Why are there so many Religions?

As a young adult I began to ask serious life questions rather than just follow my parents. One of my first questions was “why are there so many different religions?” I grew up in a Midwest town where “different religions” meant Baptist, Methodist or maybe Jewish. After moving to St. Louis, I learned there were a lot more religions. I read Buddhist and Hindu teachings. I read the Qur’an and writings of religions that I had never heard of. Unfortunately, nothing I read that helped me answer my question. Religions seemed to agree that there was One God, One Great Spirit called by different names: God, Allah, Adonai, Yahweh, Brahma, Vishnu, Waheguru. But why were there so many different religions and who gets into Heaven? 

One thing I did learn was that each religion has a Golden Rule. With slight differences, these quotes all had the same message. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” sounded a lot like “No one of you is a believer until he chooses for his brother what which he desires for himself.” One quote is from Islam and the other is from Christianity. I particularly like this one: “What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the entire law; the rest is commentary.” It’s from Judaism. 

With these clear similarities, why have the followers of these religions long been in conflict with each other? Early history lessons taught us about the Crusades: Christians battling Muslims for the Holy Land. Jews have long been persecuted, executed for their religion. Hindus and Muslims have another history of conflict. Protestants and Catholics have their own history of conflict. Back home, I grew up thinking that marrying outside of your family church was not allowed. I’m no great thinker, but even I could see that all this antipathy among religions was difficult to explain. 

Could there be another perspective to understanding this long-standing conflict among people who follow the same Golden Rule? I think there is. I now believe that there is a way to understand and reconcile the differences of the world's various spiritual teachings. We can come to see them as chapters in a great Book, of which God, the Unknowable Essence, is the Author. Our world desperately needs these beliefs to bring us together as they were intended, instead of separating us. We invite you to join us as we sort through this complex story of religions and who gets into heaven.

Pam Volk

The religion of God is absolute love and unity. ~ Baha’i ...The rest is commentary.  ~Judaism 

Everyone is welcome. Saturday, May 16, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, at the IKE Box Cafe, Bay Room.

299 Cottage St. NE, Salem.

Finding Common Ground discussions are held each month. We hope you will join us. - Baha’is of Salem-Keizer.