by David Maloy

Created on: April 14, 2010   Last Updated: April 17, 2010

Whenever the topic of one religion comes up, some people think of a New Order which entails conformity of an impossible sort.  This is kind of a catch 22 because every person has their own unique point of view.  None of us can look at life from the same perspective and so there will always be differences.  If there was to be a unifying religion, it would have to be able to accept and embrace that undeniable fact.

But it's tough...  Some are shown the light (or at least A light) and take it as not just a truth for themselves to witness but one that all must witness or suffer some kind of anguish.  It makes sense to them and if they are charismatic, they can seduce others into accepting their personal view of the hereafter.  In my view, this sort of conformist action results in a loss of discovery.  If told to look within for the answers, those who would otherwise adopt another's witnessing as their own could forge a new way to look at the universe.  The more views we can share, the better...  We are explorers by nature, after all. 

Now I don't see how anyone is more capable of witnessing God or what have you than others.  People will say the differences must mean that some are lying or crazy but that doesn't make any sense.  Many people have claimed witness and there IS one thing that keeps coming up even if in a myriad of forms.  The Golden Rule.

The Golden Rule is basically an ethical code that reverberates in every religious calling like an echo.  Treat others as if they were yourself.  Why would that be?  It makes one ponder where everything came from in the first place (If indeed there WAS a first place).  Following the backwards journey of the egg and sperm leads to atoms that have always existed in one form or another. 

Some religious adherers to the Golden Rule do not show it much justice however.  It happens in sects and denominations and branches of all major religions as this ethical code is only shown to fellow followers.  Some say they have transcended that barrier but then only show it to humans.  What if the Earth is not the only life giving planet out here?  What of the animals we share this planet with?  This is cherry picking at it's very finest.  It should be noted however, that in all major religions the opposite is also true.  It isn't incredibly rare to have Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims call each other brother and sister. 

In being conscious, one lives to avoid suffering.  Pain tells us something is wrong.  Animals feel pain and other people feel pain.  As humans, we have come to a point where very many of us can see if not feel pain on another being, human or otherwise and are seeing the logical and common sense benefits of being kind to each other.

We are interdependent and we don't have to share the same views of the world to get along with one another in the world.  Differences are to be learned from and should be celebrated because every life that ever lived and every event that ever happened is the result of information sharing...  Without differing perspectives, there is no sharing.  Period.

Learn more about this author, David Maloy.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.