Religion impacts on every minute of our lives. Most times not as directly as others, but everywhere around us, we see people moving and interacting based on their religion or lack thereof. Algernon Black points out in his comment below, that while we all choose our preference of religion, they are all very similar in their basic tenets. Our society and the world, will only be able to live in peace when we begin to practice that very simple tenet, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
“Why not let people differ about their answers to the great mysteries of the Universe? Let each seek one’s own way to the highest, to one’s own sense of supreme loyalty in life, one’s ideal of life. Let each philosophy, each world-view bring forth its truth and beauty to a larger perspective, that people may grow in vision, stature and dedication.
The religions of humanity should be a unifying force, for all the great religions reveal a basic unity in ethics. Whether it be Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism or Confucianism, all grow out of a sense of the sacredness of human life. This moral sensitivity to the sacredness of human personality — the Commandments not to kill, not to hurt, not to put a stumbling block in the path of the blind, not to neglect the widow or the fatherless, not to exploit the servant or the worker — all this can be found in the Bibles of humanity, in all the sacred books. All teach in substance: “Do unto others as you would that others should do unto you.” There is, then, a basic unity among the great religions in the matter of ethics. True, there are religious philosophies which turn people away from the world, from the here and now, concentrating life-purposes on salvation for one’s self or a mystic union with some supernatural reality. But most of the great religions agree on mercy, justice, love — here on earth. And they agree that the great task is to move people from apathy, from an acceptance of the evils in life, to face the possibilities of the world, to make life sweet for one another instead of bitter. This is the unifying ethical task of all the religions — yes, of all the philosophies of humankind. There is no need to force our own theological points of view upon one another or to insist that the moral life grows out of final, absolute authority.” – Algernon Black
My Favorite Links on Religion…
religion-online.org
Virtual Religion Index
Religious Studies
bible.org
Religion & Ethics
Psychology of Religion
Religion – Wikipedia
Religion and the Founding of the American Republic
Philosophy of Religion
Religion & Spirituality
GetReligion
Essays on Christianity and Salvation…
Baptism and Salvation
Instrumental Music
The Constitution and Religion
