One world religion? (rituals, moral, Buddhism, beliefs, attend)

[Syzygy]

Intriguing me of late, I want to see what you think. Is there any possibility of a unified one world religion? What would it look like? Feel like? Be like? What scriptures/rituals/prayers/etc. would it use?

I think it's a good idea if it's implemented correctly, that is, not used as a subversive political tool. But, it'll probably never happen until reactionary groups/fundamentalism die(s) out. Again, what do you think?

Note: no conspiracies, please. Let's at least try to be somewhat . . . linear, to say the least.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Syzygy

Intriguing me of late, I want to see what you think. Is there any possibility of a unified one world religion? What would it look like? Feel like? Be like? What scriptures/rituals/prayers/etc. would it use?

I think it's a good idea if it's implemented correctly, that is, not used as a subversive political tool. But, it'll probably never happen until reactionary groups/fundamentalism die(s) out. Again, what do you think?

Note: no conspiracies, please. Let's at least try to be somewhat . . . linear, to say the least.

Don't think it's possible. There are too many different opinions and beliefs for there to be a one world religion. Even if governments tried to force it on people, some people would rebel from it.

[Syzygy]

Care to elaborate? I mean, in some ways, I agree with you, but, well, why?

[Karl R]

Originally Posted by Todd

There are too many different opinions and beliefs for there to be a one world religion.

Originally Posted by Syzygy

Care to elaborate?

Different people need different things from religion, and some of these things are mutually exclusive.

Some people need a structured moral code. They feel most comfortable when someone they respect tells them what to believe and what to do.

Other people need to question everything. They feel most comfortable with a loose set of ethical guidelines, which they will then try to apply to whatever circumstances they find themselves in.

I would feel stifled in the former type of religion. Many people would feel lost and directionless in the church that I belong attend. And that's just one area of difference. Some people seek spirituality among a like-minded community. For others it's a solitary journey. For some people spirituality is quiet and contemplative. For others it's ecstatic and exuberant.

Originally Posted by Syzygy

What would it look like? Feel like? Be like?

The eastern religions give us a model. In hinduism, there are considered to be a number of correct ways to believe and practice. All are respected. However, from our western perspective, hinduism could be considered a number of related religions, instead of one religion.

Furthermore, many people practice more than one eastern religion: taoism and confucionism; zen buddhism and shintoism. This syncretic style of belief is seen as normal.

While it's unlikely that we'll ever have one world religion, I find it more likely that there will be growing understanding and tolerance of other beliefs. And there will be more people practicing multiple religions.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Todd

Don't think it's possible. There are too many different opinions and beliefs for there to be a one world religion. Even if governments tried to force it on people, some people would rebel from it.

I agree completely. I also think people are a pretty diverse lot and one religion would not spiritually satisfy the needs of everyone any more than one shoe size is going to work for everyone's feet.

[Silicon Hero]

There will never be a world religion. And if there was even for a short time it would only last a very short time before people started breaking off and forming other kinds. European history teaches us this.

[kai]

Originally Posted by Silicon Hero

There will never be a world religion. And if there was even for a short time it would only last a very short time before people started breaking off and forming other kinds. European history teaches us this.

i agree each religion starts off well then cannot hold together as it increases in size it tends to fragment it happens to all religions that reach a certain size Islam has fragmented so its in the east as well as the west. religion is a kind of empire as it grows it gets harder to organise and communicate from a central source and eventually fragments.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Syzygy

Care to elaborate? I mean, in some ways, I agree with you, but, well, why?

Because no one can prevent others from believing what they want to believe. The only way that it would happen is if it was forced on society. But like I mentioned before, people would rebel if they were forced into something like this. It's just human nature to rebel against something that's forced on them.

[Revasser]

I have to agree that such a beast as a unified world religion is improbable in the extreme.

Personally, I also do not find such a prospect to be desirable in the least. Can you imagine actually trying to accomplish such a thing? It would either need to be mass-scale conversion-by-the-sword or something so vague and soulless that it could accomodate everyone, which would likely negate the point entirely.

I think a commitment to pluralism and a culture of mutual respect for people's (sometimes radically) different religious (and non-religious) beliefs is far more desirable then trying to mash everyone together under one religion.

[Syzygy]

There's an interesting phrase related to this discussion: allophile. (wikipedia again). Allophilia is positive feelings for a group that is not one's one. Tolerance simply means that religions still harbor feelings of dislike for one another, but they allow each other to exist. So, instead of a unified world religion, perhaps an allophiliac state between religions would perform the same function. Otherwise, it's just more of the same situations today, except they're not ceasing.