Religions: Are They

All the Same?

Eliza Kaye Foster
RELS-2300-401-Su17
 With over 4,200 diverse religions in the world many people would claim that they

are not the same. Jalalul-Din Rum defined religion asserting, The lamps are different,

but the light is the same. Ultimately, though having some variations, all religions are

identical.

Every religion has three key elements. First, practices which help provide an

understanding of life as well as death. Practices can give guidance using sacred texts,

commandments, and knowledge of an afterlife. Second, beliefs provide the makeup for

religion. Beliefs can aid one with comfort. Without faith, religion does not exist. Last,

religions benefit spiritual well being. By assisting with self-fulfillment, individuals can

feel overall more happiness. These three components are present in each religion.

Practice:

Practice, the first element, gives understanding to life as well as death. Using

scripture, rules, and consequences, practice explains how to cope with day-to-day life.

Religion can provoke questions. Practices within religion can ease these concerns

for individuals and give guidance as how to cope with life. The Bible, for Christians, and

the Quran for Muslims provide teachings and establish rules in which to follow.

Comparably, Buddhists try to follow the Noble Eightfold Path, a group of 8 practices that

promote: Right understanding, speech, livelihood, concentration, mindfulness, effort,

action, and intention. All of these texts yield a correct way in which to follow.

In each religion obeying the commandments or rules of sacred texts will lead to

accomplishment of an overall goal. Sacred texts also provide knowledge and facts.

Teaching the 4 Noble Truths, Buddhism provides the truths of suffering. These explain

the cause as well as how to end distress. Similar to Buddhism, Christianity has a belief of
how pain came about. The majority of Christians understand Adams transgression to be

the reason for suffering. Many claim that we are born with sin and through correct

practice one can attain salvation.

An ultimate goal or understanding of what happens after death is another example

of practice. Though Christians and Muslims understand afterlife to be in the presence of

God, Buddhists argue that death is only a step in a cycle of rebirth/reincarnation. This

cycle is called the 6 Realms of Existence. By correctly following practices, Buddhists can

advance in the next life.

Christians and Muslims also promote correct accordance to guidelines. Actions

can include altruistic love, which is practiced by Christians. Christians believe that love

and service are key practices in reaching salvation. Muslims are in accordance to this by

observing charity. Charity is one of the 5 Pillars of Islam. Other pillars include: faith,

prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage. When following these, one may be blessed or receive

good karma.

Beliefs:

Faith or beliefs are prevalent in every religion. Without belief there would

essentially be no religion. Muslims profess that our senses dont reveal all that is real.

Faith is defined as a, strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on

spiritual apprehension rather than proof (Google). Even with no solid evidence,

believing that a religion is true gives individuals a feeling of comfort as well as a place to

belong.

Both Muslims and Christians believe in a merciful God. Though no proof is

evident, this can provide peace by accepting there is a higher power. Despite the fact that
these two religions both understand that there is only one God they oppose each other in

the understanding of what a single God deity means. Christians recognize that God is

Triune, accepting that the Trinity consists of three coexistent, coeternal persons who are

God but not necessarily coequal. These persons being: God the Father (creator), Jesus

Christ (the Word/Son), and the Holy Spirit (love/comfort). Muslims believe there is one

god that they call Allah. Though understanding God in variation, Muslims and Christians

accept that God/Allah is omnipotent.

Buddhists believe in an all-together different deity. Not affirming that there is a

God but instead an all-pervasive energy of the universe present in all things, Buddhism is

a polytheistic religion. The all-pervasive energy is called Brahman. Understanding that

Brahman is in all living things, Buddhists can perceive harmony in the universe.

Sacred texts can also create a sense of unity with knowledge of the history. Many

of the texts originate from stories that have been passed down. Buddhists as well as

Christians and Muslims believe in sacred texts. Each text or scripture explains different

practices and beliefs, but without faith in them individuals belonging to these religions

would not practice the religion. The Bible talks about Jesus Christ. Christians believe he

preformed many miracles. Without believing that these miracles happened many stories

and texts would not be present in religion today.

Stories are written or verbally passed down because there is faith that they are

real. Believing a man can be raised from the dead or that one can receive revelation from

a higher energy or power creates a sense of comfort. It can also create a feeling of

belonging. Accepting stories or sharing the same belief as another helps create
connections and bonds that again can bring comfort. Islams main teaching is unity.

Common understanding supports that teaching.

Spiritual Fulfillment:

Feeling as though one belongs can be very beneficial. Spiritual fulfillment is

reached through religion. Religions promote better well-being. Following practices and

accepting belief can help an individual feel content.

Buddhists practice meditation to help their spiritual well-being. By blocking out

external noise, meditation can aid in experiencing contentment. Buddhism is described as

the religion of awakening. Meditation can assist in this awakening.

Similar to meditation for Buddhists, Christianity and Islam also preform acts to

have self-fulfillment. These acts include service and love for others. Christians believe

that altruistic love is a key practice to feel satisfaction. Love and service for others helps

one feel at peace. It can also provide clarity or awakening, as Buddhists would call it.

Charity also makes one accountable for their actions. Muslims believe that one

must be accountable. This is reinforced by Buddhists, professing that ones actions in this

life will determine the next. While making one accountable, humanitarian acts can also

create a feeling of belonging. When serving or served, people bond.

Religion also gives individuals goals. When attained these goals can provide

satisfaction to the person. Goals can be attaining enlightment, baptism, or memorization

of a sacred text. Islam is defined as complete and trusting surrender to God. This is a

specific goal for them. The ultimate goal for Christians is attaining salvation. While not

received in this life, as a Christian believes and practices the commandments needed to
attain this goal, they can have a sense of success. If able to reach Tantra, a Buddhist can

also feel this success of fulfillment. All of these help individuals feel happiness.

Religions aid in spiritual contentment whether outwardly expressed or not.

Through goals, love for others, and meditation one can feel satisfaction and belonging

with life.

Counter Opinion:

Contrary to this evidence, many would argue that no two religions are the same.

Expressing that there are different beliefs and goals. E. B. Tylor describes religion as,

belief in spiritual things. Studies have shown that belief in the divine is beneficial

(Pettinger, 2014). Opposing this, some would like to eradicate religion all together.

Insisting that religion is detrimental for society. Though many assert that religions have

varied views and faiths or that religion is destructive to the public, all religions subject an

individual to belief in something and that is very profitable to humans.

Conclusion:

Religion would not exist without belief. This gives an individual a sense of peace.

Belief promotes practice, which helps with knowledge of life and death and how to

approach situations. Through practice and belief many individuals feel satisfaction.

Despite the diversity in faith and actions, religion of all denomination has the same three

elements.

Practice, belief, and the fulfillment one receives support the concept that all

religions are the same. Benefitting individuals by providing an understanding of the

universe and how to cope with it through practice, giving people comfort in belief, and

providing spiritual fulfillment and overall happiness.

 Sources

Class observation, June-Aug 2017

Google, Aug 2017

Pettinger, Tejvan. 2014. Benefits of Religion, Oxford, UK. www.biographyonline.net.

Various Definitions of Religions handout, June 2017.

Http://web.pdx.edu/~tothm/religion/Definitions.htm