the apple seed itself
September 9th, 2003 by“Basically, I think that deep inside, the core of all religions, stripped away are the same.” he said to me as I ate dinner.
I thought about this statement and informed my dear colleague that I disagreed. What is the purpose of religion, and ultimately, man himself? The subject of all religions, the object in focus, is the survival of mankind on this planet. Be it spiritual, or otherwise, each religion dictates the lifestyle to be adopted for optimal environment settings.
Don instead of your emerald glasses, mine. You’ll see then that religion can also be viewed through two inter-dependant classifications:
1) the relationship between man and the Creator
2) the relationship between man and the created
The former differs in many religions. Hinduism views matter to be part of its Creator, Christianity views the Creator in the form a trinity and Islam views matter to be distinct from the Creator and the Creator himself a unique entity, like no other imaginable. To say that all religions in their core are equal is a statement that is not only false but perhaps, given the context of the phrase in most cases, more likely inadequate.
God is not perceived the same in any of the major religions of this planet and therefore, half of the equation (and possibly even more) is already lost, tainted.
It is the latter statement that most people contextualize when they debate such a speech. Don’t almost all religions preach values such as: Be good to your neighbors, treat family well, don’t kill or steal. Refrain from adultery, work hard and honestly and raise your children to set right to wrongs. These basic human values are indeed common to all religions and thus can be easily agreed upon.
But to me, to agree on this portion of the equation is lacking. To agree on only the other one, would also be insufficient. After a while of being muslim, you realize that you cannot swallow one without the other. More to it, the latter is because and only because of the former.
To get to the seed, the apple seed itself perhaps, you first need to chew on the meat of things. Tiny, tossed aside, and spit out so easily nowadays, it is the reason for being, the core itself.
note: Anything I’ve said here wrong comes from me and me alone. All that is right and proper is from Allah. Also, by no means do I discriminate friendships on the basis of religion. I am in no position to judge others. Decide what we mortals may, in the end, Allah knows best.
September 10th, 2003 at 3:13 am
Dadum dadum dadum……
You can never expect someone who actually believes in a singular religion to go with the whole ‘they’re all the same underneath’ bit. That’s a classic agnostic argument, but it falls through when you talk to a devout anything.
My religion can kick your religion’s butt.
September 10th, 2003 at 7:45 am
Hmmm. You just gave me a new perspective on that. Good job!
September 10th, 2003 at 9:22 am
It’s good to be devout, devoted enough, to be able to make that distinct difference there then Owl.
Alhamdulilah. I’m glad to be me.
September 10th, 2003 at 3:59 pm
I think you made interesting and valid points regarding the difference in the “core” of religions.
The two classifications (relationship between man and Creator and man and created) are interesting and prompted me to remember that not only will we be judged on how we are with the Creator but also on our dealings with the created.