Is it just me?

Question

I'm not claiming to know everything about every single religion, but don't they all have the same basic beliefs? For example : They all believe there is ONE greater being. They all believe that there will be an end to the world. They all believe that to follow "Him" is the only way to be saved. Regardless of what name they give "Him" he is still the same Greater Being. With this thought in mind, doesn't it seem kind of silly to bash other religions? Or to ask who would win Jesus or Mohammed? Tell me what you think please and no rude comments please.

Answer 1

Let me go slow point by point because it really cuts across so many dimensions:

a) Barring cults (that are not religion anyway), all religious guidelines focus on an ultimate power/one being. Doesn't matter really if it is he or she because that is just personification of that ultimate being a best visualized by various human races.

b) Nearly all religious practices have guidelines/instructions to live a good human life that is compliant with moral, ethical, humanity and social standards. Irrrespective of specific rituals, intentions behind them is to focus on bringing out "good" with in us.

c) Specific literature or scriptures across varous religions have influence of the specific cultural practices and that is the reason you find different ways how different religion provide mechanism to ensure people follow the religious practices. These mechanism could be reward based (heaven concept), punishment or fear based (hell/curse..).

d) Fundamentals that are foundation for religious practices don't change. However, specific religious practices change owing to evolution of contemporary social norms/practices. So moral of the story, the specific practices are not so important as the fundamental. At the same time if practices are off from fundamental, they can do significant damage.

Answer 2

Well, you're saying the general idea (i.e. there is a GOD, and there is an afterlife) is similar... and, if you're referring to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, then you're right, but here's why they're so similiar:

Christianity is the completion of Judaism. Islam is a religion that claims to be an expansion upon Christianity, and thus, Judaism in a way.

Any further than that, and no, they are NOT the same at all.

Christians believe in the Holy Trinity; Muslims don't, for example. Does that matter? Yes... I'm sure it matters to you whether or not someone recognizes you as who you really are.

Answer 3

At 45 years of age I decided to take some time off from life to conduct a comprehensive, personal study of every major world religion.

I began with a "clean sheet of paper" and didn't rule out or rule in anything.

I kept a file on my research, which, if printed out, would consist of some 241,000 pages.

After more than 5 years work, it was clear that the only complete, proveable, supernatural faith, the only faith that covered everything going forward from creation to the present day, and the only faith whose beliefs could be completely researched and fully documented was the (Roman) Catholic faith.

All the others were clearly either based on myths, legends, or false gods, or were simply a nationalistic response to geo political forces, and either a variation on, or a conglomeration of, one or more of the elements of the other major religions.

I also found that I wasn't alone in my conclusions.

There was extremely good scholarly and experiential support from many others, who had also arrived at the very same conclusions.

http://jerome2007.tripod.com/remarkable_conversions.htm

Some say that any Christian faith is acceptable, but that's only the case if you don't require the whole truth.

I wanted the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Why adopt a religion if it's less than 100% true?

This is not to say that some mysteries do not still exist.

When you're attempting to understand the totally original concepts of a divine and infinite supreme being, who we finite humans happen to refer to as God, you have to be prepared to make a few "leaps of faith". But not too many.

My faith promises me God's love and favor in this life, and an eternal place in God's immediate family, in the life to come.

The truths that God has revealed about himself, through his church, allow me to gain a pretty good understanding of who I'm going to be sharing eternity with, and what types of resources will be available there for me.

The physical, earthly manifestations of God, that are an integral part of my faith, are also rich and abundant, which enhances my own personal response to him.

I'm comfortable with that, too.

As time goes on, so does my research. The more I know about my chosen faith, the more certain I tend to become. That's a positive trend, and a good thing.

And should the day arrive when I discover something I missed, or some logical break that causes me to totally reconsider all of my earlier conclusions, I'm fully prepared to start all over again, with another "clean sheet of paper".

I just don't expect to.

So, good luck in your own quest for truth. I wish you well, and I hope that you too, arrive at a conclusion with which you'll be completely satisfied.

Drop me a note if you need more advice, if you get stuck, or if you have something exciting to report.

May God Bless you!

Answer 4

Yes and no. There are some similar fundamental beliefs amongst all religions...but where Christianity breaks away from the other religions is that the emphasis is on a personal relationship with God. It is my understanding that many other religions (and some Christian sects) have a God to be feared...they have to 'work' their way towards salvation...it is not freely given.

In what a view to be more accurate theology of Christianity...man has a natural desire to do evil and if it weren't for God, would fully succomb to that evil nature. But God loves man so much and wants a personal relationship with each and everyone (even the most cruel or hardened of criminals)...the only problem is-God, who is all good and all loving cannot be in the presense of evil (the analogy I like to use is it's like mixing oil with water)...but we cannot 'earn' our way through works...we have to accept and rely fully on God's love, grace, mercy and the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ...all we have to do is 'trust and obey' like the old hymn says.

Easier said than done...but God's will for our lives is perfect and good. If we follow what he commands-which basically break down to two simple commandments, 'love the lord your god, love your neighbor' (neighbors also includes enemies)

Even people who don't necessarily believe in a diety believe in doing good...but make a list of all the good things you've done and all the bad....the bad will always out number the good no matter who you are or how devoted you are to your faith...so by the 'good works' towards salvation theory...we are all headed for damnation or bad karma or whatever we believe in!

But, despite the differences of my faith against other faiths...you are right, it is silly to bash other religions. I get very irritated when people are hateful and make no attempt to understand another person's point of view. I am unbending in my values and world view...but I try to be compassionate and understanding and treat each person with dignity and respect (the most hateful and ignorant people really try my patience and sometimes I find it very difficult!!!)

I think another major similarity of all world religions (or non-religios dogmas, such as atheism) is to convert people to understand the 'truth'. I'm sorry, we're not going to 'win friends or influence people' by being jackasses...and although I will not point it out here...there is one ideology that tends to have more jackass ambassadors than any of the others! But in all fairness...this same ideology is also under rude attacks...but no group is as hated or misunderstood thatn Christians (some bring it on themselves with senseless comments, but most don't)

Anyway, thank you for the reminder that we are all just people trying to find truth in this worls and we shouldn't be rude or demeaning to others.

Answer 5

We all dont believe in the same God...the Hindus have many Gods, the pagans have the godess, there are other cultures with multilple gods. They arent the same at all. They may have a beginning and an ending but those are not the same as well either. Some believe we are reincarnated over and over. Some believe we will have sex with women and men in paradise, some say there will be no sex in heaven. They are very different but I know some people want to make them the same.....they arent.

Answer 6

There are huge differences. Far to many to include in this forum.
Christianity is the only one that has claimed and proven a risen Messiah.
Jesus established himself as God in the flesh, He layed out the principles of the kingdom of God, He bridged the gap between God and man and he promises to return.
Check out the book "So what's the Difference?" by Fritz Ridenour, this will show some contrasting aspects of various religions.

Answer 7

While many of the basic tenants associated with religions are similar, you're argument isn't a very good one. Your first example "They all believe there is ONE greater being." is a very common Western view, but false all the same.

Answer 8

This staement is more true than you may think. Actaully, by life stories, Amen-Rai, Christna, Bhudda, Hesus, Jesus, and several others from religions all over the world are the same person. All born from a virgin mother, named mary (or a variation of) healed the ill born in some manner of barn ect... I don't remember the site, but thats the criteria, look it up, very fascinating.

Answer 9

no my dear.... it's not just you. all of us (and i mean, ALL in whatever religion we are) do believe in the same fundamental, values, lessons taught to us in each of our respective religion. we aren't different with each other yet bashing another's religion seems to be the trend, right?

the answer my dear is a sin we never realize we dwell in, and that is PRIDE... we never want others to call our religion second-best. we want it to be the best, for it is the best for us (or so we think). the more the others lashed out at us, the more we defend and whipped our reasons because of PRIDE... some never admit it, but everyone knows we have some of it, don't we? even for just a few drops of it, we have that thing called PRIDE. why? we're only humans, we live to err at times, to fall out of grace sometimes. no one amongst ourselves can really claim, they are the righteous ones, for like you and me... we can never really claim it... claiming it would show our pride again, right?

so just go with your values (compassion, understanding, love, respect, humility, etc...) and live in this world by just being true to yourself... smile for the world is a place of different races, religion, faiths, reasons.... but all striving to live as best as they could.

Answer 10

well for the one greater being thing, Christians believe in 3 gods that add up to one. and Muslims believe in one whole and almighty god who has no partners or need of them.For the Jewish people they do not believe Jesus was the Christ and they are still waiting for their Messiah!