[valkyrie]

Originally posted by MysticCat81
<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>

Thank you! I'm Buddhist, and to me, Buddhism does not include a belief in God or any other supreme being. I was going to say something like what you said, although not nearly as well as you've said it.