7 Wishes wrote:
I agree. I just don't think God is ONLY the "Christian" God. God loves all his children who are pure of heart and spirit, and noble in deed (even if we do lust and occasionally lie and make mistakes)...including Buddhists, Muslims, Jews...everyone.
Hi 7,
I couldn't agree with you more, and this is one of the fundamental principles in my religion. As you suggested, there is only one God. God has been called by many different names in different parts of the world throughout the ages, but are all referring the same unknowable essence which has created us all. Since there is only one creator for us all, we are all his children and we are all loved. The diversity of mankind is something that God loves, or we wouldn't have been created that way. Even though mankind is diverse and varied, we are all one and part of the same human family. In the words of the great Steve Perry "We are many we are one" (from Colors of the Spirit on Trial by Fire)
or in the words of Baha'u'llah, "Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship."
Since there is only one God, and one humanity, its not a far stretch that there should really be only one religion. Of course it is obvious that there are many religions with very different ideas, beliefs, and practices, but this does not mean that only one is right, or suggest that God is possibly confused or even in competition with himself. In fact, despite the many differences there are also considerable similarities. For example, the "Golden Rule" as it is best known, finds expression in one form or another in all of the world's revealed religions. The fact that religions differ in other areas, can be ascribed to the different needs of humanity in different stages of its evolution, and to the different cultures which the religion was revealed. Also, the human factor can never be ignored. For example, although the spiritual teachings brought at any particular time, say the teachings of Jesus in his time, are pure and perfect, there is no shortage on the part of individuals about how to interpret or implement the teachings, a fact which accounts for much of the religious diversity we see and experience in the world. This process has played out not only in Christianity, but in every religion, until it seems impossible to reconcile all the differences. These differences can be more or less resolved through an idea known as progressive revelation, which means that each messenger, while reasserting certain truths which are eternal such as "do unto others" "love one another," etc., they also bring new teachings that are suited to the age in which they are revealed. This means that every religion can be thought of as a progression of the one that preceded it, and that all the religions are part of the same evolving and unfolding continuum, chapters of the same book.
All of these ideas can be basically summed up as: "the oneness of God, the oneness of mankind, and the oneness of religion." Maybe I've said too much, I hope I haven't been preachy! Well, at least I stayed on topic except for my one Journey reference.
You know, Melodic Rock is an interesting place! Its cool that a group of people as varied as us are able to be friends and and talk about just about anything under the sun...sometimes even Journey's music!
Heres your sign!
