Do you think there are common threads in the different religions?

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   pennyofheavenposted 13 years ago

   Do you think there are common threads in the different religions?
   
   A friend of mine once said it is the similarities that make us one and the differences that make us unique. This bought to mind this question...why?...I have no idea lol.

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   Sue Bondposted 13 years ago

   I recall reading that Karen Armstrong, creator of the Charter for Compassion (http://charterforcompassion.org), studied several religions in order to discover their commonality.  She found that compassion was found in all.
   
   She who won the TED prize and with the prize money created the Charter for Compassion.  She's a former Catholic nun and has written over 20 books on Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

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   steve8millerposted 13 years ago

   Yes the three great religions of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are very similar. They speak of similar events and both hold Abraham and his sons near their centers of focus. However if you really dig down as I have which I speak of in many of my hubs, most all religions lead to the same place, GOD. Monotheistic. However it is more complex, as I always say, each religion holds a piece to the greater picture of human destiny. If you want to know everything, study all of the religions from Native American Shaministic religions like NAC, to the religions of India like Hinduism. The answers are there.

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   wingedcentaurposted 13 years ago

   That's a great question, first of all! I believe there are absolutely common threads between all the world's religions (and cultures as well). It seems to me that we, in America in particular, have a tendency to over-exoticize (I just invented the word 'over-exoticize') the other, or perhaps I should say the OTHER!
   
   By "over-exoticize" I mean that we have a tendency to be unduly shaken, amazed, romanced, enthralled, and taken aback by surface differences in cultural practice in a variety of areas. This in turn, leads us to the "slippery slope" of dehumanizing the other because we come to think of "them" as so different from "us" that we might as well be different species -- which, of course, makes it much easier, perhaps, to kill "them."
   
   The easiet, most available, and most obvious example of this is this War on Terror (I know its not officially called that anymore) against various Islamic "terrorist" groups -- but that many can't help thinking of America's Christian war against Islam. Islam has always maintained that it comes out of the Judeo-Christian tradition and shows reverence for all of the prophets of those traditions including Jesus.
   
   But Christianity and Judaism, however, do not, to the best of my knowledge, have very long traditions of embracing Islam as part of the "family. And so on and so forth.
   
   Let me just close with this. The only way, in my view, that there coulld not be common threads in the world's various religions, would possibly be if the Earth were inhabited by multiple, different sentient species. But still, even if there were different, multiple sentient species living on the same Earth, presuming that "globalization" would occur at a similar level that it has historically, there would be cross-influence -- all would be constantly influenced, changed, and continuosly evolving...
   
   I don't think there are many situations in which peoples (be they human or other sentients) could be living on the same planet and not generate "common threads" in religion and culture. I'll leave it there.
   
   Thanks.

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   lostdogrwdposted 13 years ago

   yes. the common thread it man. religion is from man and has twisted God word so much, Jehovah is true and the truth  and to know God you have to read the bible or learn from those who teach the bible and not what they think it should said.

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   clark farleyposted 13 years ago

   for the sake of "completeness" would it not make sense to consider the mythos of all cultures...back through time?
   
   Rather than limit the question to the "Big Three" (religions) it would be more interesting to ask why the same stories have been appearing from the very first (human) culture(adjusted for the local conditions)...birth, death, re-birth
   Would seem that there have always been fables and myths and stories that  at the heart of each are expressions of the basic human experience...
   Hey, it may just be that the  organised religions had better marketing departments...

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   toysofclayposted 13 years ago

   If you go deep but not emotionally, there are not common threads between christianity and other religions. Jesus, "I am the way only." Other religions don't support this.

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8. 82

   pennyofheavenposted 13 years ago

   Wingedcentaur: Over exoticize is definitely pointing to a very valid point. Thanks
   
   Sue: I have too found compassion is a foundation for all the religions and philosophies I have studied.
   
   Steve: I do agree. I also like the Native American Shamanic teachings they are similar to ours and most other religions. Just described differently but are pointing to the same processes.
   
   Clark: Yep mythos makes sense. Many religions point to that also in my view and perhaps it is just interpreted differently I don't know?
   
   Toys: Perhaps if we looked at that passage differently it does indeed say what other religions say. Many religions point to finding God within. Jesus appeared to be saying the same thing. I am the way the truth and the life says pretty much the same thing for me. He is pointing inward.
   
   lostdog: I agree man has interpreted whatever religion differently and in accordance with their perception. If you believe your religion is the only true religion this two is interpreted in your own way. We each have our own way.
   
   Jean: I do ago another common thread found throughout most is love.
   
   NMcgurie: Yes it appears that some do not see God as a common thread.
   
   Yankee: Yes the creation story seems to be similar when we delve deep enough.
   
   Thank you all for your responses. Its been great! Feel free to add more if you like?

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   Lweinbergposted 13 years ago

   Absolutely! Many religions have different means and techniques of worshiping God, but I think it's all the same God. Judeo-Christian religions are very similar, mainly Christianity divides from Judaism by accepting Jesus Christ as the savior, where as Judaism is still waiting for the Messiah to reveal him/herself. Islam is more like Christianity and Judaism than you would think. Terrorists are fundamentalists akin to the KKK.

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    onegoodwomanposted 13 years ago

    Yes, there are.............do  not harm, be kind, be of assistance, love, .............
    
    there are many common threads.......
    
    
    There is ONLY One SAVIOR.........who, laid  down HIS own life to redeem me to God!
    
    Some  gods, many   gods, require a sacrifice, some gods ask you to prove...........
    
    Only One God, lays down His Son to redeem...........ONLY One.
    
    Would YOU lay down your child.........?  I would not.There is no person in my life that I would sacrifice my own child for.......not even my own self........
    
    THE God did this very thing.................

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