different religions and systems have both similarities and differences

[roger]

I'm reading a book by the atheist apologist Sam Harris, who argues emphatically that the interfaith idea that all religions are basically the same is nonsensical.

 

He thinks that they're definitely and obviously very different.

 

The thing is, and this seems so obvious that I think almost no one would disagree, different traditions have BOTH similarities AND differences.

 

Surely that is easy for anyone to understand and accept.

 

The ideal in my opinion is to respect and celebrate both the similarities and the differences.

[Marblehead]

Yep.  There will be similarities because they all are created by man.

 

Yes.  There will be differences because different peoples have different cultural values mostly because of their geological/climatic environment.

 

I have never read Mr. Harris and have no intention to do so.

 

Wisdom can be found all over the planet.  Yes, even in religions.

[Sebastian]

You could say that there are various "isms", each developed in the wake of different Masters treading the earth and spreading their Light.

 

Additionally, each of these "isms" absorbed the local culture and color of the time, accounting for more differences.

 

The essence of all religions, the Light, is the same.

 

Religious Taoism or Folk Taoism is very different from Tao for example.

 

You could say all roads lead to Tao, instead of Rome, if you're focusing on the essence of all the "isms".

[Karl]

All religions are mystic including some aspects of atheism. Atheism built on muscle mysticism such as socialism, is as much a religion as any other. A deity gets replaced by a social collective represented by the state.

[Michael Sternbach]

All religions are mystic including some aspects of atheism. Atheism built on muscle mysticism such as socialism, is as much a religion as any other. A deity gets replaced by a social collective represented by the state.

 

In keeping wit this, in all traditional cultures, the leader of a state (pharaoh, emperor etc) is seen as a representative of a Deity. By the same token, the pope once used to have considerable political power.

[Karl]

In keeping wit this, in all traditional cultures, the leader of a state (pharaoh, emperor etc) is seen as a representative of a Deity. By the same token, the pope once used to have considerable political power.

 

Hang on Michael you agree with me ? I must check my premise :-)