Can all religions come together?

[Vinayaka]

These Bahai groups are living out their religion and proselytizing here on the basis that their world view would appear to be morally right: after all not many would disagree with the morality of there being unity in diversity: I may be one of the few who can disagree and it would be on the grounds that we are all individuals living according to our consciences. There is no socialism on that basis between religions. Socialism is a political concept which many disagree with anyway. So it is even more difficult to reconcile religious beliefs and principles.

I concur. So it's usually best to look right past the religion of the person, and right at their humanness. If you have the ability to do it, you can have the preaching go in one ear and out the other. Frankly, that's exactly what most of us do anyway.

 

[wellwisher]

Would it be possible to unite all religions in to a discussion forum (physically place. not internet) to benefit the understanding of each others? Not to become one united religion, but to be able to respect each others?

Example what would it take for Christians to sit down with Muslims and discuss on a higher level then to argue against each others all the time?
Or for Buddhists to sit down with Jews to discuss?

Personally i think we can benefit from each others as human beings, not in the differences in the different religious beliefs

What all religions have in common, is they all sincerely try to optimize human nature, in the light of the wild card called free will and choice. Human nature is common to all humans. It is a natural part of operating system of the human brain; of natural and/or divine creation.

Free will and choice, on the other hand, is influenced by the super ego of one's cultural environment, since culture, traditions and laws have an impact on our choices. The net affect is, each religion is trying to go to the same end place; optimize human nature, but each religion begins it journey with a different starting point Each was born and grew within a unique culture and law.

The analogy is like having the goal to build a homestead that is safe and secure. The optimization of the homestead will depend on where it is built. If it is built where it is always hot, or always cold, near water or near desert, will require different ways to optimize the year round needs. They all lead to the same place; safe and secure, but each differs based on the needs of the land. Learning from each other allows one to learn to become optimized, anywhere you go.

 

[Vinayaka]

We work together for common aims and avoid controversial comparisons between theologies. Its important people feel welcome and affirmed that's its OK to follow their religion or not have any religion.

The Tamil society is trying to establish a temple for more mainstream Hindus that don't identify as Hare Krishnas and Sai Baba. Some of us are helping them with that project. The Buddhist groups are Tibetan and Thai.

Many immigrant groups could share resources, and advise each other. It could eliminate a few mistakes. As a founding member of a temple society here, I've watched other groups make some of the same mistakes we made, and a lot of that was that they were too proud to listen to us. One group (probably several), for example bought land without looking at local laws about zoning. When they did find out, and the county wouldn't rezone the land, they had to sell, at a substantial loss. Canadian laws are different than the laws in the countries of origin.

Drawing up a really precise constitution is another really important factor. Then abiding by it.

There is just so much to be shared.

 

[Dawnofhope]

I am more familiar with interfaith council meeting having the purpose of interfaith cooperation to meet community needs for the less fortunate not meet by other sources.

Individual community groups work towards meeting the community needs. I help out at the Christian medical Centre and have just started working for the Maoris. The Maoris and Muslims have a growing relationship so through the Maoris I was assisting the Syrian refugees recently. I suspect there is a better welfare system in New Zealand than America but could be wrong. The main work of the interfiath council is to create spaces where there is the conscious intermingling of different faith groups. We do that in the community anyhow but don't tend to talk about religion.

I consider this dialogue does exist on the interfaith group leve, but it is rare. Most of my experience is one on one with individuals in an interfaith dialogue, Most prefer some distance as on the internet for such discussions.

Face to face discussions are generally more meaningful for me.

 

[Shantanu]

I concur. So it's usually best to look right past the religion of the person, and right at their humanness. If you have the ability to do it, you can have the preaching go in one ear and out the other. Frankly, that's exactly what most of us do anyway.

Absolutely, the religions are nothing: at the end of the day it is only the humanity in a person that matters. There is no need to legimitise groups in society by setting up inter-faith bodies given this reality.

 

[shunyadragon]

I concur. So it's usually best to look right past the religion of the person, and right at their humanness. If you have the ability to do it, you can have the preaching go in one ear and out the other. Frankly, that's exactly what most of us do anyway.

I agree of bold, but you have to understand @Shantanu has an agenda against all religions, and not acknowledging he has a religious belief and agenda of his own. No room for an objective dialogue here.

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These Bahai groups are living out their religion and proselytizing here on the basis that their world view would appear to be morally right: after all not many would disagree with the morality of there being unity in diversity: I may be one of the few who can disagree and it would be on the grounds that we are all individuals living according to our consciences. There is no socialism on that basis between religions. Socialism is a political concept which many disagree with anyway. So it is even more difficult to reconcile religious beliefs and principles.

First it depends on how you define proselytizing. It is a mater of fact that the Baha'is are one of the least aggressive in their sharing of their faith with others than most other religions and belief systems. You are making an aggressive hard proselytizing argument for your own beliefs.

Virtually all religions, belief systems, divisions of all of the above, and individuals consider their belief to be morally right. This 'after all not many would disagree with the morality of there being unity in diversity:' is not clear and needs clarification.

The Baha'is indeed do believe that, 'we are all individuals living according to our consciences.'

The Baha'i Faith does not advocate socialism.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Many immigrant groups could share resources, and advise each other. It could eliminate a few mistakes. As a founding member of a temple society here, I've watched other groups make some of the same mistakes we made, and a lot of that was that they were too proud to listen to us. One group (probably several), for example bought land without looking at local laws about zoning. When they did find out, and the county wouldn't rezone the land, they had to sell, at a substantial loss. Canadian laws are different than the laws in the countries of origin.

Drawing up a really precise constitution is another really important factor. Then abiding by it.

There is just so much to be shared.

We have the multi-ethnic council here too like a brother to the interfaith council. Red Cross have been working with government agencies and the city council to assist Syrian refugees establish here.

Our Hindu representative recently asked if they could use our Baha'i Centre as an interim measure until they establish their temple. Its a new situation for both communities. They have this big alter about 3 X 3 meters which is a pain to carry around for their Pujas. I don't know what you think about the idea of Hindus using a Baha'i Centre?

The Baha'i community went through the process of establishing our Centre about 10 years ago so my Hindu interfaith buddy is keen to learn from our experience.

 

[shunyadragon]

Absolutely, the religions are nothing: at the end of the day it is only the humanity in a person that matters. There is no need to legimitise groups in society by setting up inter-faith bodies given this reality.

This reflects your aggressive proselytizing against all of what you condemn as 'other' religions from the perspective of your own personal religious agenda. Again , , , no room for constructive dialogue here.

 

[sooda]

I doubt that all religions can or will come together.

There are some people who strive (as my grandfather taught) to respect our differences and cherish our similarities... But, most people cannot be that open or secure.

Its sort of like "one world government".. Ain't in the cards.

 

[shunyadragon]

I doubt that all religions can or will come together.

There are some people who strive (as my grandfather taught) to respect our differences and cherish our similarities... But, most people cannot be that open or secure.

True, it is obvious that 'all the religions' will not come together. That is a rather naive notion concerning the conflicting antagonistic nature of the different religions.

Its sort of like "one world government".. Ain't in the cards.

I disagree, but when it comes it will be in the future based on the need for such a government which would be more of a confederation, and not one government. We are having elements of world government now out of necessity.

 

[sooda]

Well, Brexit is pretty shaky..

 

[shunyadragon]

Well, Brexit is pretty shaky..

True, but it is a fact that our world is a bit shaky now. Regardless of the Brexit being shaky Great Britain is coming face to face with the reality of the intimate interdepence of the European countries and in reality the world.

Regardless of the naive objections we at present have two currency economic reality of the world, the Dollar and the Euro, and intimate interdependent economic world reality.

Examples of the elements of a world confederacy began in the mid 1800's with for example the Universal Postal Union established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874, which became a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN). Also universal regulation and standards for ALL transportation including airlines and shipping.

 

[blü 2]

a discussion forum ... to benefit the understanding of each others? Not to become one united religion, but to be able to respect each others?

I think good people tend to respect other good people, other things being equal.

On that basis it would also make sense to include non-believers in any mutual-respect process, would it not? Or why should they be excluded from a process whose essence is live and let live? Sure, there'll be hostile nonbelievers out there, but there'll be believers just as hostile too.

Or am I wrong in thinking that reducing hostility is the aim of your proposal?

 

[LuisDantas]

It would be something of a litmus test for worthy religions, IMO.

There are quite a few wannabe movements that do not have a functional understanding of what a religion is supposed to be and are effectively deluding themselves.

 

[Quintessence]

I don't think "unite" is the right word to use, but general cooperation with one's fellows is all but required for human civilization to exist. Cooperating with each other happens across various cultural dimensions, including but not limited to religion.

There have been global meetings to discuss aspects of religion a long time via the Parliament of World Religions. I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet.

parliamentofreligions.org | Parliament of the World's Religions

 

[shunyadragon]

It would be something of a litmus test for worthy religions, IMO.

There are quite a few wannabe movements that do not have a functional understanding of what a religion is supposed to be and are effectively deluding themselves.

Unfortunate negative egocentric generalization of other religious beliefs who believe differently than your own .

 

[LuisDantas]

Unfortunate negative egocentric generalization of other religious beliefs who believe differently than your own .

What about that?

 

[BilliardsBall]

Would it be possible to unite all religions in to a discussion forum (physically place. not internet) to benefit the understanding of each others? Not to become one united religion, but to be able to respect each others?

Example what would it take for Christians to sit down with Muslims and discuss on a higher level then to argue against each others all the time?
Or for Buddhists to sit down with Jews to discuss?

Personally i think we can benefit from each others as human beings, not in the differences in the different religious beliefs

We can certainly respect one another, there are many truths in other religions. Salvation, if it exists, would be vital, though, for all persons in all religions, right?

 

[Vinayaka]

We have the multi-ethnic council here too like a brother to the interfaith council. Red Cross have been working with government agencies and the city council to assist Syrian refugees establish here.

Our Hindu representative recently asked if they could use our Baha'i Centre as an interim measure until they establish their temple. Its a new situation for both communities. They have this big alter about 3 X 3 meters which is a pain to carry around for their Pujas. I don't know what you think about the idea of Hindus using a Baha'i Centre?

The Baha'i community went through the process of establishing our Centre about 10 years ago so my Hindu interfaith buddy is keen to learn from our experience.

Not a question of Hindus using a Baha'i Center, more a question of Baha'is letting them. In Ireland the Hindus use a community hall. Here we rotated houses before we rented a small room. In a neighbouring city the Tamil group used a room at another Hindu temple. In many places they've used somebody's basement or garage. So the Tamil community can flex to many circumstances.

The underlying current is always that the God(s) build the temple, not the people. People are just stewards of His plan. And in order to do that, worship has to commence right away. God simply can't do that unless he's beseeched, preferably daily. The groups that have thought outside of this ... that we build the temple, then invite God, have often failed, sometimes miserably. People are just unwilling to donate money, unless they see some sort of progress. So it grows like that. The temple I attend here started with the donation of a murthi, along with $20.

 

[LuisDantas]

Would it be possible to unite all religions in to a discussion forum (physically place. not internet) to benefit the understanding of each others? Not to become one united religion, but to be able to respect each others?

Example what would it take for Christians to sit down with Muslims and discuss on a higher level then to argue against each others all the time?
Or for Buddhists to sit down with Jews to discuss?

Personally i think we can benefit from each others as human beings, not in the differences in the different religious beliefs

Under the proper circunstances and with a sane stopping point, we can and we do.

But there is a lot to pay attention for. "All religions" is a very tricky idea, and a major challenge to the implementation.

While the goal is laudable, it takes a lot of effort and painful realizations before any concrete steps can be taken. We have to at some point acknowledge that many a presumably religious group is effectively insane or a promoter of tribal unity by way of pursuing a common external "enemy". There is also the not-inconsequential matter of attempts at co-opting other creeds to consider.

Or, alternatively, you can restrict yourself to a specific subset of creeds and decide that they are all that matter. Quite reasonable under most circunstances, but we should not mistake that for true complete abrangence.