No 1026 of Living Life Series 1
Is it a contradiction of sorts for a person who goes to a temple to also go to a church or place of worship of any other religion? On the surface, it appears to be so.
But the reality is that religions may seem different but are one in the singular pursuit of goodness that is of God and all Heavenly saints.
The belief in one religion does not mean that one does not believe in other religions or worse still is the enemy of all other religions.
It is simply that that the particular religion is the choice to better meet the needs of the individual at the social and cultural level. He prefers the way and traditions of that religion.
Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 supports such an approach but further adds that the individual must go deeper into the inner truth that is common to and underlie all religions.
But the reality is that religions may seem different but are one in the singular pursuit of goodness that is of God and all Heavenly saints.
The belief in one religion does not mean that one does not believe in other religions or worse still is the enemy of all other religions.
It is simply that that the particular religion is the choice to better meet the needs of the individual at the social and cultural level. He prefers the way and traditions of that religion.
Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 supports such an approach but further adds that the individual must go deeper into the inner truth that is common to and underlie all religions.
There is the need for goodness and there is a range for this. Goodness is like water. Are we quenched by the water of the downstream or do we go for the upper source for clear water?
The goodness referred to in religions can all be traced to the goodness that is of the upper source. From this upper source, the water flows downstream and get many add-on.
We can have many branches or tributaries of downstream - the many religions. Of course, we can only choose one branch of downstream and start from there to go to the upper source.
Religions may be different branches but all can lead men to the same upper source - the purity of goodness that is of God and saints.
There is no stopping for one to choose more that one tributary or religion. But it will be like a rolling stone. A rolling stone gathers no moss. One may be so distracted and occupied to even think of going upstream for clear water. It is better to start with one and to work upstream from there.
It is additionally way better to learn from other religions and make use of what we learn to be better in our religion - to be better at what we already are. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 stresses to one and all.
The good lord did not advocate syncretism* the melting pot of different belief systems but the acknowledgement of religions as what they are and how people of religions can be better at what they are through understanding of the universal need to be good as the starting and ending point. This is inherent in all religions.
The goodness referred to in religions can all be traced to the goodness that is of the upper source. From this upper source, the water flows downstream and get many add-on.
We can have many branches or tributaries of downstream - the many religions. Of course, we can only choose one branch of downstream and start from there to go to the upper source.
Religions may be different branches but all can lead men to the same upper source - the purity of goodness that is of God and saints.
There is no stopping for one to choose more that one tributary or religion. But it will be like a rolling stone. A rolling stone gathers no moss. One may be so distracted and occupied to even think of going upstream for clear water. It is better to start with one and to work upstream from there.
It is additionally way better to learn from other religions and make use of what we learn to be better in our religion - to be better at what we already are. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 stresses to one and all.
The good lord did not advocate syncretism* the melting pot of different belief systems but the acknowledgement of religions as what they are and how people of religions can be better at what they are through understanding of the universal need to be good as the starting and ending point. This is inherent in all religions.
Below is a good cross reference
leewoof.org/2012/11/.../if-theres-one-god-why-all-the-different-religions...Nov 5, 2012 - Do you Have to be Christian to Go to Heaven? Since there are so many religions, which one is right? Why are there so many religions?
* Syncretism (/ˈsɪŋkrətɪzəm/) is the combining of different, often contradictory beliefs, while blending practices of various schools of thought.
