What do all Religions have in Common?

[cardero]

What do all Religions have in Common?
Faith and the need for money to promote that faith.

 

[rojse]

I have been reading the new replies with some interest. Thanks to those that have knocked two of my new ideas on the head.

Thanks to terrywoodenpic for the official UK definition of a religion. I am not well-versed on other religions, but would this mean that religions such as Buddhism would be excluded from this definition, or would this be included due to other circumstances?

In reply to several people stating that religion is a belief in a supreme being, there are many major religions that do not fit into this definition, as I have recently found out. Scientology or Buddhism do not have supreme beings central to their belief, but they are still commonly defined as religion.

It would be easier to exclude examples such as these to make a definition simpler, but that is both doing a disservice to the millions of people that live by the tenents of these religions, and does not help to answer the question "What do all Religions have in Common?"

Summarising what has been mentioned so far:
1. Prayers and meditations - thanks to multiple members for this one
2. A set of personal beliefs and commitments
3. A work of literature to believe in - thanks to Wizanda
4. A transformational quest for wholeness seeking a coherent,
integrated, and personal sense of cosmos and ethos - thanks to Jay
5. Faith and the need for money to promote that faith - thanks to Cardero

 

[Nanda]

The one thing ALL religions have in common is that I don't follow them.

 

[painted wolf]

remove the book... my religion and all first Nations religions are book free.
religion doesn't need words on paper.

wa:do

 

[Super Universe]

What do all religions have in common?

Self righteousness.

 

[doppelganger]

What do all religions have in common?

Everything.

 

[Popeyesays]

remove the book... my religion and all first Nations religions are book free.
religion doesn't need words on paper.

wa:do

Even the Qur'an was not written until after the death of Muhammad.

It was revealed to the believers and the believers scratched it down on everything from palm leaves to animal bones and then the believers committed the Surah to memory. The transcription was of little importance.

it was not until Muhammad had passed, that it was necessary to redact and finalize the Qur'an. The existence of that redaction is proof that not all the written Qur'ans up to that point agreed in the text.

Regards,
Scott

 

[rojse]

Thanks for the replies, and the renewed interest in the thread.

Summarising what has been mentioned so far:
1. Prayers and meditations
2. A set of personal beliefs and commitments
3. A set of stories to believe in passed on through writing or oral traditions
4. A transformational quest for wholeness seeking a coherent,
integrated, and personal sense of cosmos and ethos
5. Faith and the need for money to promote that faith

 

[JayHawes]

What do all religions have in common?

Well, all of them have adherents who are hypocrits.

 

[Popeyesays]

Many things in common:

[FONT=times new roman,times]Native Spirituality - We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive. Chief Dan George[/FONT][FONT=times new roman,times]Baha'i - Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to belaid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself. Baha'u'llah, Gleanings[/FONT][FONT=times new roman,times]Buddhism - Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.1 [/FONT][FONT=times new roman,times]Christianity - In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. Jesus, Matthew 7:12[/FONT][FONT=times new roman,times]Confucianism - One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct....loving-kindness. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself. Confucius, Analects 15.23[/FONT][FONT=times new roman,times]Hinduism - This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. Mahabharata 5:1517[/FONT][FONT=times new roman,times]Islam - Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself. The Prophet Muhammad, 13th of the 40 Hadiths of Nawawi [/FONT][FONT=times new roman,times]Jainism - One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated. Mahavira, Sutrakritanga [/FONT][FONT=times new roman,times]Judaism - What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary. Go and learn it. Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a[/FONT][FONT=times new roman,times]Sikhism - I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all. Guru Granth Sahib, pg. 1299[/FONT][FONT=times new roman,times]Taoism - Regard your neighbour's gain as your own gain and your neighbour's loss
as your own loss. Lao Tzu, T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218[/FONT][FONT=times new roman,times]Unitarianism - We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. Unitarian principle[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman,times][/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman,times]http://www.goldenruleradical.org/expressions.htm[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman,times][/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman,times]Regards,[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman,times]Scott[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman,times]Zoroastrianism - Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself. Shayast-na-Shayast 13.29[/FONT]

 

[salam]

[…Islam is not a new religion; it is not a different religion. It is in essence the same religion that Allah (or “God”) sent to all mankind through all His prophets at different times in history - the religion that had unfortunately been changed through human adulterations, theology and philosophy. That is why the Prophet Muhammad –peace be upon Him- came as the last and final prophet and messenger of Allah. He needed to come to remove all the riddles and confusion in the lives of people. He corrected matters of diversion in belief that were introduced by confusing human philosophy and theology. He restored the pure monotheistic belief of our Creator and brought the most perfect and most noble understanding of Allah (or “God”).
The purpose of life is to know Allah, to believe in Him and to worship Him according to how He wants to be worshipped, this includes that we live our lives according to His commands. In the Quran, Allah tells us that since the messages of all prophets before the Prophet Muhammad –peace be upon Him- have been distorted, none of these objectives could be achieved correctly except through His last and final message, and therefore He will judge people on the Day of Judgment based on whether they believed and followed Islam. Allah says:
{ Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. } (Quran, 3:19)
In the same chapter Allah declares:
{ And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers (in the Hellfire). } (Quran, 3:85)
Muslims believe that the present life is a trial in preparation for the next realm of existence. Muslims know that man was not created merely for this worldly life; rather this world was created for man.
So, if a fool lives to eat and a wise man eats to live, then a believer lives to worship Allah . …]
[. What will really happen to, e.g., a Christian, who never heard about Islam, and they died, like billions of people have; will they go to hell just because they didn't believe in Muhammad? If Yes, how is that fair?

Allah tells us in the Quran that He never punishes a nation until after He has sent a messenger with the clear message of "Worship your Creator and Sustainer alone without partners."

The Quran does not tell us that everyone who didn't believe in Muhammad, peace be upon him, is going to Hell. The Quran tells us that Allah created us in a test, here on earth. The test is to see (for us to see) who is the best in worship of Allah. The translation more or less, says, "Allah has only created you to worship Him." [Quran 51:56]

He also tells us that, He does not forgive anyone to set up partners with Him in worship, but anything less than that He can forgive.

Notice too, in the Quran that Allah gives many examples of people who lived before Muhammad, peace be upon him, that did go to Paradise, because they believed in the current prophet that had been sent to them and obeyed God and their prophet. That is the meaning of "Islam." A person who never heard of any prophet, yet they believed in God as the Creator, Sustainer of them and the universe and tried to worship Him according to whatever Allah let them know, it would be up to Allah to know what is in their hearts and what is in their minds and He is their ultimate Judge, and this is one of His Attributes or beautiful names, "Al Hakeem" (The Judge).

He also says that He does not punish for what people do not know or what is beyond their control or ability. In other words, He is most Fair. And that also happens to be one of His beautiful Names and Characteristics, "Al-Adil" The Just. …]

 

[painted wolf]

my religion doesn't use money either. You never have to pay to pray and if anyone asks for money for a religious reason, go the other way.
No paid clergy, no buildings, no sacred knick-knacks for sale.... and so on.

wa:do

 

[Caina]

I think the thing they have most in common is being different. None of them should be trusted

 

[painted wolf]

ah, you've examined them all have you?

wa:do

 

[Caina]

ah, you've examined them all have you?

wa:do

Getting there, still about a thousand to go
The journey continues

 

[Popeyesays]

my religion doesn't use money either. You never have to pay to pray and if anyone asks for money for a religious reason, go the other way.
No paid clergy, no buildings, no sacred knick-knacks for sale.... and so on.

wa:do

Well, there are still resources to donate, whether it's labor for a sweat lodge, or preparation for ceremonials. Potlatch, Food for meetings and ceremonies, Gifts to shaman would also count, the items found or obtained for medicine bags, sacred herbs, etc.. are all resources though they may not all have price tags.

No religion (at least in modern terms) to my knowledge requires one to pay to pray. Gifts to a religion are not always money, and they should always be dedicated sacrifice of some kind.

Regards,
Scott

 

[wizanda]

"Gifts to a religion"…..sounds about right of most… :angel2:...
Most religions have outwardly concepts, to talk to a God within each one of us...

“Gifts to Oneness” is what all prophets asked, yet we change there meaning, to give to our self’s instead…

So then the Godliness within us doesn’t dwell, as it becomes our own Ego instead.....(in a great big well, some call hell)….

It like if we have an open cup, then we can hold what God wants us for and not choosing our own purpose or what to fill the cup with....

 

[Popeyesays]

Baha`i's are called upon to donate of their resources and wealth to the common cause. We never accept donations from undeclared Baha`i's for any purpose within the faith.

To us it's both obligation and privilege. We don't share it with those who are not committed to the cause those donations support.

No collection plate--ever.

Regards,
Scott

 

[Sonic247]

[…Islam is not a new religion; it is not a different religion. It is in essence the same religion that Allah (or “God”) sent to all mankind through all His prophets at different times in history - the religion that had unfortunately been changed through human adulterations, theology and philosophy. That is why the Prophet Muhammad –peace be upon Him- came as the last and final prophet and messenger of Allah. He needed to come to remove all the riddles and confusion in the lives of people. He corrected matters of diversion in belief that were introduced by confusing human philosophy and theology. He restored the pure monotheistic belief of our Creator and brought the most perfect and most noble understanding of Allah (or “God”).
The purpose of life is to know Allah, to believe in Him and to worship Him according to how He wants to be worshipped, this includes that we live our lives according to His commands. In the Quran, Allah tells us that since the messages of all prophets before the Prophet Muhammad –peace be upon Him- have been distorted, none of these objectives could be achieved correctly except through His last and final message, and therefore He will judge people on the Day of Judgment based on whether they believed and followed Islam. Allah says:
{ Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. } (Quran, 3:19)
In the same chapter Allah declares:
{ And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers (in the Hellfire). } (Quran, 3:85)
Muslims believe that the present life is a trial in preparation for the next realm of existence. Muslims know that man was not created merely for this worldly life; rather this world was created for man.
So, if a fool lives to eat and a wise man eats to live, then a believer lives to worship Allah . …]
[. What will really happen to, e.g., a Christian, who never heard about Islam, and they died, like billions of people have; will they go to hell just because they didn't believe in Muhammad? If Yes, how is that fair?

Allah tells us in the Quran that He never punishes a nation until after He has sent a messenger with the clear message of "Worship your Creator and Sustainer alone without partners."

The Quran does not tell us that everyone who didn't believe in Muhammad, peace be upon him, is going to Hell. The Quran tells us that Allah created us in a test, here on earth. The test is to see (for us to see) who is the best in worship of Allah. The translation more or less, says, "Allah has onlycreated you to worship Him." [Quran 51:56]

He also tells us that, He does not forgive anyone to set up partners with Him in worship, but anything less than that He can forgive.

Notice too, in the Quran that Allah gives many examples of people who lived before Muhammad, peace be upon him, that did go to Paradise, because they believed in the current prophet that had been sent to them and obeyed God and their prophet. That is the meaning of "Islam." A person who never heard of any prophet, yet they believed in God as the Creator, Sustainer of them and the universe and tried to worship Him according to whatever Allah let them know, it would be up to Allah to know what is in their hearts and what is in their minds and He is their ultimate Judge, and this is one of His Attributes or beautiful names, "Al Hakeem" (The Judge).

He also says that He does not punish for what people do not know or what is beyond their control or ability. In other words, He is most Fair. And that also happens to be one of His beautiful Names and Characteristics, "Al-Adil" The Just. …]

Did you ever notice how there are so many religions that agree with the Bible, but the diety of Christ is always what gets attacked, Mormons, JWs, Islam it's alway the diety of Christ that people can't handle. Is it so hard to believe that a God that can do anything can become a man. I guess it really hit a nerve with the founders of these religions, because hardely anyone will say that Jesus Christ was unrighteous, but many people will have the same attitude as the Pharisees when they said "for good works we stone thee not but because thou being a man makest thyself God."

 

[wizanda]

Did you ever notice how there are so many religions that agree with the Bible, but the diety of Christ is always what gets attacked, Mormons, JWs, Islam it's alway the diety of Christ that people can't handle. Is it so hard to believe that a God that can do anything can become a man. I guess it really hit a nerve with the founders of these religions, because hardely anyone will say that Jesus Christ was unrighteous, but many people will have the same attitude as the Pharisees when they said "for good works we stone thee not but because thou being a man makest thyself God."

Gospel of John makes Yeshua Anti-Messiah and is to put most Jews off...
Its says “begotten son” Islam says that is false...
They say Yeshua is true...
Yet parts have been added….
Indeed they are Paul, Simon and John were all Pharisees.
Books of Revelations can not be closed, until the Bible was canonized, Mohammed came just after this…

So the only people I deem to stand against Yeshua (Christ) entirely is Christianity!