Lord Bo Tien says that all religions are one in God and basic inner truth but remains different as separate distinct religions. He did however stress that every religion has its own way of holding on to its people. People like little children in early schooling must be shepherded like sheep so that they will not be lost
This is necessary so that there is focused exposure to the religion and hopefully learning that will lead to spiritual cultivation of the souls of men. But according to the understanding of the writer, there will always to be two approaches. There are two broad ways for religion to hold on to its people.
One approach is that the religion is exclusive and adherents must not stray. Of course, then the teachings of other religions are sort of out of bounds but detente and respect for other religions are still the norms if it is going to be meaningful to practice one's professed religion. There is tolerance and at worst some form of detente but the line is clear that members of such a religion must not stray beyond the out-of-bound markers.
Another approach is that the religion is inclusive. Any new thinking beliefs and any newly introduced heavenly deities and prophets are welcome but not as separate religions but integrated as part of the professed religion of men. This is another way for a religion to hold on to its people and expand the interests and culture so as to afford better opportunities for its people to enrich their width and length of spirituality.
This will provide richness in substance for men to develop insight of the true and basic spirituality that every man must cultivate. As compared to the exclusive approach, there is the free hand to explore and less dogmatic. It is more likely that insight on true and higher levels of spirituality is enabled rather than suppressed because control is less.
But where there is control and suppression of free wheeling, then it is easier for the people in a religion to pull along together. There is better organised activity and projection of the religion as a dynamic entity.
But alas, men being men, this will not last and dissension will set in and new sects and independent denominations will result. Cult cultivation where people idolise men rather than God and heavenly saint is one consequence of the exclusive approach. This is because they see the man at the pulpit and not the God up there, more so when that man speaks for God and they see the God in him.
Even in the inclusive approach where there is constant expansion of the repertoire of subjects and objects into the religion so as to hold on to the interests of the people, cult too can take form. But this is less likely to be more damaging to society at large because religion is not as organised as with the exclusive or eternal weeding approach.
It has however still tainted the image of spirituality. We thus hear of priests on the take and having sexual favors, and spirit mediums having more than one wives with children born out wedlock.
We may conveniently put it that the inclusive approach is the eternal harvest approach where as much as possible of all that are new and interesting are harvested and presented to the people in the fold of that religion.
But alas, men being men, this will not last and dissension will set in and new sects and independent denominations will result. Cult cultivation where people idolise men rather than God and heavenly saint is one consequence of the exclusive approach. This is because they see the man at the pulpit and not the God up there, more so when that man speaks for God and they see the God in him.
Even in the inclusive approach where there is constant expansion of the repertoire of subjects and objects into the religion so as to hold on to the interests of the people, cult too can take form. But this is less likely to be more damaging to society at large because religion is not as organised as with the exclusive or eternal weeding approach.
It has however still tainted the image of spirituality. We thus hear of priests on the take and having sexual favors, and spirit mediums having more than one wives with children born out wedlock.
We may conveniently put it that the inclusive approach is the eternal harvest approach where as much as possible of all that are new and interesting are harvested and presented to the people in the fold of that religion.
The other approach where the people are sort of barred from showing interest in anything new and outside the religion may be referred to as the eternal weeding approach - like the weeding away wild grass and plants so that the tree will grow better. This is in a way the removal of competition of sorts and this may not reflect well on those in charge or at the helm of matters.
Obviously with the more favored eternal weeding approach, the otherwise extra and additional good may be inadvertently removed. But too much of good things too may not be good at all. Well, that's life, isn't it?
Both approaches have their good and bad points. We need both in religions so that all of humanity will benefit in the long term but meanwhile, there will be trade-offs which may be ugly. Somehow, men must arrive at some balance and sanity before they can have peace to decide what's best for them.
Both approaches have their good and bad points. We need both in religions so that all of humanity will benefit in the long term but meanwhile, there will be trade-offs which may be ugly. Somehow, men must arrive at some balance and sanity before they can have peace to decide what's best for them.
To begin with, some will find it fitting to have the eternal weeding approach but others may benefit more with the eternal harvest approach. To each his own but please do not impose ... To the more discerning and wise, both are not good enough.
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| Lord Bo Tien speaking through the late Philip Png |
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| 武天菩萨 Lord Bo Tien |
