Are All Religions "Kind of the Same"



On my bookshelf is God is Not One by Professor Stephen Pethero. It was published several years ago and is only mentioned in today's religious discussions occasionally. Yet, it contains a powerful bit of truth that is still sited. It is that the religions of the world each have different gods and each god has fans that hate the other gods. The old parody remains, "My god is real, your god is not. Bang-bang you're dead."

The link points out that if someone says, "All religions are climbing the same mountain. They are just scaling different sides," that person is saying he/she knows each religion as well as those who practice each one. Those in the respective religions will argue with such a person. It turns out believing all religions have something in common is, by itself, a separate religion. 

We continue to hear the phrase "Judeo Christian religion." Is there such a thing? No, according to many who study religion intensely. If Jews do not believe Jesus was the figure prophesized in the Old Testament then there what more is there to talk about?

Many times commenters on this blog have made the statement people of all faiths show have something in common. It seems to me they are defending religion per se against atheism. The comments sometimes say all worship the "same god." How anyone can make such a statement baffles me. 

The last half of the 1700's are thought by many as the most secular time in U.S. history. This conclusion is based on activities and speeches covered by the press as well as public statements made by popular leaders. The link author is a person from inside the religious establishment but understands the limits of crossing the battle lines between religions.  

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