Are All Religions Essentially Alike At Their Core? (moral, mystic)

[Sunstone]

Recently, my Acme Latex Love Doll and I were discussing religion over a romantic candlelight dinner, when it occurred to me to point out to her that many people believe all religions are essentially the same at their core. She greeted my observation with a profound silence, which I believe was her way of communicating her disproval of the notion. Ever since I have been wondering what her reasons were for thinking the notion that all religions are essentially alike is nonsense. Hence, I am asking these questions:

Is the core of all religions essentially the same? Are religions at heart all alike one another? Or, are there essential differences between religions? How do you view the relationship of one religion to another?

Last, is it true that Jewscout wears his shoes on the wrong foot so people tracking him will think he's walking in the opposite direction that he actually is, or is this just another silly RF rumor no one knows how it got started?

[Green Gaia]

"[Religion is] our human response to the duality of being alive, and having to die." - UU minister Forrest Church

So in that sense, I would say yes, at their core all religions are alike.

[Seyorni]

I see considerable differences between the Abrahamic and the "Eastern" religions.

The western, Abrahamic religions are oblivious to metaphysics. They posit an anthropomorphic God with magical powers. The afterlife is conceived of as an idealized version of our present life. Morality, in many cases, is black-and-white.

The Eastern religions are more akin to a westerner's concept of psychotherapeutic modalities. They're all about metaphysics and epistemology. Their "Gods" are human constructs to be used as tools to alter consciousness. The "afterlife" is a somewhat foreign concept. Their goal is to alter consciousness from a 3-D reality to a 11-D Reality; to progress beyond the "gods" to become the Universal Consciousness itself. Morality is a social issue, and not necessarily directly connected to religion.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Recently, my Acme Latex Love Doll and I were discussing religion over a romantic candlelight dinner, when it occurred to me to point out to her that many people believe all religions are essentially the same at their core. She greeted my observation with a profound silence, which I believe was her way of communicating her disproval of the notion. Ever since I have been wondering what her reasons were for thinking the notion that all religions are essentially alike is nonsense. Hence, I am asking these questions:

Is the core of all religions essentially the same? Are religions at heart all alike one another? Or, are there essential differences between religions? How do you view the relationship of one religion to another?

I think they are the same in the sense that they all have an innate need to reach out to something beyond themselves. One can even find similarities on a moral level. That's it in a nutshell.

I will say that an essential difference that has always caught my eyes (and millions of others) is the that across all of religious history, the claim of a clear and specific revelation from God is relatively rare, and the claim of a clear and specific public revelation has been made exactly twice, first by Jews and second by Christians. It is worthy of note that both were talking about the same God. This claim of Revelation is not only the most obvious differentiator among religions but by far the most important in my opininon.

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Last, is it true that Jewscout wears his shoes on the wrong foot so people tracking him will think he's walking in the opposite direction that he actually is, or is this just another silly RF rumor no one knows how it got started?

It's true....

[finalfrogo]

Most religions (there are a few crazy ones out there) are the same at the core, because they execute the same functions: (1) they create social harmony, (2) they all attempt to bond with a supernatural force, whether be from the interior or the exterior, (3) they all attempt to bring a meaningful and directed lifestyle to the followers.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Seyorni

The western, Abrahamic religions are oblivious to metaphysics.

Of course I can only speak of my own faith but I don't see this at all. The Jesuits for example venture in metaphysics often. Perhaps it's because Catholics hardly engage in such discussions because we are often too busy talking about doctrinal matters vs. metaphysical realities that may be in the realm of allowed disagreement. We seek unity above that of talking about subjective matters that can have someone talking until the sun comes down.

Originally Posted by Seyorni

They posit an anthropomorphic God with magical powers. The afterlife is conceived of as an idealized version of our present life. Morality, in many cases, is black-and-white.

Not to us. But I can see why it's perceived this way. Topic for another day.

Originally Posted by Seyorni

The Eastern religions are more akin to a westerner's concept of psychotherapeutic modalities. They're all about metaphysics and epistemology. Their "Gods" are human constructs to be used as tools to alter consciousness. The "afterlife" is a somewhat foreign concept. Their goal is to alter consciousness from a 3-D reality to a 11-D Reality; to progress beyond the "gods" to become the Universal Consciousness itself. Morality is a social issue, and not necessarily directly connected to religion.

The bolded is something I personally struggle with about Eastern religions.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Is the core of all religions essentially the same? Are religions at heart all alike one another?

I chose "all" because:
There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God. The difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed. All of them, except a few which are the outcome of human perversity, were ordained of God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose. Arise and, armed with the power of faith, shatter to pieces the gods of your vain imaginings, the sowers of dissension amongst you. Cleave unto that which draweth you together and uniteth you.

(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 217)


I'm assuming by "all" you aren't including the really out there stuff like Jim Jones and Heaven's Gate?

Or, are there essential differences between religions? How do you view the relationship of one religion to another?

There are definitely differences between religions, but they are matters of human perception, changing needs for the time in which the religion began, and yeah, sometimes humans took a perfectly good message and messed it up. At their core, they teach the same things.

fwiw, I had come to this conclusion while an atheist, reading up on religions to understand why so many people throughout history could be so delusional.

Last, is it true that Jewscout wears his shoes on the wrong foot so people tracking him will think he's walking in the opposite direction that he actually is, or is this just another silly RF rumor no one knows how it got started?

No, he does it because it's what Rambam would do.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Seyorni

I see considerable differences between the Abrahamic and the "Eastern" religions.

The western, Abrahamic religions are oblivious to metaphysics. They posit an anthropomorphic God with magical powers. The afterlife is conceived of as an idealized version of our present life. Morality, in many cases, is black-and-white.

I think of it more as the Western religions do not focus on metaphysics. The mystics of all religions sound pretty much the same to my ears, though.

It is a characteristic of Western thought to divide things into neat little packages and so deal with them. Sometimes this has its advantages, and sometimes not.

When it comes to concepts of the Supreme, the West has taken the view of immediacy, while the East has taken the view of transcendency. I believe that it's just the ultimate paradox, and that both are true simultaneously.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Victor

I will say that an essential difference that has always caught my eyes (and millions of others) is the that across all of religious history, the claim of a clear and specific revelation from God is relatively rare, and the claim of a clear and specific public revelation has been made exactly twice, first by Jews and second by Christians. It is worthy of note that both were talking about the same God. This claim of Revelation is not only the most obvious differentiator among religions but by far the most important in my opininon.

It's true....

Victor, I think your information on this is a bit out of date.

[evearael]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Last, is it true that Jewscout wears his shoes on the wrong foot so people tracking him will think he's walking in the opposite direction that he actually is, or is this just another silly RF rumor no one knows how it got started?

He wears boots.

Originally Posted by Booko

I'm assuming by "all" you aren't including the really out there stuff like Jim Jones and Heaven's Gate?

...don't forget Phelps!

All the faiths I have studied have had varying degrees of common ground, with the exception of the aforementioned... groups.