Is there any "belief system" that intergrates teachings from all Religions?

[Milton Platt]

One of my biggest questions in life has always been, is there any kind of Religion or belief system that seeks similarities and differences between faiths? Would this not be the best way to configure a truth? After not only talking to people of different Religions to me it is at times simplistic to see the how there are extreme diversities as well as extreme likenesses, therefore would it not be logical to integrate all of them to make a substantial decision?

People blend stuff together all the time. I can't think of a religion that does not have elements of other religions in it. And within each religion, most are "cafeteria believers". They just pick and choose the bits they like and ignore the rest.

 

[Kapalika]

Unitarian Universalists kinda try to do that.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Thank you for your replies, I will do my best to seek your advice; and 9-10ths_Penguin, I very much realize that many aspects would have to be left out of the total scenario, but what I am trying to say is that beliefs or disbeliefs can usually connect one Religion or faith together. Isn't that what it is mostly about? I have studies in Criminal Law and Justice Technology in which you need to define and seek tangible relevance in order to solve the "mystery". I guess I just apply this mentality to Religions as well.

FYI: if you want someone you mention to be notified when you post, put an “@“ before their name (like this: @MJ Bailey )

No, I don’t think that religion is about connecting people. IMO, religion is often more about tribalism: strengthening bonds within the group, but also exclusion of people outside the group.

 

[MJ Bailey]

@9-10ths_Penguin, ty for your correction. Is not tribalism a form of "connecting" people and of course excluding people. I know from how I may at times interpret things that logic may not seem to be one of my stronger suits, but it definitely is. I am usually one of those people who in order to believe or disbelieve in something I need some sort of tangible evidence, however I am not at all unaware of personal experiences in which tangible evidence can not be obtained. This being said I guess I just don't understand why so many religions in which claim to believe in God try to take on the persona of God and try to make judgements in which most clearly state can only be done by God. Do people need others to agree with them in order for them to believe what they claim to believe?

 

[Earthling]

Shintoism. The most syncretic religion there is due to it's stress on the importance of community gathering over ritual, gods, spirits etc. It can easily adopt the ideas of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism (especially) etc.

All religions, though, transmogrify into something other than the original. Christianity and Taoism are, IMO, the most obvious examples of this.

It's like mutations, though, always detrimental. Why take something and make into something else?

 

[MJ Bailey]

@RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha , don't mutations and Evolution have a common interest? The original "copy" turning into or morphing into something else? Shintoism seems to be more culturally based than religiously based IMO (correct me if I am wrong).

 

[GoodbyeDave]

Shintoism seems to be more culturally based than religiously based IMO (correct me if I am wrong).

Since Shinto involves worshiping the gods, it's obviously a religion. Professor Sokyo Ono wrote that those who "express gratitude to the spirits of the land and of nature, to their ancestors, to the benefactors to society … understand the spirit of Shinto" In other words, it's polytheism as practiced in Japan. In one sense it's Japanese, but in another universal.

 

[idea]

One of my biggest questions in life has always been, is there any kind of Religion or belief system that seeks similarities and differences between faiths? Would this not be the best way to configure a truth? After not only talking to people of different Religions to me it is at times simplistic to see the how there are extreme diversities as well as extreme likenesses, therefore would it not be logical to integrate all of them to make a substantial decision?

There are advantages of a world filled with many faith traditions.
Being a part of a smaller group can make you feel special, and achieve more intimate relationships with others. Take families - parents, grandparents, siblings - it can be a special little group with its own traditions and funny rituals.

I think it is good to belong to a small group - but not hold your own group above others.
Diversity does not exist without many different groups - diversity keeps everything fun and interesting.

There is a balance between personal and communal beliefs.
Seeing other groups lets you pull away from communal beliefs enough to find your individual path.

To rejoin a group after already being stable on your individual path, this is the best place to be.

Dependent→independent→interdependent.