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World Religions 2300

Position/Comparison Paper: All Religions Are Ultimately
the Same?

Tamara Ramos
Spring 2017
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Position/Comparison Paper: All Religions Are Ultimately the Same?

Introduction

Six blind men came together to find out how an elephant truly looked liked by touching

the elephants body. One man touches the leg, saying it is like a pillar. The second man is

touching the tusk, describing the elephant as a hard pipe. The third man says the elephant is like

a wall while touching the side. Another describes the elephant as a rope while grasping its tail.

The fifth man touches the trunk and says it is like a tree branch. And lastly, a man touching the

flaps of the elephants ear says the animal is like a hand fan. Are all these men necessarily

wrong? Thus story in the Jain tradition is describing how religions can interpret spirituality, and

be different on how they describe it. Religion, defined by psychologist William James said, The

very fact that there are so many and so different from one another is enough to prove that the

word 'religion' cannot stand for any single principle or essence, but is rather a collective name.

(Various Definitions of Religion) The word religion does not mean a specific belief or

interpretation, rather it is an umbrella term used to describe many different types of religions.

Religion for me can be different for a Buddhist monk. A man who lives in Egypt will have a

different religion than that of a man who lives in Israel. Religion to a protestant pastor will be

different for a man who has practiced the enlightenment of the Atman. While religion in a sense

is a way to be in tuned with your spirituality, the difference in between them is very significant to

the men who found their religion, their interpretation of god (if they have one or many), to the

reason why humans are here on earth. The culture surrounding these religious are what makes

them different. Different parts of the world have different necessities and interactions with their

environment. Once we start blurring the lines between religion, we lose their culture and makes

them distinct.
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The Founders and the Reason Why

The men who found or rediscovered these major religions have archetypical

characteristics that could be found amongst them. To look at the founders in a generic

perspective takes away their accomplishment and does not make what they have done is truly

remarkable or revolutionary. While looking at the prophets/founders, difference between why the

found their religion or how they rediscovered it will become more paramount.

Starting off with the Eastern religions, both are very unalike in the terms of the founders.

While both are very old, Hinduism has no known founder. There are speculations that the

religion came from the Aryans who migrated to the once inhabited Indus Valley, left religious

text that is now known has the Vedas (Living Religions 72). This Vedas are the authoritative text

among the religion and become distinctive when it come to the rules of the religion.

Contrasting to Buddhism, it was rediscovered by a nobleman, Siddhartha, who

relinquished all his valuable after he saw an old man, an ill man, and lastly a corpse when he

sneaked out of his palace out of curiosity. After he saw the suffering of man, he encountered a

guru which moved him. After, Siddhartha disowned is possessions and family and went on a six

year fast. He mediated under a tree for about one month until he had his revelation and became

the Buddha (an enlightened being). He set rules for how to reach Nirvana set the Four Noble

Truths of life. Siddhartha wanted to teach his revelations to people who are willing to be his

disciples.

On the Western side of the world, the patriarch Abraham was an important figure in the

three major monotheistic religions. In Judaism, Abrahams grandson, Jacob who later becomes

Israel after fighting an angel, had 12 children. Out of those 12 children, Moses escaped the

familys fate of becoming enslaved and was raised by the pharaohs daughter. This led to Moses
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being spoken by God to free the Israelites under the Egyptian rule (Living Religions 253). These

stories continue throughout the Tanahk of Moses freeing Gods people and later became holidays

to remember Moses efforts.

Christianity diverts from Judaism when a woman, Mary, was visited by an angel and

became pregnant with Gods child. Jesus birth was at the time when the Roman Empire was

ruled and the fear of the coming of the messiah (Living Religions 305). Lead to tensions within

the Pharisees and Sadducees because of their different perspectives on Judaism and their class.

After Jesus reached the age of 12, he traveled to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus showed his

knowledge of Gods word when he began teaching in the Temple. Later in his 30s, he was

teaching about the grace of God and how his mission was to save the people who follow God.

Jesus was revolutionary with his teaching because of how different they were compared to those

of Judaism.

The last of the Abrahamic religions is Islam. A religion that was practiced before

Muhammad, The region sank into historical oblivion as it turned away from Abrahams

monotheism. (Living Religions 377) It rediscovered when Muhammad was encountered by an

angel, Gabriel. This lead to his revelations of the Quran, Gods words. Muhammad was not a

man to be worshiped, but to be acknowledged for reviving the Islamic traditions.

Many of these prophets revelations had to do with the teachings of God or reaching

enlightenment, but they all had different interpretations. As well as what are the job of these men.

Hinduism, although lacking a founder, had many of the Rishis share the revelations and

composed the Vedas to which supports their belief of internal life (In Class Notes of Hinduism).

Siddhartha was born into nobility and had only witnessed the joys of life because of his sheltered

childhood. He wanted to know why humans suffer after witnessing three accounts of it. Moses
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was who had a family succumbed to slavery. He became the man to free the enslaved Jewish

people of Egypt when God had an encounter with him (Living Religions 253). Jesus, on the other

hand, was the son of God and his goal was to teach the grace of God and as well to sacrifice

himself for the peoples sins. Muhammad was born in an Arabic tribe (In class notes on Islam)

and was the last messenger of God after Gabriel spoke to him. He was determined to teach

people how to be under submission to Allah through the Five Pillars. As we look into the history

of these major religions, the distinctions become very prominent when we look at the intentions

of the founders and their backgrounds.

Basic Beliefs & Practices

Comparing religious beliefs and practices would be comparing it to the cultures. Looking

at cultures that are half-way around the world will have large differences. The people of Thailand

will not have the same traditions or particular ethics as those that live in Saudi Arabia. For

example, some cultures do have the same ingredients in their food, but do not have the same type

of preparation or outcome. This could be said for the religions around the world and their

practices. Because of how the religion started and what the goal is, religions will have different

beliefs and application to those beliefs.

Hinduism is a religion of large diversity within itself and being very diverse from other

religions as it is polytheistic. The Vedas, the Hindus holy texts which describe stories of the of

the gods and as well as belief of multiple gods (Living Religions 76). Another major belief which

differentiates Hinduism is the concept of the caste system. The caste system is implemented

within society to sort people into high class divisions, all the way to upper, middle and lower

class, down to the oppressed or untouchables. (In class notes on Hinuism) This sorting into a

permanent caste leads to the idea that if you do your Dharma (job), then you will develop good
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karma which finally leads to Samsara (reincarnation). To practice good karma to lead into a

better reincarnation the Hindus practice forms of yoga. The types of yogas range from being very

easily practiced by the common people to types that can only be practiced by certain castes

which is not seen in many religions. The practices and beliefs range within the Hindu religion,

but the most common are very apparent to other major religions.

The largest religion to not have a god or someone to worship to is Buddhism. This

religion becomes clearly distinct from the others on their beliefs about life and how to practice

them. Buddhism believes that the end goal destination for humans is to reach Nirvana. When

enlightened to that extent a person becomes a Buddha. To follow the path of Nirvana, one must

follow the Four Noble Truths which is to find suffering, the cause, the guidelines to the cure,

called the Noble Eightfold Path, and the cure (Living Religions 145). Some of the practice to

reach Nirvana is to relinquish all possessions, to not be selfish, and deep meditations. This

religion focuses on oneself and not the religion as a whole unity to worship under one god.

The religions under the Abrahams monotheistic ideals become very different once looking for

what their beliefs are. Judaism believes that they are Gods people that came from the lineage of

Israel and will not be safe from the world until they are all unified in the Holy Land. This is

different from other Western religions because in Judaism, they believe they are that chosen

ones, which in return makes the religion not popular to proselytism. Their practices that are

different across other religions because of their purpose. Their practices to lead to sanity the

world are the celebration of a Bar/Bat Mitzah, that when a child becomes an adult in a religious

sense, and other holidays that commemorate the achievements of Moses, such as the Sabbath(In

class notes on Judaism). These practices are in their 613 commandments they must obey to invite

God in ones life.

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If religions are the same, then why does Judaism not accept Christianity? Christians

believe that Jesus is the son of God and he was born into the world to free us from sin. Unlike

other religions founders, Jesus is in the same realm as God, so he is worshiped just the same. As

well, they believe in the 10 commandments from Judaism. Although they are practiced in a way

that shows love for God and in return his Grace. There are more motifs of forgiveness, love, and

in the Christians than other Western religions. The Christians practice rituals that commemorate

Jesus, which shows their love to God, such as baptism and the Eucharist. Other Western religions

do recognize their importance of their founders but not as intensely as the Christians.

Islam is the religion that does recognize the other two Abrahamic religions, but

differentiates itself when it comes to how to submit under God. The Muslims believe that

Abraham is the last messenger of God and had the revelations which turned into the Quran.

Islams holy text is interpreted as the word of God, which is very paramount to other religious

text. In the Quran it describes three categories that Islam places that either commends what is

required, what is permissible, and what is forbidden. (In class notes on Islam)This religion

becomes more involved in ones daily to reach salvation. The Muslims must follow the Five

Pillars in under to be in submission to God and relinquish the worst of sin which is pride.

Comparing and contrasting these religious beliefs and practices, the prominent goal of the

religion becomes apparent. Although most of the major religions do believe in god(s), the way

they show their love, their submission, how they sanctify the world for Him, or trying to free the

soul from a physical body are all different.

The Problem with Humans and the Solution

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The common trope of all religions is the problem of humans. One of religions purposes

is to describe the evil (or lack of goodness), and how to solve it. But with many religions, there

are many interpretations of the problems of humanity and the solution.

In the Hinduism, there is a lack of a deity that pertains to sole evil. It is more of the

playfulness of the gods/goddess and a result of humans succumbing to their free will (The Big

Religion Chart). Buddhist believes that our materialistic possession makes us suffer and in turn

not let us reach enlightenment. Both of these Eastern religions have a similar goal to reach

enlightenment, but their paths are unalike. In Hinduism, to become truly enlightened, you must

be on a high caste system that allows to practice yoga to the liberation of the Atman. In

Buddhism, the practices of meditating and being unbound to the material world is the solution.

In the Western religions, their perception of what is wrong with humanity are similar in

the sense that is being away from God. But how that happens and the solution becomes more

specific with each religion. In Christianity, the problem with people is that everyone is

susceptible to sin and in order to solve that, christians must live life with little sin and not break

the 10 commandments. As well as to live in Gods Image. Judaism's interoperation of the worlds

problem is that there is a need to sanctify the world because of the ones who break the 10

commandments (synagog site visit). As well the Jews will never be free from exile until they are

unified in the Holy Land. Muslims believe that pride is the largest sin of man and it takes away

being under God. To be under submission to God, one must follow the Quran and practice the

Five Pillars in order to submit.

When religions want to explain why there is negativity in the world, it turns into a lack of

goodness in someone. But determining what that specific lack of goodness is, make these

religions become dissimilar.

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Conclusion

Our similarities can connect us in many ways that we have not realized. In a broad sense,

all religions can be interpreted the same because most do follow practice, order, a higher being or

a goal of enlightenment, and how to deal with negativity that surrounds them. The similarities

between Eastern religions is more prominent than in Western. As religions with the Abrahams

monotheistic God are very similar as well. When we look for one each other, our difference

should not divide us, but we should look at how similar our beliefs can be. The Golden Rule is

do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Although religions have worded it

differently, it has the same implications. To not do something that in return you will not like else

to do to you. The differences of religions should be celebrated, not to make into an umbrella

statement that loses meaning. Many people take their religion out of temples, churches,

synagogues, mosques, and other places of worships in their home. In order for us to maintain

diversity and unification in the world, it is to become well with those who are unalike us and

understand our distinctions make us human

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Work Cited

Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9nth ed. Boston: Pearson, 2014. Print.

Bethinking.org. "Dont All Religions Basically Teach the Same Thing?" Bethinking.org. N.p., 13

Sept. 2007. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.

"The Big Religion Chart." The Big Religion Chart - ReligionFacts. N.p., 21 Nov. 2016. Web. 28

Apr. 2017.

Definitions of Religion. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.