What Does the Oneness of Religion Mean?

Zanjan: An important question has been raised: Is it possible for all religions on earth to find agreement with each other? Do they abide together in peace?

People in the past didn’t think so because they couldn’t separate politics from religion or religion from culture. These fields were so tightly intertwined, it was impossible to see any lines. We’re literate now, have advanced education and means of communication; thus the common man is far better informed.

Thanks to a multicultural society that exposed us to obscure religions and exotic cultural practices, the former fear of the unknown has, like a dark cloud, retreated along with dying superstitions.

Today, we can see each religion on its own ground; as such, we can surely expand the barriers of what’s possible. Then why not give it a try? In this topic, I’m asking for contributions on points of agreement. What is the SAME about religions? Please try to follow the exercise so we could gather list.

Warning: This is NOT a place to assert that one's religion is better than anyone else's or that theirs is the only true religion. We’re attempting to view religion without prejudice.

Zanjan: I’ll start: Every religion has the Golden Rule, worded in some fashion that makes it identifiable as such. Some would say it was borrowed from another – not true because borrowing means either the lender no longer has it, or that one only borrowed in part, then changed the rest.

Realistically, one might say one religion copied it from the other; well, if religions have copied it there’s a problem with integrity. You see, a copy from a copy always becomes larger and fuzzier until it’s too hard to make out.

However, when a Rule is a working principle, it lives on in perpetuity, clearly and precisely over vast tracts of time because it’s the original – that is, it issues from a single Source. Concepts of spiritual states work similarly, varying only in perspective.

“ May peace reign on earth. May the gourd and the pot agree. May their animals live in harmony and all evil words be banished in to the bush and vacant forest”
(African religious traditions; a prayer from Guinea)

“The truest and greatest power is the strength of peace…..because peace is the Will of the Great Spirit” (Native American: Hopi declaration of peace)

“May wise submission conquer disobedience in this place; and may peace triumph over discord here, and generosity over greed, reverence over blasphemy, truthful speech over lying words. May the Righteous Order gain victory over the lie.” (Zoroastrian scriptures: The Yasna)

Zanjan: " To dwell in a peaceful land with the right desires in one's heart - this is the greatest blessing. Control of self and peaceful speech, and whatever word be well-spoken- this is the greatest blessing. To live righteously, to give help to kindred, to follow a peaceful calling - this is the greatest blessing. "
(Buddhist Scriptures - Buddha)


"Shall I not tell you what is better than prayers and fasting and giving alms to the poor? It is making peace between one another: enmity and malice destroy all virtues"
(Islamic Tradition - Words of Muhammad)


"Mutual love is righteousness but warfare is unrighteousness. The former is beneficial to heaven, spirit, country and humanity - the latter is destruction to all"
(Chinese Traditions - Mo Ti)

ghostgeek: I think the answers you're not getting speak for themselves Zanjan. Agreement on religion is as elusive as ever.

Zanjan: Oh gosh, then I must be really special, the only one who loves harmony! Such is life amongst the barbarians, I guess.

ghostgeek: How much harmony have you seen on this site Zanjan? For myself, I've seen precious little.

Zanjan: I'm not one to fairly rate the whole site. I will say the live chat is utterly boring -> all one-liners or one-worders.

But here, where people have time to think/research/make an effort, I'd hoped to find at least one or two who would actually examine a functional question. It's not like the outcome was a given.

Maybe you're right - the only thing posters are interested in is fighting without a cause. They're stuck in video game world. Well, this topic is here if they decide to exercise their mind instead of memory.