular Humanism and Atheism.

 When the Christian looks into the Christian telescope of the kaleidoscope he sees the cross and the human conception of Christ, but behind the human conception of Christ is a light, which is the infinite, divine Father that cannot be understood directly by humans.  When the Jew looks into the scope of Judaism, and looks as far as he can see, he sees the human conception of Yahweh, but beyond the human conception of Yahweh is a light, the infinite divine light that cannot be understood by humans.  When the Muslim looks into the Islamic scope, and looks as far as he can, he sees the human conception of Allah, but there is a light beyond the human conception of Allah, the infinite divine light that cannot be understood by humans.  When the Hindu looks into the Hindu scope, and looks as far as he can, he sees the human conception of Krishna, Vishnu, Kali, Rama, Sita and a host of others, but beyond them all is a light, the divine, infinite light that cannot be understood by humans.  When the Buddhist looks into the Buddhist scope and looks as far as he can, he sees the human conception of Buddha and then Nirvana, oneness without distinction, but beyond that is mystery which cannot be understood by humans.  When the Taoist looks in the scope of Taoism, and looks as far as he can, he sees the human conception of natural harmony and unity, but beyond that is mystery which cannot be understood by humans.  The Confucianist looks into the Confucian telescope, looks as far as he can, and sees the human conception of moral order in the world, but beyond that is mystery which cannot be understood by humans.  The scientist looks in the science telescope, looks as far as he can, and sees the human conception of tiny particles, strings and the quantum world, but beyond that is mystery which is in principle unmeasurable and not understandable by humans.  The Secular Humanist looks in the secular humanist scope, looks as far as he can, and sees the human conception of human struggles, successes and failures, illuminated by human reason, but beyond that is mystery which cannot be understood by humans.  The Atheist looks in the atheist telescope, looks as far as he can and sees the human conception of mechanical nature, but beyond that, illuminating nature, is mystery that cannot be understood by humans.

 A child looked at the kaleidoscope and said eagerly, ”I want to see the central light in the hub!”  The reply came immediately, “You cannot do that.  You cannot understand the pure light.  You have to look at the light through one of these lenses.  If you will look long and faithfully through one of these telescopes, you will see the divine light in a way you can understand, and which will guide you to full life, and sustain you through the hard times.”  The child was satisfied, and chose the telescope that seemed most believable, and concentrated on seeing the light through that lens.

 All of these believers looking through their telescopes have a choice.  They can believe that what they see is all there is, or they can acknowledge the common mystery, beyond human understanding, that is at the center of all their human views.  Even those views that are divinely revealed are still seen imperfectly by humans.  They can acknowledge the same mystery that is behind all their human views, and recognize each other as in a common search for Truth, but each describing it in his or her own language, symbols and stories.  Each viewer deserves respect from all the other viewers, because they all seek the same ultimate mystery.  Each view deserves respect, because it leads its faithful to whole life so that they may participate fully in the same mystery.