One of the common threads in all major world religions is the idea of a "return" or "new incarnation" of a future prophet or manifestation of God. Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Mohammad ALL spoke of this. Sometimes they made it sound like they themselves would return and sometimes they made it sound like someone other than themselves would come. They also often spoke of those who have come before them, in addition to whomever might come after. Do people KNOW this? If they did, I can't imagine it would be a big leap to recognize the essential unity of these major world religions. Could it? What do you think? Does anyone else have some quotes or thoughts on this topic to share?
"7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."
(King James Bible, Daniel)
"14:25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
(King James Bible, John)
"When Righteousness
Declines, O Bharata! when Wickedness
Is strong, I rise, from age to age, and take
Visible shape, and move a man with men,
Succouring the good, thrusting the evil back,
And setting Virtue on her seat again."
(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr))
"We gave Moses the Book and we followed him up with other apostles, and we gave Jesus the son of Mary manifest signs and aided him with the Holy Spirit."
(The Qur'an (E.H. Palmer tr), Sura 2 - The Heifer)
"I am not the first Buddha who came upon earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will arise .... He shall reveal to you the same eternal truths which I have taught you. He will preach to you His religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at the climax and glorious at the goal, in the spirit and in the letter."
(Buddha - Sermon of the Great Passing)
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2 comments:
If you were to break down all aspects of all major religions you would see MANY themes and ideas repeated and repeated ... Joseph Campbell saw it...Jung saw it...if we could ALL see it there would be no need for war...All paths are the same path to a single truth. No one is right No one is wrong...
Imagine
Someday it will come to pass. It just takes time. Won't happen in my lifetime, I'm certain of that. But I am hopeful that somehow someday humanity will see and recognize their essential oneness. Until then, I am just going to do my very best to promote the Oneness of God, the Oneness of Religion and the Oneness of Humanity. Aminda, you should try to come up for Race Unity Day this summer!
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