The only difference between religions.

[Spirit of Light]

In my understanding it is only different techniques within the different religions/spiritual practice that are different. Like in How to get in to Heaven or how to realize Nirvana.

So why are people so protective of their belief? Saying "my belief is the right one"
But when looking at the spiritual aspects of all religions, they seek something similar.

 

[Heyo]

In my understanding it is only different techniques within the different religions/spiritual practice that is different. Like in How to get in to Heaven or how to realize Nirvana.

So why are people so protective of their belief? Saying "my belief is the right one"
But when looking at the spiritual aspects of all religions, they seek something similar.

I don't think the differences are only superficial. There are deep philosophical differences. E.g. look at the image of man. The negative image of the monotheists of man as inherently flawed is anathema to most pagan religions (and not even shared by all monotheists).
Without these differences it should be easier to reunite.

Another thing is power. Aspiring spiritual dictators don't like to be subordinate. When they can't take over an organization, they take their followers and leave.

 

[Estro Felino]

Not everyone is.
I think Christians should read some books about Buddhism, not to convert. But simply to understand certain things that in the Gospel remains unsaid. About serenity...being at peace with the world, and other important elements.

 

[Spirit of Light]

I don't think the differences are only superficial. There are deep philosophical differences. E.g. look at the image of man. The negative image of the monotheists of man as inherently flawed is anathema to most pagan religions (and not even shared by all monotheists).
Without these differences it should be easier to reunite.

Another thing is power. Aspiring spiritual dictators don't like to be subordinate. When they can't take over an organization, they take their followers and leave.

In my understanding, what you såeak about here is the human aspects of religious practice, meaning the "rules" for Man is always better than woman kind of thinking has grown out from ego, and are not a part of the true teachings.
The power of "leaders" do also arise from ego, and not from spiritual wisdom

 

[Spirit of Light]

Not everyone is.
I think Christians should read some books about Buddhism, not to convert. But simply to understand certain things that in the Gospel remains unsaid. About serenity...being at peace with the world, and other important elements.

Yes that would be nice

 

[Aupmanyav]

In my understanding it is only different techniques within the different religions/spiritual practice that are different. Like in How to get in to Heaven or how to realize Nirvana.
So why are people so protective of their belief? Saying "my belief is the right one"
But when looking at the spiritual aspects of all religions, they seek something similar.

"My belief is the right one" comes up only when there is a challenge that it is not. Otherwise, I am happy with my belief and so should the others be with theirs. I do not aspire for heaven or 'nirvana' (if that means cessation of repeated birth and death). All religions do not have the same goal.

 

[Spirit of Light]

"My belief is the right one" comes up only when there is a challenge that it is not. Otherwise, I am happy with my belief and so should the others be with theirs. I do not aspire for heaven or 'nirvana' (if that means cessation of repeated birth and death). All religions do not have the same goal.

I admit that my knowledge about hindu faith is on the minimum, so my words in the OP may have been a bit misleading.

 

[stvdv]

"My belief is the right one" comes up only when there is a challenge that it is not

Some believers asked me what I believe.

I told them that I believe Jesus is the right choice for some, Krishna for others, and my choice is the right choice for me.

Then they insisted that I told my choice. I tried hard not to tell them. But they "forced" me to. So I told them

Then they started attacking, belittling my Faith. Of course good for me, and really bad for them; what to do, I tried to spare them making this huge mistake

Circa 25 years later they agreed to my view
Miracles do exist

 

[Aupmanyav]

I do not have 25 years to live and have seen no miracle in the last 25 years.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

In my understanding it is only different techniques within the different religions/spiritual practice that are different. Like in How to get in to Heaven or how to realize Nirvana.

So why are people so protective of their belief? Saying "my belief is the right one"
But when looking at the spiritual aspects of all religions, they seek something similar.

Okay, let me try to show my view. Your general culture is showing. But show it is mine. So this is not a debate about right or wrong.

Religion is if you try to strip away your own culture this: Religion is the set of evaluations a given human hold about what fundamentally matters. That is what you call spiritual.
But in my religion is existentialism as how to be a human.

So for your words they are embedded in a Western cultural understanding. But so are mine and thus what religion is to you is slight different than it is to mine.
So religion is different views about what matters and how to do that. And if you that differently than me, then that is how it is for both of us.

 

[RestlessSoul]

I do not have 25 years to live and have seen no miracle in the last 25 years.

I doubt I have 25 years to live either, but I see miracles every day.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

In my understanding it is only different techniques within the different religions/spiritual practice that are different. Like in How to get in to Heaven or how to realize Nirvana.

So why are people so protective of their belief? Saying "my belief is the right one"
But when looking at the spiritual aspects of all religions, they seek something similar.

Maybe it is only our own selves that sees and makes the differences.

Regards Tony

 

[stvdv]

I doubt I have 25 years to live either, but I see miracles every day.

Fantastic

For me it is harder to not see 1 miracle than to see 1 miracle (in 25 years)

 

[Nimos]

In my understanding it is only different techniques within the different religions/spiritual practice that are different. Like in How to get in to Heaven or how to realize Nirvana.

So why are people so protective of their belief? Saying "my belief is the right one"
But when looking at the spiritual aspects of all religions, they seek something similar.

Not all people are as tolerant as you

For a lot of people religion is also a lifepath or a way of living. For instance, JW have to do certain things and are also taught to look at other people differently, because their "purpose" is not only to be good religious people, but to also spread the message with the overall purpose of saving people.

Obviously if they didn't care to much about what other religions are out there and all of them are equally good then doing all this seems kind of pointless. Therefore their view IS the correct one and its their mission to spread it and save other. Now JWs is not an aggressive religion where you have to take up arms and fight others, in fact its the exact opposite, they are not allowed to join the military or get involved in politics, not even voting as far as I know.

So a lot of the things they do and live by are obviously affected by their religion, just as many others are.

Ultimately if you ask a Christian, Muslim or Jew about God, then there is only one God. All others are false ones. In certain religious views within these, believing in false gods is a sin.

For instance in the bible we see this:

Exodus 22:20
20 - “Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the LORD alone, shall be devoted to destruction.

So there is a clear picture being painted within a lot of these religions, that other believes ain't really tolerated, and depending on how each group of believers interpret or are told what the meaning is, this could make them behave certain ways towards others. As we know there are many countries where being an atheist is punishable by death. Likewise we see punishments for certain sensualities, also in some cases death. You have other countries, where women for instance have to wear certain clothes etc.

The chance is that not all people living under these different rules agree with them. Like there are probably some women in these countries that don't like the idea that they can't get an education or have to wear these clothes, yet they are forced to it. So even within the same religion, you will have certain rules that reflect the believe of it, which is forced unto some people.

So in the end, I guess it boils down to what is considered "right" and what is not considered "right", because clearly if all people shared your view, then no one should be afraid to go to the streets and yell that they are an atheist or a women refusing to wear the burka etc. without it having any consequences.

 

[paradox]

In my understanding it is only different techniques within the different religions/spiritual practice that are different. Like in How to get in to Heaven or how to realize Nirvana.

So why are people so protective of their belief? Saying "my belief is the right one"
But when looking at the spiritual aspects of all religions, they seek something similar.

Different religions have each their own scriptures.
Scriptures are everything, and if scriptures are contradictory then only one can be right.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Different religions have each their own scriptures.
Scriptures are everything, and if scriptures are contradictory then only one can be right.

Not in my scripture.

 

[paradox]

Not in my scripture.

Which is your scripture and how does it deal with contradictions?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Which is your scripture and how does it deal with contradictions?

Well, I have no scripture as per standard religion, because I believe differently about what religion is. But in my religion I don't believe in right and wrong as some people believe about them.

 

[paradox]

Well, I have no scripture as per standard religion, because I believe differently about what religion is.

hm, if I may ask, which religion is that?

But in my religion I don't believe in right and wrong as some people believe about them.

Regardless of what one believes, one can't say all scriptures are right because that's logically impossible.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

hm, if I may ask, which religion is that?

Mine as per this definition of religion: Religion is the most comprehensive and intensive manner of valuing known to human beings.
What is Religion?

Regardless of what one believes, one can't say all scriptures are right because that's logically impossible.

Well, I don't say the any scripture is right or wrong as you use those concepts, and thus I don't believe in your normative use of logic. Or if you like I doubt we can agree on what the world/the universe/reality/everything is.

I am in the Western tradition a believer in a cognitive, moral and cultural relativism.