Are all religions ultimately the same?

McKenna Martin

World Religions
Suzanne Jacobs
12/08/2016

Throughout the past centuries religions have been founded and formulated around the
same concept, pulling together as one, respecting one another and bringing peace and harmony to
one another. No matter if its a religion that worships one god or many idols they focus on the
same or similar core values. As we look at the question, are all religions ultimately the same?
We can start to formulate the assumption that religions are built upon a community having the
same core beliefs and morals. Throughout this class some of the religions we have learned about
are Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, and Christianity. Each one has their own unique identity but as
a foundation each formulate the same moral compass and devotion.

Buddhism is about achieving enlightenment by following principles in order to clear

their minds and become whole. Some of the principles they follow come from the Four Noble
Truths. The Four Noble Truths are a key foundation of Buddhas teachings. Buddhists need to
understand pain and suffering. This is the understanding of wants, desires, physical pain, emotion
and death. It is knowing that happiness will not last, one moment of happy could be gone the
next second. It is accepting the way things are instead of craving more. It is recognizing that the
present is complete the way it is. The path to end pain is following the Noble Eightfold path
wants and desires can be eliminated (1). They live their lives so every action has a meaning in
their overall drive to obtain nirvana. Along the process they provide service to others. Which lays
down a strong path of enrichment. They are able to reach their ultimate goal of nirvana by living
in peace with themselves and one another. Once they have found their own liberation they can
share it with others. It takes a communities combined effort of actions to reach that ultimate
peace as one.

Sikhism is based on Sikhs disciples who seek the truth. Guru Khalsa said that a true Seek
could be defined by five symbols. One is the unshorn hair; uncut hair shows respect for what
God has created. Two is a comb; the comb is used to keep the hair God created neat and
appreciated. Three is drawstring under breeches; by wearing the undergarments they are showing
their appreciation to their bodies by keeping them modest. Four is a sword in a sheath; wearing
the sword shows their readiness to stand for justice and to protect the weak and unable. Five is a
steel bracelet; the steel bracelet is worn as a constant reminder that they are servants to God. (2)
These five symbols define Sikhs from Hindus and Muslims backing up that Sikhs established a
third path with its own right to divine independence. (3) Contrary to traditional Indian beliefs,
Sikhs believe that women and all different castes of society should be equal. Guru Gobind Singh
declared anyone committing female infanticide would be excommunicated. By Singh declaring
this, he is setting the example that both male and females are valued. (4) Sikhs feast instead of
the traditional fasting, they feast together as community showing they are grateful for the food
they have. Sikhs pray daily to show their devotion to God. They pray to detach themselves from
the negative, and worldly mind states. Sikhs believe God hold spiritual power; he has the power
to make one brave, stable, composed in thought and strong through hardship. They serve others
without the mindset of a reward. They believe the most important gift they can give is love. By
giving and showing love to others in all ways is part of their devotion to God. Their goal is to
free themselves from the five evils being, anger, lust, self-ego, and attachment. The five evils
keep them further from God and his path. To be a Sikh means to live a disciplined life of
submission and dedication to the one God. Their ultimate goal is to live among the divine. It is
their belief that only the one God is exists, they believe to be able to walk among God is based
on their life actions and dedication to God in their life.

Judaism Those are who Jewish are said to be the chosen ones that title came about
when Israel made a promise to the one and only God. The promise made was a covenant between
the two is that God defines the terms, negation is not allowed. Since God is the creator of earth,
and cause of all things in existence, God therefore holds the power and rights to set the rules.
People can either except or decline the rules, there are no middle grounds. They believe any
other god is a false god. They believe God interferes with history in order to reward the righteous
and punish the evil. Many Jews have used the Holocaust, as an example of Gods will. Some Jews
were angry with God; others who kept their faith believed all would be well no matter the
outcome. They are encouraged to see God within all aspects of life. In observance, Jewish people
practice daily scripture study and follow the commandments. Originally it was only the boys
who were taught to read the Torah, now all members read and study the book. They conduct
ceremonies such as the Brit Milah, which is when a baby boy is eight days old he is circumcised.
They do this to honor the faithfulness Abraham showed when God told him to remove the
foreskin. Within the Orthodox faith women who are menstruating are considered to be impure
and spouses should not engage in intercourse during that time. Jewish people are kosher,
meaning eating only kosher meat from warm-blooded animals with cloven hoofs that chew their
food. They do not consume port because a pig is seen as a disgusting animal making it
unacceptable to consume. Their dietary rules come from the biblical book of Leviticus. It is
important for them to observe the Sabbath. Keeping the Sabbath day holy is a crucial practice to
show their covenant to God. (5)They see all people as descendants of Adam and Eve, making
everyone equal. They give thanks to the laws, which the Torah gives. The laws are the
commandments God has given them to provide structure in life.

Christianitys central belief is that Jesus is the incarnation of God. Jesus is the savior of
the world, God sent him to earth to help free people of their sins and reunite with God. Christians
believe that God has given the free will, which is having the option to obey or disobey. By
confessing sins regularly they can be purified and be like God again. (6)Christian fundaments
say those who kill will endure judgment. Those who show anger towards others will be held to
judgment. Adultery is forbidden including looking at a women indecently. Those who mistreat
you wrongfully, you must return that mistreatment with kindness. The text says love your
enemies and pray for those who mistreat you, God will punish those that are unjust. God will
protect his children that are good to him. (7)Jesuss most emphasized teaching was to love. Two
of the commandments are to love God and love your self. To love God is to fully give your self
to him. To love others is to not judge and except all members of society. Jesus set the example of
showing love to the sinful and of the lowest people. Christians teach that God can easily forgive
those who make mistakes, by repenting. (8)Christians goal is to live like Christ. By reading the
scriptures, attending services, and acknowledge the Sabbath. By keeping the thought and
teachings of Christ with them, they then can live a life like Christ. Christians believe that by
repenting of their sins, God will relieve them of the weight the sins carry. They pray for selfdiscipline to be strong enough to avoid temptations. They believe that those who are baptized are
essentially reborn, that their slates are wiped cleaned from the past.(9)

The question being are all religions ultimately the same? While some of the core
fundaments are the same among the religions. Such as, creating peace for yourself and others.
Providing service to others abeles them to become wholesome like Buddha or to be like Christ.

You could say just being a good person and sharing that good to others is a fundament of all
religions. But they do not have the same core beliefs. Eastern religions lean more towards
mindfulness, balance; self-discipline Western religions have the common belief of monotheism,
the belief in one god. Each religion believes they are the only true religion and all others are
false.

Citation

1, Fisher, Mary Pat. Rinehart, Robin. Living Religion 2014, p.142-143

2, Fisher, Mary Pat. Rinehart, Robin. Living Religion 2014, p. 438
3, Fisher, Mary Pat. Rinehart, Robin. Living Religion 2014, p. 438
4, Fisher, Mary Pat. Rinehart, Robin. Living Religion 2014, p.443
5, Fisher, Mary Pat. Rinehart, Robin. Living Religion 2014, p.279
6, Fisher, Mary Pat. Rinehart, Robin. Living Religion 2014, p.344
7, Fisher, Mary Pat. Rinehart, Robin. Living Religion 2014, p.311
8,Fisher, Mary Pat. Rinehart, Robin. Living Religion 2014, p.313
9, Fisher, Mary Pat. Rinehart, Robin. Living Religion 2014, p.349