What would the world look like if religions became friends?

[Unveiled Artist]

I find it impossible to see how viewing all.humans as equal and the human race as one family is a destructive belief? I have found that it has only created and opened doors upon doors of friendships with all whom i meet. How will such welcome friendship with all on earth lead to wars? Beliefs are just beliefs but the way we treat each other is the most important thing and what I’m speaking about here is not the differences of belief but that people all across the world become friends with one another based on our common humanity. I don’t see any problem with befriending all people without prejudice.

Spirit of friendliness doesn't redefine other chosen religions. It doesn't ask people to compromise. It doesn't claim that other religions are old and we need new.

I see us only friends when Christians, Baha'i, Muslim (don't know Jews) understand this.

How do you be friendly without Christians, Baha'i, etc redefining their (and Hindu, buddhist) faith?

 

[Aupmanyav]

I think humanity, as it was potentially created in the image of God can eventually become mature enough to reflect God’s attributes of love for all humankind regardless of race, nationality or religious affiliation.

First thing, I do not believe in existence of any Allah. Secondly, humans were preceded by many species of similar biology and nature. Apes and chimps are our cousins. So, surely evolution or your Allah did some experiments before arriving at our species. Would not it be correct to say that they were in the image of Allah and we evolved further in time? Lastly, I see no evidence of Allah's love in his creation. He created all sort of natural disasters, horrible diseases (Coranovirus is a recent example), created so many religions (in which your people have added one more), filled the hearts of men with hate for each other that they have always been fighting. Where is the love of your God / Allah if he did all these things? Loving God is only a deception.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

That is an improvement. Bahaollah talked about the whole world under his banner, himself being the mirror image of his Allah. My banner is atheism. I do not believe in any Allah or prophets / messengers / sons / manfestations / mahdis sent by him. I take them to be pretenders. Bahaollah condemned the likes of me. Is that not true? How then, you hope for peace when you are against some people?

You think beliefs are just beliefs (post # 10) and there is no substance in them? Are they false beliefs? Then why have such false beliefs?

I asked another Baha'i to be honest and say this of other religions. He never has and avoided the question.

Peace can't happen without honesty.

 

[Aupmanyav]

How do you be friendly without Christians, Baha'i, etc redefining their (and Hindu, Buddhist) faith?

We can be friendly only if our different religious views are not trifled with. Don't you see that in every-day life? Don't Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists work together in governments, offices, industry, colleges and laboratories? Where is the need to make compromises? Faith / belief is a personal thing. Why should it interfere in any other field?

I asked another Baha'i to be honest and say this of other religions. He never has and avoided the question.

Bahais are not being honest. Their universal love is just a sham. They are basically fooling others. Underline mine.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

“What would the world look like if the followers of all religions consorted with each other in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship”? (Baha’u’llah) What would it look like on the ground?

For that to be the case, no religion could be in a majority and no religion could have power over government.

AFAICT, that's the most important factor in whether a religion is friendly or oppressive. The doctrines don't seem to matter too much; it's just granting religion power over society that creates a religion that doesn't play well with others.

 

[Heyo]

I think we’d have peace and with the monies saved from armaments then we’d have enough to make sure all had proper health care, food, shelter, education and employment.

That is possible while not likely. There are many other fields to disagree upon than religion. Though truly respecting other religions will eliminate one possible reason for disagreement, which is a good thing. But that is independent from my prediction that religion, all religions, will become less important for people.

 

[syo]

So imagine then. What would our world look like on the ground if all religions became friends?

Capitalism would die. Capitalists know that and they promote atheism and cynics. In my opinion.

 

[Heyo]

Interesting take.
Here is another take:
Unitarian Universalist Association

Yes, the Unitarians are an example for tolerance, spirituality and reason. When all other religions could adopt their core principles the titular friendship between religions would automatically arise. But the UU aren't as charismatic as less reasonable and tolerant sects. Reason simply hasn't the same appeal as fanaticism.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

There was a time when slavery and racism were the norm. But as the earth becomes changed these things too are being rejected as we humans evolve and mature.

What we still have yet to achieve amongst ourselves is to view humanity as God views us all. God doesn’t discriminate against us if we are black or white, Jew or Buddhist or American or Russian. He loves us all and provides the sun and rain for both the good and the wicked.


I think humanity, as it was potentially created in the image of God can eventually become mature enough to reflect God’s attributes of love for all humankind regardless of race, nationality or religious affiliation.


And in this age, the fact we even speak of such matters is a wondrous thing in itself I believe as previously religions went to war and killed one another but today we speak of reconciliation and living peacefully side by side as the wolf and the lamb.

This has nothing to do with compromise but everything to do with loving all who cross our path without judging or discriminating. Just loving and accepting all people the way they are.

[/QUOTE]

Lover, but how do you do this?

Most people would love peace. Over a handful don't see peace by unity but by agreed of diversity (those whose faiths do contradict each other).

When we have charity, we do so in the spirit of humanity not the spirit of unity (one spirit/god/religion).

To have peace, we cannot have god (or Brahma or Pagan gods) as a foundation. Foundation needs to be peace not god, bahaullah, Muhammad, and The Buddha. There are no manifestations because we all respect each other's religions by accepting there are no "old" religions of one period and new religions of today. Religions would include Paganism, Satanism and other religions like Druid and, I don't know, Jainism. More than one foundations (poly foundation?).

Is there another way to find peace without compromising each other's religions (drop the old and encourage the new, for example) to do so?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Yes, the Unitarians are an example for tolerance, spirituality and reason. When all other religions could adopt their core principles the titular friendship between religions would automatically arise. But the UU aren't as charismatic as less reasonable and tolerant sects. Reason simply hasn't the same appeal as fanaticism.

UUs are more accepting differences up under one peace and democracy. Bahai is more accepting variety (they don't say differences) under one god and humanity.

The foundation of UU are differences. We are built up on them. It's a very inclusive religion. Bahai isn't inclusive. There's only one god/one source.

Just sayin'

 

[Samantha Rinne]

Hey guys! The title I really wanted but it wouldn’t fit was...

“What would the world look like if the followers of all religions consorted with each other in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship”? (Baha’u’llah) What would it look like on the ground?

One example I know of is a recent and current experience .........

A few months ago we met a couple of beautiful Catholics who have become close friends. They visit us daily and we go out with them and to mass also sometimes. Neither of us has encroached upon the others right to practice their own faith and beliefs while both visiting each other’s churches unasked. We love mixing with them and going to mass with them and they also have occasionally visited the Baha’i Temple in Sydney.

We get invited to birthdays and they are always bringing food to us. And we have met dozens more wonderful people through them. Also we have made good friends with the local priest and we have become collaborators instead of competitors.

I am finding that the effect goodwill between religions produces is amazing and from this personal experience I am led to believe that it’s not happening because we, human beings are not trying hard enough to make it happen.

If we don’t make a deliberate effort to improve relations between religions, races and nationalities then who is and how is the world going to become a better place if we don’t make the effort?

I believe it’s up to you and me to change our world through being free from prejudice and becoming a true friend to all humanity and if we don’t do it that nothing will change.

What do you think? Can we change our world if we all become lovers of all humanity and religions by our actions and not just words?

So imagine then. What would our world look like on the ground if all religions became friends?

Everyone would live in peace... until Islam killed everyone and took over.

The Quran is basically written so even if all other religions got along, they see friendship as weakness and refuse to play along.

Myth: Islam is Tolerant of Other Faiths

If we want everyone to live together in peace, the very first thing we must do is expose and shame those who do not have that as their goal. The more people who refuse to live near a river in Egypt (denial), the more people who make public ANY religion's abuses, the less likely they can get away with them, and the more likely they are of actually treating other religions fairly.

The other thing that would work is to establish official religions for each country and forcibly evict those who aren't playing ball. With sensible boundaries, religions could coexist by staying on their own zones.

Assyria is Christian, Iran is Zoroastrian, Israel is Jewish (oust the Muslims that took over here), Europe is Christian ranging from East Orthodox to Catholic to Protestant, Russia is Orthodox, Africa is pagan except for Ethiopia, Japan is Buddhist/Shinto, China is Buddhist/Confucian/Taoist, America is Christian, India is Hindu, and Muslims are mainly in Pakistan, Turkey, and the Middle East. If people from Iraq tried to convert people from Iran, it should rightly be treated as an aggressive action.

We have peace when people have no excuse to visit other countries aside from tourism.

 

[firedragon]

Hey guys! The title I really wanted but it wouldn’t fit was...

“What would the world look like if the followers of all religions consorted with each other in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship”? (Baha’u’llah) What would it look like on the ground?

One example I know of is a recent and current experience .........

A few months ago we met a couple of beautiful Catholics who have become close friends. They visit us daily and we go out with them and to mass also sometimes. Neither of us has encroached upon the others right to practice their own faith and beliefs while both visiting each other’s churches unasked. We love mixing with them and going to mass with them and they also have occasionally visited the Baha’i Temple in Sydney.

We get invited to birthdays and they are always bringing food to us. And we have met dozens more wonderful people through them. Also we have made good friends with the local priest and we have become collaborators instead of competitors.

I am finding that the effect goodwill between religions produces is amazing and from this personal experience I am led to believe that it’s not happening because we, human beings are not trying hard enough to make it happen.

If we don’t make a deliberate effort to improve relations between religions, races and nationalities then who is and how is the world going to become a better place if we don’t make the effort?

I believe it’s up to you and me to change our world through being free from prejudice and becoming a true friend to all humanity and if we don’t do it that nothing will change.

What do you think? Can we change our world if we all become lovers of all humanity and religions by our actions and not just words?

So imagine then. What would our world look like on the ground if all religions became friends?

Well. It is great thinking.

fact remains though that 93% of all wars recorded were motivated by non religious motivations. So if religions unite like you have said, it will be much better, yet people will remain warring.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Well. It is great thinking.

fact remains though that 93% of all wars recorded were motivated by non religious motivations. So if religions unite like you have said, it will be much better, yet people will remain warring.

93%, eh? Strangely precise number.

 

[firedragon]

93%, eh? Strangely precise number.

Yep.

 

[columbus]

So imagine then. What would our world look like on the ground if all religions became friends?"

Sounds like the secular world.
Where a person's religious beliefs are just an interesting feature and not a defining characteristic. But nobody tries to write their personal religious beliefs into law or anything like that.

Sounds like Unitarian-Universalism or Bahai, here in the Abrahamic world.
Tom

 

[columbus]

(don't know Jews)

I do.
As a rule, in my experience,
they're better at it than the largest majority of other Abrahamic religionists.
Tom

 

[Vee]

What would our world look like on the ground if all religions became friends?

I think people would just find something else to fight about.

 

[columbus]

I think people would just find something else to fight about.

I understand what you're saying. But I don't think it's all that true.

People will find other things to fight about. Sure.
But for really big conflicts, huge wars between armies made up of little people? Not so much.

What really happens is this. The political elite want a war for their own purposes. But they don't want to fight it personally. They want someone else to actually man the guns and ships and such.

But they can't just say to the hoi poloi "Go fight a war for my wealth and power and glory!". So they appeal to something bigger. An ideology. Like religion or communism or capitalism or nationalism or something. Wave a flag! Invoke Jesus or Allah or some deity! Yell, "Our way of life! Think of the children!".

That sort of thing.

Otherwise, the soldiers aren't going to be interested in dying and killing. They just won't. They just want to have a nice life with the wife and kids or whatever.

Good people do good things. Bad people do bad things. To get good people to do bad things takes ideology.
Tom

 

[metis]

“What would the world look like if the followers of all religions consorted with each other in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship”?

Actually it already has been happening but not with all denominations. I've been involved with interfaith activities here in the Detroit area for several decades now, and I love it.

 

[CG Didymus]

“What would the world look like if the followers of all religions consorted with each other in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship”?

Bahaollah cannot be friendly even with Abrahamic religions. He denied the divinity of Jesus and finality of Mohammad.

Most all of the people I become friends with are because we have things we do in common. I belong to an athletic club and play mostly tennis. All kinds of people from all over the world belong to the club Whether Asian, Latin or whatever, we play tennis and get along fine. But rarely, rarely does religion ever get mentioned. One Iranian is so liberal about his beliefs that it is never an issue. One Sikh is friendly to everybody he plays and never talks about his religion.

So what is it that allows us to get along? No one pushes their religious beliefs on anyone else. So can a person that belongs to a proselytizing religion put their religion in the background and not at some point bring it up? Can they become friends with people for reasons other than to try and "recruit" them into their religion. And that includes Baha'is, because they are expected to "teach" the Faith. So how long in a casual relationship will it be before the Christian or Baha'i will feel the need to tell them about Jesus or Baha'u'llah? Once that happens, the relationship is one of trying to convert the person. And, like Aupmanyav says, some beliefs are going to cause problems.