Aren’t we all really worshipping the same God?

[Balthazzar]

In the world today many people worship in different ways and using different names but aren’t they all really praying to the same one God or Reality? Explain why or why not you agree or disagree. This thread is mainly for those who worship some God but anyone may comment.

To me worship suggests honor, so my answer is yes and no. Sometimes yes with additions for whatever reason chosen, which places a no in the mix also. You may be correct, though and the more correct answer being a yes, except does it count for honor if ifs done with a grudge against?
Isiah 45 alludes to an all-encompassing God reality. Typically, we honor what we like and hate what we don't. Sometimes people simply hate it all and I doubt that type of hate would be counted as honor unless the 45th stood as an evil only reality...perhaps as it was written to be before the flood.

 

[Rival]

No.

Too many theological differences.

 

[ChristineM]

I don't worship.
There are roughly 4200 claimed gods throughout history (excluding the multitude of Hindu gods), all with different attributes so i guess those that do worship god or gods are not worshipping the same one. This is particularly obvious when a person worships multiple gods.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

No god, no worship. Simples.

Ditto.

 

[loverofhumanity]

What do people pray to? They call it by different names but what actually is it they pray to? Can anyone actually describe what it is they pray to I mean people who pray. Isn’t it a mystical feeling that cannot be defined in words? If it is, then how would we know we are not praying to the same entity. Only outward forms and names separate us but inwardly how do we ‘know’ that we are all not praying to the same entity?

 

[Quintessence]

What do people pray to? They call it by different names but what actually is it they pray to? Can anyone actually describe what it is they pray to I mean people who pray. Isn’t it a mystical feeling that cannot be defined in words? If it is, then how would we know we are not praying to the same entity. Only outward forms and names separate us but inwardly how do we ‘know’ that we are all not praying to the same entity?

Again, no.

When I conduct Full Moon ritual and worship ("pray to") Moon, I am honoring the actual moon in our night sky. Which is distinct from when I conduct Summer Solstice ritual and worship Sun. Which is distinct from when I sing in praise of Rain and worship Rain. And that's distinct from when I honor human ancestors at MidAutumn who used to be actual humans before they died. And on, and on, and on. These are clearly not "the same entity" any more than your mom and my mom were somehow the "same entity." When I worship or pray to my mom as an honored ancestor, sorry, I'm not also worshiping your mom.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

What do people pray to? They call it by different names but what actually is it they pray to?

They're praying to the concept of God they hold, which is going to be different for every person.

There are as many Gods-with-capital-Gs as there are monotheists.

Can anyone actually describe what it is they pray to I mean people who pray. Isn’t it a mystical feeling that cannot be defined in words? If it is, then how would we know we are not praying to the same entity. Only outward forms and names separate us but inwardly how do we ‘know’ that we are all not praying to the same entity?

"We don't know what this is, so it must be the same for every single person" is a heck of a leap.

 

[JustGeorge]

What do people pray to?

People pray to many things. Different deities, ancestors, intermediaries, etc.

They call it by different names but what actually is it they pray to?

Depends on the person, depends on the prayer.

Can anyone actually describe what it is they pray to I mean people who pray. Isn’t it a mystical feeling that cannot be defined in words?

This depends greatly on the prayer and who its directed to. A prayer to Hanuman does not feel the same as a prayer to Shiva.

If it is, then how would we know we are not praying to the same entity.

How would a person know the opposite?

Only outward forms and names separate us but inwardly how do we ‘know’ that we are all not praying to the same entity?

Because some of us pray to multiple entities, and get very different results.

 

[Balthazzar]

What would it imply to say we honor life in truth, anyway?

 

[Trailblazer]

I don't think people are worshiping the same, when the definitions are not the same. Even some Christians "worship" different God, because their definitions are not the same.

They might believe they are worshiping a different God, but if there is only one true God, as I believe, and as the Bible says, then they are worshiping the same God and just calling that God something different.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

There are two kinds of people in the world...those who lump everything together, and those who don't...

Count me among those who don't lump everything together...

 

[Quintessence]

They might believe they are worshiping a different God, but if there is only one true God, as I believe, and as the Bible says, then they are worshiping the same God and just calling that God something different.

Explain to us polytheists, then, how everything in the universe is actually somehow the same. Start with these conundrums:

• Explain to us how worship of my parents is somehow worshiping your parents.
• Explain to us how worship of Sun is somehow worshiping Rain.
• Explain to us how worship of Love if somehow worship of War.

The whole monotheist schtick that denies that our gods are gods in the first place makes a lot more sense than what you are trying to propose here.

 

[Trailblazer]

Explain to us polytheists, then, how everything in the universe is actually somehow the same. Start with these conundrums:

• Explain to us how worship of my parents is somehow worshiping your parents.
• Explain to us how worship of Sun is somehow worshiping Rain.
• Explain to us how worship of Love if somehow worship of War.

The whole monotheist schtick that denies that our gods are gods in the first place makes a lot more sense than what you are trying to propose here.

I said:
"if there is only one true God, as I believe, and as the Bible says, then they are worshiping the same God and just calling that God something different."
If there are many gods that is a different matter and all bets are off.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

The whole monotheist schtick that denies that our gods are gods in the first place makes a lot more sense than what you are trying to propose here.

I do not see the Baha'i Writings take that path.

I see the Writings show how all the God's are from the same source. God has unlimited Names and Revelations. Each of those can become an individual God, if we so choose.

The subject is big and needs much discussion.

White Light has many wavelengths and when refracted, shows its many colours.

Regards Tony

 

[Quintessence]

I said:
"if there is only one true God, as I believe, and as the Bible says, then they are worshiping the same God and just calling that God something different."
If there are many gods that is a different matter and all bets are off.

My bad... I can't read... lol.

 

[Spice]

Explain to us polytheists, then, how everything in the universe is actually somehow the same. Start with these conundrums:

• Explain to us how worship of my parents is somehow worshiping your parents.
• Explain to us how worship of Sun is somehow worshiping Rain.
• Explain to us how worship of Love if somehow worship of War.

The whole monotheist schtick that denies that our gods are gods in the first place makes a lot more sense than what you are trying to propose here.

I'll try a VERY simplistic way to view my answer to your question:

Think of the One God as a flower. Some worship the petal, the stamen, and the stem calling it a trinity and claim they believe in the one flower. Some worship the petal, stamen, stem, sepal, pistol, ovule, etc. individually for what part they play in life without necessarily acknowledging they are parts if a whole. And some take it even further, not only being in awe of (worshiping) all of the above, but also the roots, the photosynthesis process, the life cycle of dying, sowing seeds, etc. PLUS all the aspects of a flowering plant that they don't yet know, understand, or search to name.
This plant, simply stated, represents "God", or many God's, or views of what others perceive as God, but it's still a plant. And however we see God, or don't see Him at all, He still IS -- The I AM.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

I'll try a VERY simplistic way to view my answer to your question:

Think of the One God as a flower. Some worship the petal, the stamen, and the stem calling it a trinity and claim they believe in the one flower. Some worship the petal, stamen, stem, sepal, pistol, ovule, etc. individually for what part they play in life without necessarily acknowledging they are parts if a whole. And some take it even further, not only being in awe of (worshiping) all of the above, but also the roots, the photosynthesis process, the life cycle of dying, sowing seeds, etc. PLUS all the aspects of a flowering plant that they don't yet know, understand, or search to name.
This plant, simply stated, represents "God", or many God's, or views of what others perceive as God, but it's still a plant.

your metaphor starts by assuming that what is being observed is an actual singular thing. That is not how animism or polytheism generally works.

 

[Nakosis]

In the world today many people worship in different ways and using different names but aren’t they all really praying to the same one God or Reality? Explain why or why not you agree or disagree. This thread is mainly for those who worship some God but anyone may comment.

Perhaps, only if there is a God.
Otherwise people are just worshiping concepts of God.
Every mind creating an individual concept of God to worship.

 

[Trailblazer]

My bad... I can't read... lol.

No, I think it was just a misunderstanding.

 

[Jainarayan]

aren’t they all really praying to the same one God or Reality?

I believe so. The Rig Veda, the oldest and one of the most sacred Hindu scriptures says ekam sadviprāh bahudha vadanti sat=truth [is], ekam=one only, vipraaha=the enlightened/wise, bahudhaa=in various ways/by many names, vadanti=describe. Truth is one. The wise describe it in various ways (Sanskrit is highly inflected and completely freeform).

However, there is a caveat, a big "but". Not everyone sees this One God in the same way, nor do they worship Him/Her/It the same way, or even "correctly" according to those of different beliefs. There's a Hindu saying that God appears to the believer the way the believer wishes God to appear. I consider myself a monist: there is only one "Thing"; and a soft polytheist: God takes the form I need to see at particular times.

My own belief is: worship God in any way that works for you, however you see Him/Her/It, because God takes many forms and names. Just don't tell me my way is wrong, or coerce me into worshiping your version of God in your way. I won't do the same. What I think of others' beliefs, I generally keep to myself.