Quote:
Originally posted by Tom Earp
Relegion is very simple, We all beleive in a Supreme Being, We just call it by a different name!
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<diversion to soapbox>
I fear I will offend some people by saying this, but I think I need to say it anyway.
It ain't that simple. It is romantic, egalitarian and "pseudo-tolerant" to say it is that simple, but it just ain't. And in my opinion, it can be offensive to say it is.
One example: traditional Buddhism is nontheistic/atheistic. That is, traditional Buddhism says there is no God. As a specific citation, the Dalai Lama says there is no God. Thus, many if not most Buddhists do
not believe in a Supreme Being. Universal forces, perhaps, but not a Supreme Being, by whatever name. For me, as a monotheist and a Christian to say "we all believe in the same thing/a Supreme Being, we just call it by a different name" not only ignores reality, but it shows, in my opinion, a disrespect for Buddhists who sincerely believe there is no Supreme Being. It's like me saying I know more about what they believe than they do.
And that doesn't begin to scratch the surface of the diametrically opposed views of a Supreme Being some religions present.
I'm all for tolerance and understanding between religions. But I think the first steps in tolerance and understanding is to recognize our differences and to avoid declaring "agreement" where there is no agreement.
Truly sorry if I have offended anybody.
</soapbox>