Pros and cons of attempts at perceiving many or all religions as pointing to the same conclusions

[paarsurrey]

Religions, I believe that they are highly beautiful and must be – to the utmost extent – honoured and cherished.

Also true.
Regards

 

[paarsurrey]

As for the reinterpretation, I would say that while we offer our own opinions about the different religions and the Founders, placing them within an Abrahamic context I contend that there is nothing inherently wrong with this, as you seem to make it out to be.

Agreed
Regards

 

[paarsurrey]

In the end, I leave it to the adherents of those Religions themselves to teach me about their Founders beliefs, practices, histories, and I will adjust my own individual perspective accordingly.

One may like to know about Ahmadiyya peaceful Islam at:
http://www.alislam.org/
Regards

 

[Sundance]

Agreed
Regards

Thank you thrice, @paarsurrey ! Blessings!

 

[Vinayaka]

In fact all those people who say"Jesus did not exist" mean they don't believe in the Christian mythological god, that sure never existed.
I endorse you here. Jesus son of Mary a human being sure existed, though.
Regards

Sometimes, Parsurrey, and I do mean some times, I do wish others would extend the same courtesy to me regarding my right to believe as I wish. You have drawn your own conclusions, as have I. I say you have the right to your belief. Will you also say that I have the right to my belief, or no? Its fine if you don't, BTW, as that's just another belief. Whether or not you think I have the right won't change my mind one iota.

 

[The_Fisher_King]

Well, that is true.
Regards

All religions?

 

[LuisDantas]

In fact all those people who say"Jesus did not exist" mean they don't believe in the Christian mythological god, that sure never existed.
I endorse you here. Jesus son of Mary a human being sure existed, though.
Regards

Some of us disagree, including me.

 

[atanu]

I don't know. Then again, I am not one perceiving someone who owes the God-idea some sort of consideration, so you tell me.

Luis, a few posts back you put down the God idea.

Regarding OP, my view is that whatever is truly good is universal. The evils arise from ignorance of self being body-mind that promotes 'I and them' and 'My religion and their religion'.

 

[LuisDantas]

Luis, a few posts back you put down the God idea.

That is the point. You know full well that I never had any use for it.

Regarding OP, my view is that whatever is truly good is universal. The evils arise from ignorance of self being body-mind that promotes 'I and them' and 'My religion and their religion'.

I somewhat agree. But such statements are fairly dangerous without proper context.

 

[atanu]

That is the point. You know full well that I never had any use for it.

Thank God that you never had any use for God. Let that be so.

I somewhat agree. But such statements are fairly dangerous without proper context.

Can you explain? What is proper context? (I guess that it may again boil down to 'my context' and 'their context'?)

 

[LuisDantas]

Thank God that you never had any use for God. Let that be so.

You sure give that subject matter a lot of significance. I find that odd.

Can you explain? What is proper context? (I guess that it may again boil down to 'my context' and 'their context'?)

It is much what I said in the OP, really. There are dangers both in segregation and in glossing over differences.

 

[atanu]

You sure give that subject matter a lot of significance. I find that odd.

You should not find it odd. 'God' is just a word as 'Prajnaparamita' is ... until one realises their respective meanings. Now, we all say I know what God word or what Prajnaparamita word means.

But scriptures that talk about these words have their own methods and without following up those methods till end, if we form opinions, will that be okay? So, I can only request you to not find my use of word God odd.

It is much what I said in the OP, really. There are dangers both in segregation and in glossing over differences.

I agree in a limited way. Imposing one's idea on others as the only 'universal' truth leads to same kind of friction that the notions of differences (including notions of nationality) lead to. But, IMO, more wars happen because the notions of differences are considered as real and these hardened notions lead to war etc..

 

[paarsurrey]

Some of us disagree, including me.

Oh, you are always on the opposite pole. Never-mind
Regards

 

[paarsurrey]

Thank you thrice, @paarsurrey ! Blessings!

I also praise your good writing. wish it gets even more polished and the humanity get benefit from it. Amen
Regards

 

[paarsurrey]

Sometimes, Parsurrey, and I do mean some times, I do wish others would extend the same courtesy to me regarding my right to believe as I wish. You have drawn your own conclusions, as have I. I say you have the right to your belief. Will you also say that I have the right to my belief, or no? Its fine if you don't, BTW, as that's just another belief. Whether or not you think I have the right won't change my mind one iota.

"Will you also say that I have the right to my belief"
Of course you have, no body could deny you that right, and I, never ever can deny to anybody whether on believes in a religion or believes in no-religion.
No two opinion on it. G-d bless you.
Regards

 

[paarsurrey]

All religions?

All revealed religions. Yes, no exception as presented by their founders, not what the followers of the founders believe.
Regards

 

[LuisDantas]

You should not find it odd. 'God' is just a word as 'Prajnaparamita' is ... until one realises their respective meanings. Now, we all say I know what God word or what Prajnaparamita word means.

But scriptures that talk about these words have their own methods and without following up those methods till end, if we form opinions, will that be okay? So, I can only request you to not find my use of word God odd.

I fear I will disappoint you then. I don't think I will ever fail to find reliance on God-concepts odd.

Notwithstanding the fact that although 'differences' are in the realm of conditioned mind and are essence-less, the notions of differences are considered as real and these hardened notions lead to war etc. ?

Yes.

Far as I can see, it is a matter of dealing with matters at their proper level.

 

[atanu]

All revealed religions. Yes, no exception as presented by their founders, not what the followers of the founders believe.
Regards

So, you are not a follower? And you have reached perfection and therefore have the right to impose your views on followers of other religions??

 

[atanu]

I fear I will disappoint you then. I don't think I will ever fail to find reliance on God-concepts odd.

Keep your view to yourself, else how are you any different from religious preachers?

Yes.
Far as I can see, it is a matter of dealing with matters at their proper level.

I had edited my response. I wrote as below:

I agree in a limited way. Imposing one's idea on others as the only 'universal' truth leads to same kind of friction that the notions of differences (including notions of nationality) lead to. But, IMO, more wars happen because the notions of differences are considered as real and these hardened notions lead to war etc..

 

[paarsurrey]

I have a small book "Oneness: Great Principles Shared by All Religions" which expresses in the title and content how I feel - the root is the same and the branches are varied in how they express the commonality. Of course some focus on differences and others on similarities - that's human nature. I focus on the similarities. For example, see the "Golden Rule" page of http://www.onenessonline.com/ which has quotes from all the major world religions.

And the first passage on the site reads thus:

"Quoting directly from the scriptures of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Bahá'í, Buddhism, and others, Oneness: Great Principles Shared by all Religionsstrips away the superficial differences between faiths by showing that the great religious principles are expressed almost word for word in every religion."
http://www.onenessonline.com/​

It is good, everybody here would agree and support it, believe me, and rest assured.
Regards