Universal Religion?
Anil Xavier
Senior Advocate and President at Indian Institute of Arbitration & Mediation and Chairman, Asia Pacific Centre for Arbitration & Mediation
There are an estimated 10,000 distinct religions worldwide. But let us look at the major religions. Christianity is a religion following the teachings of Jesus Christ, and believe him as the Son of God. Islam is a religion which believe that there is only one God and that Muhammad is a messenger of God. Hinduism is a religion based on Sanātana dharma (meaning "eternal dharma" or "eternal order"), which was designed as a way of life to best ensure the continuity of humanity on this earth and provide the entire population with spiritual sustenance. Buddhism is a religion which encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on the original teachings attributed to the Buddha. Sikhism is a religion based on the sacred scripture Guru Granth Sahib, which include faith and meditation on the name of the one creator, divine unity and equality of all humankind and based on the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak. Jainism is a religion which believes in eternal dharma founded by tirthankaras, who is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the dharma.
So, all the religions teach just one thing – There is one God and there is equality of all humankind. If we look at the Saints, Messengers, Teachers or Gurus of such religions, they have all taught us the same teachings and they also proclaimed that there is only one God. But then why the followers of these religions and faiths, are at war against each other and why the teachers and priests of these religions does not clarify the true faith to their followers. It is just not between religions; the rift is also between various divisions or sects under the same religion. For eg., among Christians, the church of one sect doesn’t allow the followers of another sect who believe in the same God to enter the Church and the priests virtually fight in the streets and file cases against each other, when according to their own belief, it says, “leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” [Matthew 5:24]
With the advent of Covid-19 Pandemic, we have seen that the religious practices of almost all religions have undergone profound changes and many of the so-called mandatory customs have gone topsy-turvy. But even during this period, we see lot of hate messages thrown against members of each categories of religion, in the social media and in the streets. The intention of Political parties or politicians can be well understood. But why none of the major religious leaders have come forward to address their followers not to spread hate speeches and violence against other communities. Why these religious leaders keep us divided, when the teachers or founders whom they follow never taught us to remain divided, but on the other hand taught us equality of all humankind.
Why can’t we have a Universal religion, where we believe in One God and believe in equality of all humankind. I am not suggesting establishing a new religion or ministry with investments in property, churches/temples or establishing a priestly class. Because once a religion or a Godman or Guru with a cult-following accumulates wealth, they have many things to protect and will have many hidden agendas to guard – and only by keeping their followers in different compartments, they can achieve it. We need to have a simple Universal religion with no assets to guard and followers who respect all humankind. Don’t think that I am an atheist! I am not saying you should disbelieve your faith; I am a Christian and a believer. We will believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Buddha, Guru Nanak etc., but we will primarily believe in the one God that has created us, as taught by them. I do agree that it is not easy, but being isolated in this period of Lockdown, it is just a thought. Like to have your views.
Mediation Adocate Bsc, LLB
5yAnil sir in my opinion be united in the diversity. Diversity provides the combinations of ideas for betterment. 😄♥️
Advocate, Mediator, Mediation Advocacy-
5yAnil you have posed a very vital question, "Why can’t we have a Universal religion, where we believe in One God and believe in equality of all humankind" on the premise that "all religions believe in the one God concept that has created us". This premise overlooks that every human being has a personality of their own as dissimilar as are two beings of the same race and of a similar nature and is dependant on the degree of individuals experience and the environment in which the individual was reared. We should also take into consideration that, "nature is a single unit as conceived but is dissimilar in its various manifestations" and it is in this principal every being draws its example to design their own free and independent personality. Therefore as soon as men organized in social groups, issues were discussed, people had different points of view, contexts were worked out and any type of escalation was generally avoided. When so viewed we understand that a homogenous group is stronger than a split one and that therefore it is a very basic social necessity and interest of a man to live and to co-live with others. The key to these diverse religious groups is the need to strengthen the group by its numbers and to ensure a future beneficial group. It is this sustainable social responsibility that has paved way for successful emergence of such diverse religious groups with its own cultural leanings leading to a peaceful co-existence. To look away from this elemental basics and to interpolate in its place a universal religion is tending to think away from the homogenous bonding that unites them all together. Therefore, instead of stepping away and isolating one's view point on how to bring about a uniform religious belief's we should in turn re-energise the thinking as to how to bring out the best and the only unifying factor in all these religions that there is 'only one God' and strengthen the core belief so as to live in a peaceful and harmonious living. No doubt that polarisation in extremes will be destructive and that's where the essential ingredient of avoiding conflicts becomes primary goal. Your projected proposition overlooks the very conflict awareness these divergent religious cultures very much aware of and were wanting to avoid by their very existence. Lockdown has not locked your mind from dwelling on the loftier goal and so also my mindful awareness of it and hence this reply. Regards